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.

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.

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalm 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

MEMORY VERSE: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. — James 1:12

CENTRAL THOUGHT: Blessed, or happy, is the man who fears and trusts in the Lord and delights in Him; the Lord chooses him to dwell in His courts. His sins have been forgiven and his spirit is free from deceit. He doesn’t show favoritism to the proud, but considers the poor. He endures temptation and receives the crown of life.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Psalm 1:1 “Counsel”: advice; guiding wisdom; plan; purpose. “Ungodly”: morally wrong; actively bad; wicked; guilty; condemned; one who is without God; has not God in him. “Sinners”: those who go astray from the path of righteousness. The root word means to miss the mark; to pass over the prohibited limits; to transgress. “Scornful”: have in derision; make a mockery; “Those who make what is good and holy the object of their ridicule; defiant and cynical freethinkers” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges).

Psalm 1:2 “Delight”: from a root meaning inclination, or to bend; pleasure; desire. “Law of the Lord”: the law of Jehovah; doctrine; the written revelation of the will of God; the revealed truths of God. “To the law of Jehovah is his inclination.”

Psalm 32:2 “Imputeth”: charge; make account of. “Guile”: deceit; treachery. (Webster’s defines “treachery” as violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence.)

Psalm 41:1 “Considereth”: give attention to; ponder. “Thou wilt make all his bed”: to turn; overturn; transform; relieve his suffering; make him comfortable.

James 1:12 “Endureth”: remain under; bear up against; persevere. “Tried”: proven, tested and found worthy.

LESSON BACKGROUND

The first Psalm begins, as the Gospel does, with a beatitude, and there are several more verses in the Psalms that describe the blessed man. We have included a few for this lesson. Each of the verses could be an extensive lesson on its own; however, we will only comment briefly today. Along with Jesus’ Beatitudes, altogether they present a word picture of a beautiful, joyous life.

Our memory verse is from the book of James; no doubt as he wrote he was remembering back to the “blesseds” he heard at Jesus’ feet.

Psalms 1 describes what a blessed, happy man does not do, in progressive steps; from walking in, or following, wicked counsel; to standing or choosing a career in the pathway of active transgression; to sitting, or taking up permanent residence, as one of their number, in the assembly occupied by atheists and scoffers. “He who acts by bad counsel may soon do evil deeds; and he who abandons himself to evil doings may end his life in total apostasy from God” (Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary).

Keep in mind that when the Scripture talks about man, it speaks of mankind. Any person. A man, woman, boy or girl, whoever it is that chooses to walk in the Lord’s ways, will be joyful, prosperous, delivered in the time of trouble, and given everlasting life.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. Progression of Sin: How is this described in Psalm 1:1?
2. Remedy for Sin: What has the blessed man done with his sin?
3. Toward God: Describe the blessed man’s bearing toward the Lord.

4. Toward Men: Describe the blessed man’s dealings with the proud, the dishonest, and the poor.
5. The Reward: What shall be done, in this life and for eternity, for the man who is blessed by the Lord?

    

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

I have seen young people choose to go their own way. They prove the Bible true, albeit negatively, to the letter. Their pathway progresses downward just as these verses describe. They go from being a curious, simple-minded young boy or girl naively open to worldly counsel and the influence of their friends; to an adult desperately seeking for happiness and fulfillment, going from one relationship to another, becoming more and more entangled with addictions, and pursuing daring and dangerous lifestyles; to a cynical, embittered, burned and battered, too-old-too-soon, middle-aged individual; too callous to care, too tired to try, and too blind to believe.

Contrast that with this picture painted by the scriptures: a saint of God, like a beautiful, fruit-bearing tree planted by a river, whose sins are forgiven, whose record is clean, and whose life is totally open and honest. His inclination and desire is to study and meditate on God’s will and Word revealed to him. He reverences the Lord, trusts wholly in Him and daily walks in His ways. God chooses him to dwell in His house and in His presence. He enjoys the honest labor of his hands and the love of his family. He doesn’t seek the fortune and fame of this world, but seeks to walk among the honest and humble people and relieve the misfortunes of the poor. This person enjoys the precious privilege of having the Lord deliver him in trouble, stand by him and comfort him in affliction, and heal him in times of sickness. The Lord will prosper and bless everything he does in life.

And at the end of his earthly walk—his faithfulness, patience and trust in the Lord tested, proven and found worthy—he is rewarded with a crown of everlasting life.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

REFLECTIONS

What a Blessedness is Mine!

Consciousness of pardoned sin, Perfect peace where fears had been,

Life, abundant life within – What a blessedness is mine!

Now for me ‘tis Christ to live, Everything – myself – I give,

I who freely did receive – What a blessedness is mine!

Comradeship with Him I love, Satisfied if He approve,

His the Name, all names above – What a blessedness is mine!

Now the dread of death is past, Rest, true rest is mine at last,

Overwhelmed in love so vast – What a blessedness is mine!

I am saved – I know I am! Everlasting life I claim!

Trusting in His mighty name – What a blessedness is mine!

—T. O. Chrisholm

#67 in His Praise Anew, Gospel Trumpet Company, 1936

—Submitted by Bro. Harlan Sorrell