The word “Blessed” in Hebrews “Ashrei” that means far more than just being “blessed.” It conveys profound, intense happiness. Instead of a fleeting feeling, it describes the lasting joy of a person who walks the right path. 

     This word “Blessed” opens famous passages like Psalm 1:1. The Hebrew sentence order emphasizes this immense joy. Scholars often translate it as "O, how exceedingly happy is the man!". This joy is not about luck or wealth. It comes from obeying God's ways.

     The "blessed man" in Psalm 1 finds true joy by making God's Word his daily guide. By reading and thinking about the Bible Day and night, for God’s Word has a special and significant place in the life of that person that is really happy. 

     Psalm 1 is the epitome of all the Psalms. This opening six stanzas sets the framework for all 150 Psalms. 

The Hebrew title of this book is 'The Book of Praises'. The term "Psalms" is Greek [psalmoi], taken from the Septuagint, and meaning songs sung to musical instruments. This psalm is a preface to the collection. Hence, in the oldest reading of, our second psalm is quoted as “the first psalm” (Acts 13:33 “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”).

The phrase “as it is also written in the second psalm” that is according to another reading or in some copies of the Old Testament is showing “the first psalm”, that psalm 1 being regarded as a general introduction to the whole Psalter or was treated as a kind of prelude to the whole book, in which view the one that followed would be reckoned the first, or the numeration beginning with what is now the second, as indeed it is numbered in several Hebrew manuscript.

     In Psalm 1, we see the comparison of two persons, two ways in life and two destinies. This contrast is especially dramatic when one observes words penned at the beginning, the godly are “blessed” and the last word, the ungodly “perish”. Take your choice!

     When we say the blessing of living by the bible, it speaks of a real happy person that has chosen God'”

I – LIVING BY THE BIBLE GUARDED YOUR LIFE – v.1

     The blessed person purposefully chooses to follow divine wisdom which comes from the Bible. The blessed man actively avoids harmful habits in their life and bad company. By guarding their steps and delighting in God’s Word, they protect themselves from unexpected potential hidden dangers that is faced that he/she may live a peaceful, fruitful life. 

Let us see first the downward steps or the progressive decline of a person who does not live by the Bible.

     Before we know the progressive spiritual declining, let us know who are the people who badly influenced the Christian.          

     Three words in describing three groups of unsaved: 

     The word “ungodly” or “wicked” in Hebrews “rasha” is an adjective meaning unrighteous, unjust, an evil person, wrong wicked, guilty – legally not innocent of a violation of the law: (Exod. 23:1; Psalm 109:7).

The word “Rasha” often describes unbelievers, who hate God and are habitually hostile toward God. The ungodly people conduct their lives as if God does not exist and with no regard to God. Rasha is the opposite of righteous. 

     The Hebrews “Rasha” translates in Greek translates “asebes” which means ungodly. “Asebes” from “a” means without, and “sebomai” means worship, venerate, that describes one who expresses a lack of interest in the things of God and a behavior and lifestyle consistent with such an irreverent attitude. 

     The word “sinners” in Hebrews “chatta / hatta” (related word sin “chattat / chattath) is an archery term which meant “to fall short, miss the mark” (Judges 20:16). The mark is the will and plan of God as revealed in Scripture. Sinners speaks of a person who has taken a way contrary to God’s command and has chosen to live the way they do. So, sin is the transgression of God’s will as God has revealed it. Sin is whatever misses the will of God for man doctrinally or morally. 

     We are all sinners. We all miss the mark, and none of us are perfect nor will we ever be perfect in this life. This is why Christ had to die for our sin so might have God’s imputed righteousness through Christ (II Corinthians 5:21). 

     The word “scornful” in Hebrew “lis/luwts” means to deride, those who treat virtue, religion and sacred things with contempt and scorn (Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 9:7; Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 15:12; Proverbs 20:1). Scornful refers to someone who laughs, ridicules and sneers at God, ways of God and word of God. 

     Standing is more than walking, and sitting more than standing; and sinners in scripture are worse than the ungodly, and the scornful are the worst of sinners. 

