Blessed (Psalm one) transcription 

Bible 5 Minutes

Two Paths, One Choice: The Secret to a Truly Blessed Life

We all want to be blessed, don’t we? If I asked you to raise your hand if you’d like a blessed life, I’m sure most of us would say yes. But here’s a tougher question to ponder in your heart: are you willing to do what it takes to be blessed?

It’s a bit like me saying I’d love to play the violin. I adore the sound and the idea of playing it is wonderful. But have I ever taken a lesson or even picked one up? No. My desire to play doesn’t match my willingness to put in the effort. When it comes to living a blessed life, we don’t want to have the same disconnect.

The book of Psalms opens with a beautiful and foundational poem, Psalm 1, which lays out two distinct paths: the path of the blessed and the path of the wicked. It’s a short, clear-cut psalm that serves as a gateway to the rest of this incredible book of poetry and prayer. Let’s explore what it teaches us about how to live a truly blessed life.

The Path to Avoid

The psalm begins by telling us what the blessed person doesn’t do.

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers.Psalm 1:1 (NIV)

This verse paints a picture of progressive entanglement with ungodliness. It’s about being careful where we get our advice, who we associate with, and what influences we allow into our hearts and minds.

  • Walking with the wicked: This is about the counsel we follow. When the Bible uses the word “wicked,” it doesn’t just mean history’s most monstrous figures. It often refers to the “ungodly”—those who live without reference to God. The world’s wisdom and God’s wisdom are often at odds. If we want to be blessed, we must seek godly counsel, not the advice of a world that doesn’t know Him.
  • Standing with sinners: This speaks of association. Imagine a group of people up to no good on a street corner. The psalmist warns us not to “hang out” with them, not to throw our lot in with those whose actions and lifestyles lead away from God.
  • Sitting with mockers: This is about allegiance. In a world that often makes fun of faith, God, and the church, we are called not to join in. We shouldn’t align ourselves with those who ridicule the things of God.

The apostle Paul sums it up perfectly: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV). We must be intentional about the people, media, and ideas we allow to shape us.

The Path to Pursue

After telling us what to avoid, the psalmist immediately shows us the alternative—the positive pursuit of the blessed person.

but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.Psalm 1:2 (NIV)

Instead of being shaped by the world, the blessed person is shaped by the Word of God.

  • Delight in God’s Law: Do you delight in the Bible? It’s a challenging question. Sometimes, reading Scripture can feel more like going to the gym—we know it’s good for us, but we don’t always feel like it. The psalmist encourages a different attitude: approaching God’s Word like a delicious meal we can’t wait to enjoy. It should be our source of wisdom, comfort, and joy.
  • Meditate Day and Night: Biblical meditation isn’t about emptying your mind, as in some Eastern practices. It’s about filling your mind with God’s truth. The Hebrew word for “meditate” can also mean “to mutter.” It’s the idea of repeating Scripture to yourself, mulling it over, and chewing on it like a cow chews the cud. This isn’t about speed-reading chapters to tick a box; it’s about letting a single verse sink deep into your soul.

To be blessed, we must be students of the Word, giving it priority in our lives day and night.

The Result: A Tree, Not Chaff

The psalm gives us two powerful images to show the outcome of these two paths. The blessed person is described in this beautiful way:

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.Psalm 1:3 (NIV)

This is a picture of stability, health, and fruitfulness. Rooted in God’s Word, the blessed person has a constant source of nourishment. As a result, they produce good fruit—the “fruit of the Spirit” that Paul describes as “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).

In stark contrast, the wicked are described as follows:

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.Psalm 1:4 (NIV)

Chaff is the light, worthless husk that is separated from the valuable grain during threshing. It has no roots, no substance, and is easily blown away. This is the ultimate end for a life lived apart from God—it lacks true stability and purpose and will not withstand God’s final judgement.

The Ultimate Source of Blessing

So, is the message of Psalm 1 simply “follow these rules and you’ll earn God’s blessing”? Not quite. This is where the gospel turns everything on its head in the most wonderful way.

The Old Testament law, including the standard set in Psalm 1, showed humanity that we couldn’t be “blessed” on our own. Our hearts are sick with sin. We fail to keep the standard perfectly. We need a saviour.

That Saviour is Jesus. He lived the perfect “Psalm 1 life.” He perfectly delighted in God’s law, never walked with the wicked, stood with sinners, or sat with mockers. He earned the blessing. Yet on the cross, He took the punishment—the curse—that we deserved.

This means that our blessing isn’t earned by our actions, but is received as a gift through faith in Jesus. As Paul writes:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)

Notice the past tense: He has blessed us. If you are in Christ, you are already blessed with every spiritual blessing, including forgiveness, justification, and adoption.

So, why do we follow the path outlined in Psalm 1? We don’t do these things to get blessed; we do them because we are blessed. Because Jesus has changed our hearts, we now want to delight in God’s Word. Because His Spirit lives in us, we now want to turn away from the path of the wicked. Our new life is a joyful response to the incredible blessing we have already received in Him.

The path to a blessed life isn’t found in ticking boxes, but in trusting Jesus. When you are in Him, He begins to transform you, and a fruitful, stable, and truly blessed life is the beautiful result.

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Published by Andy Brown (andrewbrown100)

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