BEING THE BLESSED MAN

PSALM 1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [2] but his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night. [3] He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. [4] The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. [5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; [6] for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

This is a man who knows where to get truth and wisdom and where not to.

Notice his attitude toward God’s word. “his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.” Because of what He has done with God’s word and what God’s word has done in him, he is strong, faithful, and immovable. This is unlike the wicked who are like chaff blown away.

What does this teach us about prayer? It gives us a prayerful aim. If this man is the blessed man, the one whose ways are known by the Lord, then should not we pray to be molded into this man? What should be desire?

1) A heart that delights in the Word of God – To delight in God’s Word should be the cry of every Christians heart. Pray for God’s Word to captivate, delight, thrill and mold us.
2) To be people who seek counsel from the godly wise, not the worldly wise. – When our world becomes a mess, we seek counsel. From whom we seek counsel makes a great deal of difference. We ought to go to Godly, wise, and trustworthy people. Pray that God would provide those people in our lives and church.
3) That we would be firmly established like a tree firmly rooted. – The world blows heard against our faith. We must be firmly established, else we will be moved by every wind of doctrine and controversy, and every event that shakes our faith.
4) That we would be fruitful as Christians. – We are brought into Christ and forgiven of our sins with the purpose of doing good works in Jesus’ name. Jesus’ told His disciples on the night of His betrayal that those vines not found fruitful would be removed and put in the fire. Pray that we, individually and a church, would be fruitful vines, and not chaff or withered vines destined for the fire.
5) That our ways would prosper for Christ’s sake. - May we desire God’s blessing so that we might be a blessing to others. Pray that selfish desires would die out.
6) For those who stand in judgment and are following the way that will perish. – Many are lost and perishing. We must petition the Lord of the Harvest for workers, but also for the crop as well.