     After we see the three personalities who can badly affect and influence Christians, this time let us take a look how it happen progressively, step by step.

     Description of the downward steps or spiritual decline

Psalm 1:1a “walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”

     The word “walketh” means having a casual acquaintance with the ungodly people who have no place for God in their life. Are we aware that we are actually around such people every day of our lives. Example: We work with, we go to school with, and live with unsaved people in whom God has no place in their lives all the time. 

2. Closer association – v.1b

Psalm 1:1b “nor standeth in the way of sinners”

The word “standeth” means having a closer association with sinners. They stop and intermingling with the sinners being drawn in and drawn to the ways of sinners. This means having companionship with those who do contrary to the will and plan of God. There is a more deliberate inclination for their society, indicated by a voluntary putting of oneself in places where they usually congregate, and standing to wait for them for the sinners. 

Psalm 1:1c “nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

     Sitting, as in one’s habitual place, among scorners (2 Peter 3:3; Isaiah 5:19; Psalms 50:20; Psalms 69:12; Jeremiah 15:17; Jeremiah 17:15). Sitting is the attitude of drinking wine companions. Wine itself is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”).

     There is a deliberate and settled purpose of associating with them, or of becoming permanently one of them, by regularly sitting among them.

Two things about scorners who make bad company:

have said, scorner is irreverent and does not respect the things of God. The scorner does not bring happiness to the world, but honoring God brings happiness.

with care. Unholy companions have a bad influence upon you. Keeping company with the foul mouthed and those who scorn God will not bring happiness, but they bring much sorrow to your life. A mouth that is sanctified mouth is a mouth that is not scornful. 

     No Christians just suddenly gets away from God; it was a progressive spiritual declining. They must avoid the declining spiritual steps that lead to sin. Notice the downward steps: 

1. Considering sin (walking – walk among those without God)

2. Contemplating sin (standing – stopping and standing, there was a fascination with the world)

3. Comfortable in sin (sitting – sitting among those who know not God, have no place for God, care less about God). 

      Paul said in I Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners”.

Paul makes use of a quotation from the poet Menander.  The word rendered “communications” means, properly, a being together; companionship; close contact; converse. It refers not to discourse only, but refers to contact, or companionship. “Evil communications" refer to conversations with those who deny the resurrection, for they saying that the resurrection is merely spiritual, that sin has its seat solely in the body, and will be left behind when the soul leaves it, if indeed, the soul survive at all.

     Watch out, people you meet and are around can change your life. People you associate with can either lift you or will lower you. Be careful of the people you associate with.

After we learn of the three personalities, and the three progressive spiritual decline, let us learn of the permanent defense to avoid the dangers and harmful things that hinder real happiness.     

There are three things that the blessed man is constantly and permanently and persistently guarding against. 

Psalm 1:1a “walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”

The words “walketh not in the counsel” it means walking not according to the counsel or plans (Micah 6:16; Psalms 81:12). Because life is represented as a journey and man as a traveler (Psalm 15:2 “who walketh uprightly.”)

     The words “walketh not” refers to more than the past. It is the character of a man, always and habitually does the walk, for it has not only been true in the past, but it is true in the present, and will be true in the future. 

     The world’s counsel is unholy counsel and will destroy happiness. If you listen to the advice of the world you will end up in more trouble and less happiness. The world is ready to give counsel but ungodly counsel does not include the Word of God because the world’s counsel opposes the Word. If you want true happiness in life, do not listen to worldly advice in character matters. Worldly advice will not bring you happiness but regrets and sorrow. Happy person does not live by or follow the advice of those who do not know God and have no place for God in their life. 

Psalm 1:1b “nor standeth in the way of sinners”     

     The words “nor standeth in the way of sinners” means to not do as the sinner does, to not act as the sinner acts. The world standards are certainly not God’s standards. The world standards are immoral, corrupt and defiled in their conduct. Although there is a pleasure in sin, but it is only for a season (Hebrews 11:25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”) and then it was followed by eternity of sorrow. The political and cultural are only clever terms for worldly conduct. The worldly conduct is not advocated in the Bible. The real happiness is holiness and the world scorns that holy practice but scorning holy living does not change the fact. If you want to be happy, be holy because there is no true happiness apart from holiness.

