Day 38 - Be Blessed

“Happy 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;

but his delight is in the instructions of the LORD,

and on his instruction he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.”

In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1)

It is possible to experience blessings in life. No, I don't have five steps to financial freedom or the ability to guarantee a change in your circumstances. However, I can offer you timeless wisdom that has influenced cultures worldwide and shaped my own perspective.

My wife and I are teaching these verses to our children.

In Psalm 1, the reader is presented with two contrasting ways of life: the path of the righteous, which leads to prosperity, and the path of the wicked, which leads to destruction. The righteous individual is described as someone who meditates, utters and speaks on God's law day and night, akin to a tree planted by streams of water that bears fruit in its season and does not wither.

Let's delve deeper into the Hebrew text of Psalm 1:

• 1. "Happy" (אַשְׁרֵי): The Psalm begins with the Hebrew word "אַשְׁרֵי" (Ashrei), often translated as "blessed," "happy," or "fortunate." It denotes a deep joy and contentment that stems from being in a right relationship with God and following His ways.

• 2. "Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked" (לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים): This is a contrastive structure that is common in wisdom literature, often comparing the way of the righteous versus the wicked. The word for 'walk' here is "הָלַךְ" (Halakh), used in the sense of following a path or way of life.

• 3. "Meditates" (וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה): The word for meditate here is "יֶהְגֶּה" (Yehgeh), meaning to mutter, murmur, or meditate. This implies an active and engaged relationship with God's law, reflecting on and internalizing it.

• 4. "Tree planted by streams of water" (וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵּי מָיִם): The righteous person is compared to a tree planted by water. This is a rich image depicting vitality, fruitfulness, and prosperity. The word for 'planted' here is "שָׁתוּל" (Shatul), indicating intentionality and care in its placement.

• 5. "Chaff that the wind drives away" (כַּמֹּץ אֲשֶׁר תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ): The wicked are compared to chaff, the lightweight casing around a grain that is easily carried off by the wind. This imagery contrasts the stability and fruitfulness of the righteous with the instability and fruitlessness of the wicked.

• 6. "Way of the righteous" (כִּי יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים): The word for 'way' here is "דֶּרֶךְ" (Derech), and the word for 'righteous' is "צַדִּיקִים" (Tzaddikim). God knows or is familiar with the way of the righteous, underscoring his intimate relationship with those who follow his law.

• 7. "Way of the wicked will perish" (וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד): The same word, "דֶּרֶךְ" (Derech), is used for 'way', but now it is the 'way' of the wicked, "רְשָׁעִים" (Rasha'im), and it will "perish" (תֹּאבֵד, To'aved). This closing line completes the contrast between the two ways of life.

So, in breaking down Psalm 1, we see the foundational themes of life: the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, the call to meditate on God's instruction, and the resulting fruitfulness or consequences thereof.

Let's look again at the progression outlined in the verse:

"Happy 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.."

Happiness comes from consciously avoiding the paths of the wickedness. The wording of the verse indicates the human propensity to walk, then stand, and sit.

The goal line is in sight.

Reflection:

As the old adage goes, “Show me your friends, I’ll show you where you’re headed.” By consciously choosing my social circle and being discerning about the company I keep, I can create an environment that promotes personal growth and well-being.

Practice:

Implementing this type of mindset requires recognizing that we have limited control over others' actions and behaviors. However, we have full control over our own choices and who we allow into our lives. To put this into practice, we must be selective in choosing the people we surround ourselves with. Write out one positive influential person in your life, now compare them with people in your inner circle. Ask yourself, in context of all the above: Are they helping me bless myself?