“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” (Psalm 1:1)
I don’t like the word “happy.” It’s a slippery word for a slippery emotion. As soon as I start evaluating the level of my happiness, it starts fading. On the other hand, sometimes I’m hit with a wide-eyed awareness: “I’m really happy right now.”
Some scholars say the world “blessed” that we’re going to talk about this week as we study Psalm 1 together means “happy,” but it’s more than that. It means something like “happy because God likes me and he’s taking care of me.” As a Christian, I can always say I’m being blessed by God even as my mood rises and falls with my hunger level.
In other words, blessing can be an emotion, but it’s backed by rock solid evidence of God’s goodness. Any good things or feelings I can point to in my life absolutely come from him. And when I start counting all the good things I have and feel because of Jesus, it’s easy to call myself blessed. Maybe even happy. Definitely joyful.
What David wants us to hear this week, though, is that blessing comes only on the path of God. More tomorrow.
Think: How often do you apply these words to yourself: blessed, happy, joyful? What’s the difference between feeling blessed or happy and knowing for a fact that you are blessed by God?
Pray: Thank God for all the ways he has blessed you with good gifts and good emotions in your life. Ask him to help you to be willing to walk in his way all of the time.
Do: Read all of the way through Psalm 1 as a preparation for the rest of our study this week.