“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;” Psalm 1:1
Devotion:
Everyone yearns for a blessed life, whether or not we explicitly articulate it. We desire happiness, fullness, and peace—a state of being truly blessed. For those who acknowledge God as the highest good, His blessing becomes the pinnacle of life.
Psalm 1, the introduction to the entire book of Psalms, begins by describing the blessed. In Psalm 1:1, we learn that the blessed do not walk in the counsel of the wicked. This implies they don’t seek wisdom from those morally corrupt; their ears are not attuned to evil counsel.
Furthermore, the blessed do not stand in the way of sinners. This doesn’t mean confronting sinners, but rather avoiding participation in their sinful ways. The blessed person doesn’t tread the same paths as sinners; their life takes a different trajectory.
Psalm 1:1 also teaches that the blessed do not sit in the seat of scoffers. Every individual either sits in respect for God and His authority or in disrespect. The blessed person aligns their life with God, firmly planted for Him, not against Him.
If we’re honest, we must admit that this ‘blessed man’ cannot be any of us. At some point, we’ve all walked in the counsel of the wicked, stood in the way of sinners, and sat in the seat of scoffers. Jesus alone has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, stood in the way of sinners, or taken the seat of scoffers. We look to Jesus as our perfect righteousness and obedience before God.
For those transformed by His Spirit, we join Him in pursuing a heavenly life. Because of what Jesus has done and will do for us, a day is coming when we will be as righteous as He is. We won’t be associated with the wicked, sinners, or scoffers. Our old corruption will be conquered, and we will be blessed alongside the Blessed Man, Jesus Christ. So, let’s pursue this future now.
Prayer:
Lord God, we earnestly desire Your blessing. You, the highest good, hold immense value in our lives, and Your approval means everything to us. Sadly, we acknowledge that we have heeded the wrong voices, chosen foolish paths, and disrespected You on numerous occasions. We rely completely on Your mercy.
Thank You for sending Jesus to be the true ‘blessed man,’ transforming us in the process. We know that our final approval, and Your full blessing, comes from being hidden in Him. We seek Your power and grace to reject falsehood and evil, both within us and around us. Shine Your face upon us. In Jesus’ name, we worship and pray.
Amen.
