A Life of Joy in the Word

Brian Payne

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A life of true joy in the word of God

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Psalm 1:1-3 “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.”

Introduction

In general, everyone wants happiness. I would say the majority of people even pursue happiness. As a matter of fact, the pursuit of happiness is embedded right in our Declaration of Independence that man is created with certain unalienable rights: Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And that’s nothing new. Man has always been on a search for happiness and with that history is the historical fact that men in their sin, have always looked for happiness in the wrong places. Genesis 6:5 says, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Why? Because he is hopelessly sinful and looking for happiness from sinful pleasures, in sinful ways. That brings us to the answer we find in the first Psalm.

Psalm 1 can be considered a concise outline to the whole book of Psalms. Spurgeon says “This Psalm may be regarded as THE PREFACE PSALM, having in it a notification of the contents of the entire Book. It is the psalmists's desire to teach us the way to blessedness, and to warn us of the sure destruction of sinners. This, then, is the matter of the first Psalm, which may be looked upon, in some respects, as the text upon which the whole of the Psalms make up a divine sermon.” This psalm is one of the best known and favored in the Psalter. It summarizes the two paths of life open to people, the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. It also deals with God, godly living, and the hope of the godly in view of the Mosaic Covenant promises. Therefore it is an appropriate one to open the collection of 150 psalms. The editors probably intended it to be an introduction to the whole Psalter for this reason. Its figures of speech recur throughout the rest of the book. In view of its content, it is a wisdom psalm and a didactic psalm designed to give understanding to the reader. Though just 6 lines, we get a clear view of the contrast between the lives of a righteous man, and that of a wicked man. Not only that, but we can see the source of each man’s walk in life and the manifestation of that. Bible history seems to be built around the concept of ’two men’: the ’first Adam’ and the ’last Adam’ in Romans 5, Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, David and Saul-and Bible history culminates in Christ and Antichrist. Two men, two ways, two destinies." So what does this look like for the individual? Let’s look at verse 1 and get to know...

I. The man who finds Joy in the daily walk- V. 1

First, What does it mean to be “Blessed” here?

“Blessed” From the perspective of the individual, this is a deep-seated joy and contentment in God; from the perspective of the believing community, it refers to redemptive favor. In fact Psalm 32:1 confirms this “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!” This blessedness is not deserved but is a gift from God. Even when the righteous do not feel happy they are blessed from God’s perspective because He protects them from judgment resulting from the Fall. For the Psalm 1 man, the blessing first of all is on the one who does not engage in certain activities. A progression is in view from two levels. First, three types of offenders are mentioned, with each group being more severe than the previous. Second, the words used to convey association with the offenders convey the potential for increasing involvement with them. The “wicked” are those who would be guilty in a court of law, even for one offense. The word “sinners” implies a repetition of evil deeds. “Scoffers” not only engage in illicit activities but also ridicule those who don’t. This progression is similar to Paul’s description of the spread of sin that continues until men and women “give hearty approval” to those who practice “things which are not proper”.

Look at Romans 1:28-32 Look at Romans 1:28-32 “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,” “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,”

In walking in the counsel of the wicked, a person would listen to their advice and engage in a wicked activity. In standing in the path of sinners, he would be expressing greater commitment to sin. In sitting in the seat of scoffers, he would be fully committed to the extent that he seeks to shame others into joining him. If the individual spoken of in this psalm were someone else, she could very easily descend into increasing involvement with evil. But the blessed man avoids this walk. But, is he pursuing happiness? Verse 2 tells us the blessed man...

II. Finds Joy in the Word of God

The psalmist uses the familiar Old Testament form of pronouncing that a certain type of person is “blessed.” Jesus employs the form in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. In these forms, a certain type of person, or one who engages in the lifestyle called for, comes under God’s blessing. The word used for “blessed” means a deep sense of well-being. Consider Matthew 5:6 ““Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Notice that, this is not a pursuit of happiness; the pursuit is righteousness! The result is true, lasting joy! Real happiness. What is this man’s strategy? Meditation in God’s Word. This is like a cycle that continues; the cycle of meditation and joy. Meditation and joy, on and in God’s Word.

