Title Blessed One (1) (Psalm 1:1-6)
Contents
If you look at the Psalms, there are words that show who truly is a blessed person, and the representative ones are Psalm 1, Psalm 32, and Psalm 41. In Psalm 1, which can be said to be the introduction to the entire Psalm, the blessed man does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, does not stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. It is defined as one who meditates.
Today's psalm speaks about sin in a different dimension from our common notions of sin or evil. When we think of sin, we often think of acts that violate laws or regulations, such as murder, adultery, or theft. But the Bible speaks of sin and evil in a more fundamental way. According to this Psalm 1, the person who trusts in his own counsel is a wicked person, a person who goes his own way is a sinner, and ultimately the person who can be said to be the ultimate judgment between the wicked and the sinner is an arrogant person It refers to a person who sits himself on the throne of life and says, "I am the master of my life." In other words, they are saying that those who rely on their own counsel and their own power and strength, thinking that they can live on their own without God's help, regardless of God, are sinners, wicked people, and arrogant.
On the other hand, those who acknowledge God in everything, that is, those who do not try to live their lives with their own wisdom, but rely on the Word of God, and those who do not depend on their own human strength or ability, but with the grace and power that God provides. This psalm says that those who wish to live only as righteous people are blessed and righteous. In the text, the blessed person who is recognized as the righteous by God is compared to a tree planted by a stream. Trees planted by streams with clear streams always have green leaves. And when it is in season, it bears abundant fruit. People who depend on God for everything, so people who meditate on the Word of God day and night and want to live according to it are like a tree planted by such a stream.
On the other hand, the wicked who do not acknowledge God and are proud that they can live on their own are like a tree that has been uprooted by a stream. Even if a tree is uprooted, its leaves may look green for a while. That's because there is still water inside the tree. However, a tree that has been uprooted and no longer receives water from the stream will sooner or later die. Such is the prosperity of the wicked who do not depend on God. Or, even if people who do not believe in God live a good life and do good deeds, it is like a tree whose leaves are green because the roots have already been pulled from the stream, but the water remains inside for a while.
In order for a tree to survive, it must be planted by a stream and receive a constant supply of water from the stream. This parable of a tree planted by a stream tells us that our life is supplied by God. Man is a creature created by God. And human life force must be constantly supplied by God. In that case, man can truly become a living, living being. Nevertheless, this psalm tells us that not to acknowledge God, who is the source of life, and to believe that we can live without God's help, which is to deny that we are human, and that it is the most fundamental sin.
Our Christian faith is not about how good we live, but about how much we depend on God. We Christians do not ask people to live a good life first. First, it tells us to restore our relationship with God, acknowledge God as the source of life, and live according to God. That is the essence of faith. And the essence of the Christian gospel is that God recognizes those who come to God with such faith as righteous. Even if the flesh is weak and commits some sins and makes mistakes, this psalm says that those who focus on God and rely only on God are righteous and blessed. And it teaches us that people who rely only on God can eventually bear good fruit.
Dear saints,
Be a blessed person who is recognized as a righteous person by God. To that end, like a tree planted by a stream, I hope that you will always depend on God and live only with the grace and power that God provides.