Fall 2018 40 Days of Prayer, Day 1
Day 1
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1
Blessings
Blessing is such an appropriate introduction to the entire book of psalms. The first words of the book, "How blessed," indicate the tremendous benefit to hearing and following the truths of this particular book, as well as the truths communicated throughout the entire Bible. The implications of being blessed by God runs counter to our transient, temporary culture of the pursuit of fun. We pursue happiness but ironically, chasing happiness often hinders our experience of divine blessing. As happiness seeks immediate pleasure on our own terms, blessedness seeks joy on God's terms. Happiness is idolatry. Happiness is ultimately the worship of the self. Blessedness comes from an act of worship. Worship seeks God above all else. Jesus also opened His public, teaching ministry in much the same way as this psalm. “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” If we are following the teachings of Jesus as presented in His beatitudes, then God alters our natural, human mindset and replaces it with divine priorities. Those who are willing to submit to the priorities of God are counted as blessed. Blessed is an inward joy that comes from God. It comes from outside us; it comes from God as a gift into our lives. This is tremendously helpful for if it came from within us it would temporary and frivolous. Since divine blessings come from God they are permanent and weighty. Happiness comes from within us, our feelings and our emotional sense of wellbeing based on our immediate circumstances. Blessing comes from a soul rest in God and His desire for us. Far too often we have exchanged the divine blessing for the temporary pleasure. This exchange comes with a price, the loss of the joyful, soul-satisfying rest in God’s divine blessings.
In this opening verse, the psalmist identifies hindrances to divine blessing. As Paul says, "bad company corrupts good morals.". Bad company also hinders divine blessing. If we long for joy, the joy that only God can give, we must be careful how we spend our time. We must be careful about the individuals we allow into our lives that influence our thinking and our priorities. We cannot spend time with people who are dominated by sin. We must be careful where we get advice and counsel. The wicked come from all aspects of our lives, constantly speaking with authority into our lives saying, “Live this way! Embrace this idea! Follow this dream!” Their way sounds so good. Their way makes us feel good and happy, at least for the moment. However, the result is often to lead us away from God’s priorities. The ways of the wicked are often paths to destruction and misery.
In contrast, verse 2 juxtaposes a life committed to these bad influences with that of a life committed to the Word of God. Notice the joy in this verse. That individual "delights in the Word of God." The blessing does not emerge from mere obedience to the Word of God. External, rote submission to the Bible is not sufficient, but instead we must delight in the word of God. We must move beyond merely following a list of dos and don’ts, but instead we must meditate, and abide in the Bible. “In His law he meditates day and night.” A life of denying the world’s priorities combined with embracing divine priorities, is a life producing divine blessing. In verse 3, the psalmist provides a beautiful picture of this blessed life. If we hear, love, embrace and follow the teachings of the Bible, we are like a tree planted deep, near a good source of water, producing good fruit. The blessed life has a transforming impact, the production of fruit. Not only does the blessed life produce soul-satisfying joy, it also produces fruit in our lives.
Prayer Focus
God, keep me from godless voices that would rob me of your blessings. Keep me in your word. Help me to abide in Your Word. Produce delight in my heart for You and Your priorities for my life.
From Charles Wesley’s Sermon, Salvation by Faith, Preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, before the University, on June 18, 1738
"By grace are you saved through faith." Eph. 2:8.
All the blessings which God has bestowed upon humans are from his mere grace or favor; his free, undeserved favor; favor altogether undeserved; people having no claim to the least of his mercies. It was free grace that "formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into him a living soul," and stamped on that soul the image of God, and "put all things under his feet." The same free grace continues to us, at this day, life, and breath, and all things. For there is nothing we are, or have, or do, which can deserve the least thing at God's hand. "All our works, You, O God, have brought about in us." These, therefore, are so many more instances of free mercy: and whatever righteousness may be found in humans, this is also the gift of God. How then shall a sinful human atone for even the least of his sins? With their own works? No. Indeed, they are all unholy and sinful themselves, so that every one of them needs atonement. Only corrupt fruit grows on a corrupt tree. And the heart is altogether corrupt and abominable; being "short of the glory of God," the glorious righteousness at first impressed on his soul, after the image of his great Creator. Therefore, having nothing, neither righteousness nor works, to plead, his mouth is utterly stopped before God.