The godly allows the Word of God (Heb. torah, i.e., instruction that comes from God) to shape his conduct rather than the wicked. One expositor saw Jesus Christ as the ultimately godly person profiled in this psalm. [Note: Harry A. Ironside, Studies on Book One of the Psalms, pp. 8-13.] His meditation on it involves prolonged thinking about it that takes place in study and review throughout the day.

"Meditation is not the setting apart of a special time for personal devotions, whether morning or evening, but it is the reflection on the Word of God in the course of daily activities (Joshua 1:8). Regardless of the time of day or the context, the godly respond to life in accordance with God’s word." [Note: VanGemeren, p. 55.] "What digestion is to the body, meditation is to the soul." We’re commanded to meditate and internalize because of it’s importance. Philippians 4:8 (NASB95) — 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Meditation on the person of God

Ps 16:8

Psalm 16:8 (NASB95) — 8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

See also Ps 119:27

Psalm 119:27 (NASB95) — 27Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So I will meditate on Your wonders.

Praise and worship

Ps 48:9–10; Ps 63:5–6; Ps 104:33–35; Ps 119:97

Psalm 48:9–10 (NASB95) — 9We have thought on Your lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Your temple. 10As is Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Psalm 63:5–6 (NASB95) — 5My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

Psalm 104:33–35 (NASB95) — 33I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth And let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 119:97 (NASB95) — 97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Prosperity and success

Jos 1:8

Delight in the Lord

Ps 1:2

Psalm 1:2 (NASB95) — 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

See also Ps 119:15–16; Ps 119:23–24; Ps 119:77–78

Psalm 119:15–16 (NASB95) — 15I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. 16 I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:23–24 (NASB95) — 23Even though princes sit and talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes. 24 Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors.

Psalm 119:77–78 (NASB95) — 77May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight. 78May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts.

Confidence and faith

Ps 16:8

Psalm 16:8 (NASB95) — 8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

the result is in v. 3 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.

All who delight in and meditate on God’s law will prosper like a flourishing fruit tree (cf. Psalms 92:12-14). Their fruit will appear at the proper time, not necessarily immediately, and their general spiritual health, represented by the leaves, will be good. Usually the fruit God said He would produce in the lives of most Old Testament believers was physical prosperity (cf. Deuteronomy 28:1-14). The fruit a Christian bears is mainly a transformed character and godly conduct (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). In both cases it is God’s blessing on one’s words and works. His prosperity is from God’s viewpoint, not necessarily from the world’s.

The most important part of a tree is its hidden root system because it draws up water and nourishment that feeds the tree. Without a healthy root system a tree will die, and without a healthy "root system" a believer will wilt. Fruit, in biblical imagery, is what is visible to other people, not just what is hidden within a person. It is also what benefits other people, what others can take from us that nourishes them (cf. John 15:1-11).

Sin has its delights. But if you want a deep sense of well being that comes from the Lord, you will not find it in the ethos that you can do and be anything you want. You will find it in a greater delight. You will find it in the word of God. Sin has its pleasures, but it can’t match the pleasures of the word of God. The word of God is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. You have heard it said that you should ignore your feelings, but I say unto you that you ignore your feelings at your own peril. For if you feel nothing for the word of God, you will find it difficult to resist the cultural forces. You will long to feel something, anything, just to feel alive. If we want this deep sense of well-being, we must not only feel something, we must do something. We need not increase our activity to counteract the activity of the wicked. We must meditate on the word. We must not only read and study it, we must ponder it with regularity. We must sit with it. If you absorb the word into the bloodstream of your soul, it will nourish your inner life and it will surprise you by surfacing in your thoughts throughout the day

Conclusion

Ultimately, The godly man described in the first 3 verses is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the perfect fulfilment of this Psalm. He is the Way (v1), the Truth (v2), and the Life (v3).

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