Psalm 1:1c “nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

      They have not become one with those scornful for they are not sitting among them. The happy man does not hang around those who live in sin and have a lifestyle that is ungodly and sinful. The happy man puts up a permanent defense, always on guard against to dwell with the ungodly and against to remain with the ways of the ungodly. If you want to be happy person we must live a guarded life.

     The great lesson to be learned from the whole is, sin is progressive; James 1:15 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” And Solomon the son of David, adds a profitable advice to those words of his father: Proverbs 4:14 “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.”

II – LIVING BY THE BIBLE GUIDED YOUR LIFE – v.2

     To make the Bible a daily guide and a shield against danger that surround you, it must move from the coffee table or from car to your heart. Engaging with scripture daily transforms it from a static object into an active source of wisdom and strength on which you rely as a guide in life. 

     Some of the quotes of D.L. Moody that the Bible not only guarded his life but guided his life: “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”’ Psalm 91: 4 “His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

ILLUSTRATION:

     David Livinstone a famous Scottish missionary and explorer was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Laws by the Glasgow University in 1986. When David Livingstone gave his famous speech at the University of Glasgow to share his missionary motivations, the student audience look upon him and attentively in silence listened. Livingstone told the students that in spite of his physical weakness and weariness he was returning to Africa, David Livingstone said, “Would you like me to tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among a people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude toward me was always uncertain and often hostile? It was my motto: "I will go back to Africa to try to make an open path for commerce and Christianity." The quote Livingstone relied on comes directly from the Gospel of Matthew 28:20 “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” David Livingstone used this verse as his anchor. Livingstone credited this scripture with supporting him during hardships and uncertain encounters in Africa. It remined him that he was never alone in his travels or during his struggles with illness and dangerous situations. Livingstone, like every believer who has let God’s Word be the guide of their life, has found the Bible a strong and sufficient guide for life. The Bible is the guide for an intensely happy life.

Psalm 1:2a “But his delight is in the law of the Lord;”

Notice the words “But his delight”, it speaks of his pleasure, his happiness. Instead of finding his happiness in the associations and the occupations of the wicked, he finds it in the Scriptures. The law of God is not distasteful to him, but he so delights in it as to desire to become more and more acquainted with it, and to have its truths impressed more and more on his heart and results in great happiness.

     Many people look at the Bible as a melancholy not a merry book, legalistic in spirit not a life giving, as a burden and not as a blessing. The Psalmist said in Psalm 119:54 “Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” If a person obeyed the Bible, it gives a singing and joyful heart. For the Psalmist the Word of God was Psalm 19:10 “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” 

     Whatever delights your heart will end up directing your heart. If you delight in the Word, you will eat it (memorize) and chew it (meditate). Delight in the Word of God leads to eating of it and eating leads to increasing delight in the Word, and so the circle continues.

     If there be anything in which the blessed man delights (Romans 7:22 “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:”) it is in the law (in Hebrew “towraah”), literally from a root “yaarah”, means to point the way, direction. The law of Moses, the representative of the whole inspired volume of the Lord. 

     The Hebrew noun for delight “Hepes/chepes/chephets” pictures that which is bent toward and thus is a beautiful figure of godly believer who is continuous leaning toward the law of Jehovah, (not referring to the ten commandments) but referring to the law as representative of God’s word, God’s love letter.

     God’s word is God’s love letter given to fallen, rebellious mankind; the happy man seeks this letter as a young man or woman would devour a love letter from the one they are courting or being courted by, reading the letter sentence by sentence, phrase by phrase, word by word, reading whole letter without interruption, unaware of surrounding distractions, reading and re-reading the love letter. That is the image of one of delight of the brethren having a love letter from God Who is the essence of love. So, man and woman bent toward the Bible. The Septuagint (translators of Hebrews to Greek) translates delight (“hepes/chepes/chephets”) of Psalm 1:2 with the noun Thelema which mean what one wishes to happen or the act of desiring.

