The Blessed Man – Introduction – Part One

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

• This lesson is an introduction to a series of lessons based on Psalm 1 and discusses it “The Blessed Man”.
• Psalm 1 is an introduction to the whole book of Psalms.  And as such, it is a perfect embodiment of the whole book in general. The book of Psalms deals with our relationship with God and Psalm 1 is a positive statement of the benefits of this relationship.
• The Psalm also contrasts the qualities and consequences of being a Blessed Person or an Ungodly Person. It is a Psalm of instruction concerning good and evil. It sets before us:

1. Life and Death.

2. Blessing and Curse.

• The psalm gives us information to encourage us to take the right way, which leads to happiness and to avoid that, which will certainly end in our misery and ruin.

Psalm 1 divides the Children of Men into:

• 1. Saints and Sinners
• 2. Righteous and Unrighteous
• 3. The Children of God and the Children of the Wicked One.

This division is as ancient as the beginnings of the struggle against sin.

For example: Genesis 3:15 – The seed of the woman vs. the seed of the serpent.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This division will survive all other divisions and sub-divisions of mankind.  [Cultural, societal, financial, etc.]

1. High and Low

2. Rich and Poor

3. Bond and Free

By this division, a man’s everlasting state will be determined, and the distinction will last as long as heaven and hell last.

The character and condition of godly people and wicked people are contrasted, so that:

Those who do and don’t serve God can be plainly seen and that every man, if he will be honest with himself, can evaluate his own condition and position and readily see the end result of his present course of conduct.