Delaney Johnston shares devotional thoughts with us today! She’s over on the contributors page if you would like to learn more about her.
Recently, God has directed me to study through the Psalms. One lesson He has taught me through this study is the literal meaning behind the oft-repeated term blessed.
The book of Psalms (and its heart-wrenching prayers, praises, pleas, and petitions) served as a book of prayer for the ancient Israelites. Broken down into five smaller books, Psalms is organized non-chronologically, with Psalm 1 functioning as the theological foundation for the remaining 149 chapters, or prayers, throughout the book.
Why is this significant?
Well, Psalm 1—commonly categorized as a “wisdom psalm”—invites its readers to connect the character of this blessed man in the first chapter to his obedience to the various principles, philosophies, and doctrinal truths woven throughout the remainder of the book. In other words, this depiction of an ideal God-follower in Psalm 1 served as the goal for which every Israelite serious about the Psalms would have strived—the product of one who truly obeys God’s perfect Word.
“Blessed is the man . . . “
. . . the man who rejects worldly ideology (v. 1); patterns his practice around the truths of Scripture and not the sinfulness of the world (v. 1-2); delights in, meditates on, and follows after the Word (v. 2); responds to the grace of God through bearing spiritual fruit while persevering through all seasons (v. 3); and enjoys an intimate relationship with his Creator as One who knows his way and orchestrates his steps (v. 6).
With this portrayal in mind, blessed is certainly an accurate description, but what does that word *truly* mean?
Well, as I learned in my study today, the Hebrew word for this term is ‘esher—a word that commonly translates to mean happy. In other words, the blessed man is happy, or contentedly joyful, as he navigates his life coram deo, or in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God.
So, the ideal God-follower is one who is always happy, right? Well, yes and no.
The psalmist does depict a righteous man as one who is remarkably joy-filled; yet, he never shrinks away from the agonizing quandaries, melodramatic emotions, and heartbreaking disappointments woven throughout the book, either. Why? Because the joyful spirit of this blessed man co-exists with his despairing, questioning, and wanting spirit, as well.
What does this tell us? Well, the blessed—or happy—believer is one who grounds his unshakable serenity in God’s immanent nature . . . even while experiencing drought-filled deserts,storm-infested valleys, and sin-ravaged societies. The ideal God-follower possesses a joy that sprouts from the glorious gospel seed taking root in his once-hardened heart—it is redemption, reconciliation, and eternal hope cultivating radical, grace-sustained happiness in the life of man, regardless of his predicament. That is true blessedness.
So, believer, I’m not sure what season you might find yourself in tonight. Maybe you’re sinking in the sea of despondency . . . or soaking up the sweetness of answered prayer and new opportunities. May we find unrelenting joy in the reality of God’s closeness. May we reflect the inner qualities of one who is flourishing in the providence of God. Whatever our lot, may He teach us to say, “It is well with our souls.”
May we all live, blessed.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
Recent Comments