PSALM 1 THERE IS ONLY ONE SOURCE

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
¹ 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.
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

The idea of blessedness permeates the entire Bible. In Genesis 1:22, the first human couple was blessed, and in 12:3, Abraham and his descendents were blessed to be a blessing to the world. The Prophet Isaiah states that all who wait for the Lord are blessed (30:18). Here the Psalms begin with the statement of blessing. Jesus spoke the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-11). In Acts we read that we are blessed when we respond generously to those in need in obedience to the Lord. (20:35). St. James wrote that those who persevere are blessed (1:12). While St. John records that those who read the words of the revelation (1:3) and those who obey them (22:7) are blessed.

Blessedness is being in a state of right relationship with God. The term encompasses all the aspects of ultimate contentment and security that can only come with a right knowledge of God that is made manifest in a life of obedience to God. One might say that blessedness is well described by the phrase “the peace of God that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

One cannot access this blessedness in any other way than dedicating his whole life to obeying God’s will as revealed in his word. As it is written, “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Reading, studying, and keeping the Word in our mind throughout the day is the only way we can be guided by God into the obedient life that results in the state of blessedness.

Lord God, you have spoken your creative and life-giving Word into the chaos and brought order and the opportunity to live in perfect relationship with you. Even when we rebelled and returned to a state of chaos and death, you sent your Word through the Prophets and, at the fullness of time, through the Incarnate Son, in order to restore the opportunity for reconciliation of that relationship. Through your Spirit help me to desire a life-long feast on your Word and the satisfaction that only come with true satisfaction of my inherent hunger for you. Amen.