The Blessed Person - Part 3

Psalm 1:1 - "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the parth of sinners, nor sit int he seat of scoffers."

How many times have we prayed for God to bless us? I know in my life I have asked for many blessings. I have been blessed because many of my requests for blessing have been answered. Some have yet to be answered, yet I know that at some point God will grant me those things that are near to my heart. To be blessed is to be happy, though happiness in and of it self is not an indication that one is blessed. What is true though, is that a truly blessed person is truly happy. They are enjoying life. Everything may not be perfect, but they have a joy inside them that radiates from their being.
In this first verse of Psalm 1, we have been looking at the characteristics of a person who is blessed. What is it that sets this person aside from those who have not been blessed? Is there really that much difference between a blessed person and an unblessed person? Does our behavior or lifestyle affect our ability to be blessed by God? The first two parts we have looked at have shown us that people don’t just stop being blessed. They move deliberately into a way of life that takes them further and further away from the place where blessing occurs. It has been a progressive decline. First the person was simply walking in the advice of wicked people. Then the person began to settle in to this lifestyle of sinners and began to live there day after day after day because they have come to a stop and are standing still. Finally, we come to the final stage of the process.
The third stanza of this trio of statements says that a blessed person does not “…sit in the seat of scoffers.” Now we see a person sitting. All progress has stopped. All effort has ceased. They are now at rest. in the culture of the time when this Psalm was written, the image of this person sitting somewhere was very familiar to the people. Unlike our cities, the ancient cities of the middle east were built with walls surrounding them and gates that allowed access in and out of the city. As the cultures progressed it became the custom to place important areas of business just inside the gate to the city. This became the place where the judges, or decision makers of the city would sit and conduct business. This was where trials were held and all the important decisions of the city took place. A couple of examples of this are found in the story of Lot and the city of Sodom and in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
So, the first thing to notice is that the person is sitting down. The second thing to notice is where he is sitting. It is in a seat. This would indicate a position of authority and leadership. No longer is the person simply living life as they choose, now they are directing other people’s lives. They are passing laws and making decisions that affect how other people live. They are, in effect, a promoter of their lifestyle. What lifestyle are they now promoting? It is the lifestyle of a scoffer.
A Scoffer is a person who goes beyond refusing to believe God’s word; they are now actively involved in putting down God’s word. They rail against God’s laws. They claim that God is harsh and unloving. They do not believe in the promises of God nor do they believe that He will return someday to finally judge the earth. Peter says in his letters in the New Testament that in the last days there will be many scoffers who make fun of the idea that God is going to come to judge the earth.
The end state of such a person is that of being so hardened against the truth of God’s word that they are no longer moved by the truth. They have become desensitized to the promptings of the Spirit of God in their hearts. Their consciences have become seared. They no longer have a correct understanding of right and wrong.
So, as we look at the difference between a blessed person and those who are not blessed we see a widening gap. The blessed person has drawn a line in the sand over which they will not cross. They will not come close to living in any lifestyle of wicked and sinful people. They have rejected the lifestyles of the wicked and have recognized how unprofitable and unfulfilling they really are. It is the person who refuses to even begin to head down that path whom God will bless. The scriptures say that when God blesses us He adds no sorrow to the blessing. When God blesses us we are truly happy and satisfied. It is all good. It is worth it to choose to live a lifestyle that is diametrically opposed to that of the world culture around us. There is a vast difference between the blessed and wicked person and our behavior and chosen lifestyle does affect whether or not God can bless us. I hope you have chosen to live in that place where God can bless you. It is one decision that you will never regret.