     Notice the words “his delight”, this is not man’s obligation, not his job, not his duty (although these descriptions have some truth), not his drudgery. But God’s Word his delight, his great happiness.

Psalm 1:2 “and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

     The word “Meditate” literally means “murmur” or to “moan”. Jews were known for their moaning. If you were to go the Wall in Jerusalem you would not be able to understand a thing they are saying. They are talking to themselves, moaning, and humming. Meditation is moaning to yourself. It is talking to yourself. The Psalmist talked to himself about what God says in His Word. Meditate is to utter in a low complaining voice, as is often done by a person in deep meditation; hence, in the usual sense, to meditate on anything is to think of it. 

Joshua 1:8 “Thou shalt meditate therein (the law) day and night.” 

Psalms 77:12 “I meditate on all thy work.” 

Proverbs 15:28 “the heart of the righteous meditateth what to answer” 

The meaning here is, happy man thinks of it; he endeavors to understand its meaning; he has pleasure in reflecting on it. It is not a subject which he puts away from him, or in respect to which he is indifferent, but he keeps it before his mind, and has satisfaction in meditating it.

     Happy man not only reads the Bible to gain knowledge it, but he meditates on what he has read, feeds on it; and thus receiving the sincere milk of the word, that grows thereby (I Peter 2:2). Meditating is not an occasional study to the happy man; it is his work day and night. Meditation is to reading the Word what digesting is to eating. Without the slow and lengthened process of digestion, food would not nourish the body, without meditation of the Word, reading will not nourish the soul.                                                                                

ILLLUSTRATION: Cow chewing

The cow who continuously chew the grass, as the cow eating it, but the cow never seems to be in a hurry. The cow swallow it and then later resurrect (start attending Sunday morning) then he desires chew on the grass some more. It is getting everything it can out of what it is eating. That is the picture of meditation. It is chewing the Word over and over so that it becomes a very part of who and what you are.

     Notice the words “day and night” means not seldom and slightly, but diligently and constantly. That is, continually as day and night constitute the whole of time. Happy man meditates habitually. Happy takes time to meditate. Happy man meditates in the wakeful hours of night, when sick and tossed upon his bed, or when, for any other reason: Psalm 63:6 “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”

EXAMPLE: D.L. Moody

     We are guilty as fast-food Christians, we speedily read 3 or 4 chapters, we race through our Bibles but when we finished reading, we never remember one thing what we have read. D.L. Moody reflection perfectly captures the difference between habit reading and meaningful reading. D.L. Moddy frequently emphasized that Scripture was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives and Moody taught that digesting a smaller portion thoroughly is far better than rushing through chapters. D.L. Moody once confessed “At one time I read so many chapters of the Bible a day that if I did not get through my usual quantity, I thought I was cold and backsliding. But, mind you, if a man had asked me two hours after as to what I had read, I could not tell him; I had forgotten it all.” This is true with us. 

Moody realized that internalizing just one or two verses deeply into the soul was more effective for spiritual growth than reading multiple chapters mindlessly. We need quality meditation.

     There is nothing we can benefit from the Bible unless it becomes part of ourselves, like food, unless it became part of our body, bone, and muscle, it does nothing good. Meditation is getting it into us and becomes real in our lives.

     Blessed or Happy man can be guarded by the Bible by being guided by the Bible.

III – LIVING BY THE BIBLE GLADDENED YOUR LIFE – v.3

     The Christian life that is guarded and guided by the Bible can results to a gladded life. Happy Christian is compared to a tree. To have the blessings of verse 3, we need to meet the conditions of verses 1 and 2. That is, we must first be separated from the world and saturated with the Word in order to be situated by the waters.

Psalm 1:3a “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,”

     Notice the words “And he shall be like a tree”, is a description of the happiness or prosperity of the man (v.3) who thus avoids the way of sinners (v.1), and who delights in the law of God (v.2). This is presented in the form of a very beautiful image, a tree planted where its roots would have abundance of water.

