The Man whom God Blesses

1.  Introduction:

Isaiah 43:18  “Remember not former things, neither consider things of  old, Behold I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth …”

· Last Year  - finished, past, never return.

· New Year  - Lift eyes, Possibilities, The Lord prepared new things.

· New  = 2319  = Fresh, Rebuild.

· Fresh:  Tastes – Relationships – Opportunities.

· New Year – Life, entering the land Canaan – Opportunities and Giants.

2. Key insights from Psalm 1:

(a)  God desires you to be Blessed (v1):

· Blessed = 835 = Happiness, Fulfilment.

· God’s desire for you is to live a blessed life.

· Every person longs for happiness, fulfilment  - but they don’t know how to obtain it.

· A Blessed life is consequence of choices – Psalm 1, lays out how to obtain it.

      (b)  You must separate from things which is low in value (v1):

            (i)   “Walk not in the council of the ungodly”.  (v1)

· There are three different types of people  - moving away from God.

· “Ungodly”  = 7563 = withholds from God & from people, 

not influenced by God in any of his decisions, self

willed person , no  respect for  God.    

· “Walk” = way of life.

· “Council”  = the advice, the plan, the purpose, advises people to live life His way.

· Who is advising you? Who is speaking to your life and influencing your decisions?     

· A blessed man has internal values – he rejects council of people who have no respect for God.     

· Your life is a result of choices – need godly advice/connect.

(ii)  “Nor stands in the way of sinners”  (v1)

· “Sinners” = 2400 = to miss the mark, pass over the boundaries.

        - He does things that are evil and wrong

eg.  Drunk, dishonest, lies, cheats, immoral.

· Way  = the path, the lifestyle, the places sinners is found.

· Stand in the way = lingering where sinners are with desire to be part of it.

· Sin is progressive. Once listened to ungodly advice, soon you will long after the apparent “befits of sin”.

· In what areas of compromise? Lingering or Standing?

(iii)  “Nor sits in the seats of the scornful”:

· “Scornful = 3887 = to speak against, belittle, mock, make fun of.

· Seat  = to deliberately associate and make friends with people who are verbally apposed to godly ways.

· Blessed is the man who chooses greater values God’s ways.

Example 1:  Lot – progression of loss of blessing.

· Genesis 13:12 – Dwelled by

· Genesis 14:12 – Dwelled  in

· Genesis 19:1  - Sat in gate

· Ezekiel 16:48-50  sin of Sodom – pride, full, idle, selfish.

Example 2:  Abraham – progressive increase in revelation.

· Genesis 13:14

       (c)  You must Roam on What has Eternal Value:

· (v2)  “But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, in His law 

you must   Meditate”

· Whatever you focus on, you give your attention and head to it.

· Success, blessing is a result of focus on things of high value.

1. Delights in the Word of God.

· Delight = 2656 = to value, to desire, to take pleasure in, purpose.

· Conscious choice to give value to the Word of God.

2.  Meditate in the Word of God.

· Meditate = 1897 = to roll over in mind, ponder, think continually.

· To ponder about how you can apply the Word of God to

your life.

· To feed your soul with the Word of God and align your

life to obey it.

James 1:22  Be not a forgetful hearer – does the word of God.

      (d)  Remember the Benefits of Applying the Word of God:

            (i)   Become like a fruitful Tree       -  Planted, not a wild Tree.

                                                                        -  Next to an irrigation ditch.

· Stability – strong root system to strengthen.

· “Bring forth fruit”- your life reflects your focus on true values.

· “Leaves will not wither” - Vitality and life.

· Substance to your life – what ever you do will prosper.

            (ii)  Not like the Ungodly:

·   Chaff – no substance, no real value.

· Will not stand in the Judgement – but punished.

            (iii)  God observes and rewards the Godly Lifestyle:

·   The Lord knows the way (lifestyle) of the righteous.