i am blessed...

One of the most recognized and memorized passages, Psalm 1, brings comfort to the troubled soul. It contrasts the end of the Blessed Man with that of the Ungodly.

This psalm begins by instructing one as to how to become a "Blessed One". It tells where NOT to walk, stand and sit; where TO put our delight and then describes the resulting blesssings.

We are instructed to:
1. Walk not in ungodly counsel. At first glance, we understand that this means we must not take heed or even to seek advice from the unsaved - and while this is certainly good instruction and true, we must realize that all counsel from even the believer, who is not himself walking in fellowship with God, may prove unprofitable.

By this, I suggest that the Saved may give counsel that is wrong, or misleading. We must be assured that the Saved man's counsel is coming from one who is in good fellowship with the Lord. Counsel from a Believer who is not walking with the Lord may not be godly, so, be careful!

The Psalmist continues with the warning:
2. Not standeth in the way of Sinners.  The one desiring the Lord's blessings will not walk, i.e., continue in/with the advice of the ungodly, lest he be quickly found to be standing in the way...having begun to associate  himself with 'sinners', those who willfully live in disobedience. The idea seems to be one who has now, taken a settled position among those who follow not after God and now walks in their ways. This continued association and willful fellowship leads to...

3. Sitting in the seat of the scornful. Note carefully the progression; listening to wrong counsel leads to wrong associations, leading to taking a position of criticism among the sinners against the godly.

By this downward progression, the person caught therein will not experience God's blessings. However, to walk not, stand not and sit not, provides opportunity for blessings.

Verses 2-3 describes the benefits of obedience - of the one who delights, takes pleasure in, the Word of God. Delight in God's Word infers obedience and the result of obedience is security, provision and prosperity.

The Contrast of the Ungodly is seen in verses 4-6. The ungodly are not so blessed, as those referred to in 2-3, but are 'unstable as chaff, blown about by the wind; neither shall the ungodly stand in the day of judgment..."

The Lord knows both the ways of the godly and of the ungodly. Blessings are on the godly and perishing awaits the ungodly.

Those who purposely walk, stand and sit among the godly, and who delight in the Word of God may proclaim, "I am blessed!"
A hymn that may remind you of this blessedness is God Leads Us Along written by G.A. Young