     Notice the words “planted by the rivers of water”, it is not a tree that springs up spontaneously, but a tree that is set out in a favorable place, and that is cultivated with care. The Hebrew word for “rivers” is “palgee” literally means divisions. The Eastern mode of watering trees in a garden being by dividing the water from the well in the midst into rivulets, to run along the rows of trees, and so, in the absence of rain, provide a constant artificial supply for irrigation of lands. In this way the water was distributed in all directions. The roots of the tree go down deep and draw nourishment from the rivers of waters. The raging typhoon may come and the sun scorch but a person like a tree planted by the rivers of water remains happy. There is stability about the life of this person who live by the bible.

     The blessed man is like trees planted by the rivers of waters with root systems to go deep into spiritual resources of God’s grace. Sadly, many who profess that they are truly born-again Christians are not like trees described in Psalm 1 but are like artificial plants or cut flowers with no roots. This artificial plants or cut flowers may be beautiful for a while but soon they die.

     A tree needs light, water and roots to live. We too have all resources which we draw life that comes from the Bible. The question we need to ask ourselves is where are our roots? The happy person is planted by the rivers of water, rooted in the Bible. Don’t be like those Christians who are dry, withered and only depend on their own resources like weeds blown by any wind of doctrine.    

     The world’s philosophy saying that happiness depends on happenings. Real happiness does not depend on circumstances. Real happiness does not depend on good things because when bad things occur you will be unhappy. Real happiness depends on where your source of happiness comes from and that is the river of God. Living by the Bible is like a tree planted by the rivers of water.

Psalm 1:3b “that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

     Notice the words “that bringeth forth his fruit in his season”. A tree is a blessing. Some of the benefits of a good tree is that it holds soil, provide shade and produces fruit. God wants to bless us but we need first to meet His conditions to receive God’s blessings. So, when we have roots, planted in the rivers of water (bible) we must draw upon spiritual resources to bring forth fruit in due season by allowing the Spirit to work in us and through us. 

     If the believers are like a tree and in contrast to the unbeliever or the ungodly who are like a chaff because they have no roots, produce no roots and are easily blown out. The ungodly reject the Word of God and will perish without hope. 

Psalm 1:6 “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” As Christians we must not reject the ungodly but try to reach the ungodly and preach the gospel of salvation to the ungodly. God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others. The Holy Spirit helps us bear fruit that can help win the lost. Are you like tree or like chaff?

     In order to bear fruit as a tree, we need God’s resources, so it is very important where we place our roots. And as we go down our roots deeply into the spiritual resources (Bible) of God’s grace we will produce fruit. Make the Bible your spiritual resources. Delight in the Bible and feed you soul with the Bible, by then God can use you to help win the lost, to bear fruit, so others enjoy the blessings that flow from the life the Christian are experiencing.  

     The most important thing about a tree is the root system. If the roots do not go down deep, the tree will not grow in a healthy manner. As a tree, if we are rooted in the things of the Lord, then our words will be the fruit of our fellowship with the Lord like the blessed man in Psalm 1:3 who produce fruit in due season. One reason why our Lord Jesus was able to say the right words at the right times was because He communed with His Father and heard from heaven each day. (Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Warren Wiersbe: Bible exposition – Old Testament. Victor)

     Someone said, happiness is the seed and happiness share is the flower. A happy person produces flowers for others. They bear fruit and they prosper in all they do.

     We think that some of the rich, famous and powerful people are happy for what they had an who they were. But listen to:

Alexander the Great – And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”

Jim Carrey – Canadian and American actor and comedian. Known primarily for his energetic performances, he is regarded as one of the most prominent comedic actors of his generation, said: “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” 

John D. Rockefeller - (one of the richest men in modern history answered the question of how much money is enough. Rockefeller answered “Just a little bit more” or “Just one more dollar”

Elvis Presley - Six weeks before he died, a reporter asked Elvis Presley, “Elvis, when you first started playing music, you said you wanted to be rich, famous and happy. Are you happy?” Elvis replies to the reporter, “I’m lonely as hell”. 

     Do you want real happiness? The Bible tells us one of the secrets of real happiness is: Psalm 1:1-3 “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.

² But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ³ 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.”