Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
Text Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
Have you ever wondered if it is possible for the world to recognize a man that God calls “blessed?” Psalm 1 reveals the outward marks of a blessed man. May I quickly point out that health, wealth, and prosperity are not the marks of a blessed man? The blessed man is marked by his position in relationship to sin and righteousness (see vs.1&3). While he is not an isolationist, the blessed man is careful in his associations. The companions of the blessed man will not be those that encourage moral corruption, mock the ways of righteousness, or occupy the paths of continual sinfulness. The blessed man is marked by his passion for the Word of God (see vs.2). While he is repulsed by sin, the blessed man is responsive to the Scriptures. He values God’s Word for its light, “a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105) and its liberty, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps. 119:11). The blessed man is marked by his perseverance by continually revealing outward signs of the spiritual life that flows within (see vs.3-6). His perseverance is revealed in his foliage “his leaf also shall not wither,” his fruit, “bringeth forth his fruit in his season” and his forward push, “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” He remains unchanged by the blistering winds of adversity as he faithfully produces the fruit of the Spirit continually moving forward in the face of opposition! He is a blessed man and the marks are there for all to see.