“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
The book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible is a collection of prayers and songs showing us what it looks like to live life with God. The psalms were used in the worship of the people of Israel and continue to be utilized in the Christian church as avenues of prayer and worship to God.
Psalm 1 sets the tone for the entire collection of psalms by contrasting two different ways of life: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. Or, to put it another way, the way of a growing life with God or the way of an atrophied life apart from God. Psalm 1 begins with an important biblical word: blessed. The word ‘blessed’ basically means being happy or flourishing in the fullest sense of those words, including all the various aspects of our moral, mental, and physical lives. In simple terms, being ‘blessed’ means having the fullness of God’s joy brought into our lives.
And that sense of being blessed comes when our life is, in a sense, planted in God. Throughout the psalms, both in Psalm 1 and in other places, the concept of being blessed is both a gift from God but also reflects how we choose to live our lives. On the one hand it is a direct gift from God of His goodness into our lives, while on the other hand it is the indirect result of God’s guidance when we live life in a way that reflects God’s truth. Either way, whether directly or indirectly, blessing is a gift from God.
So, as we begin the journey of Lent, let us consider with Psalm 1 what it means to live planted in God. True blessing will come from that place.
For reflection:
Each Sunday we include discussion questions on the sermon insert that can be used for deeper reflection and/or small group discussions. Take time to read through those questions today. You can find a digital version online at eastbrook.org/TreeandVine.
by Pastor Matt Erickson
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