Yesterday, we saw how the blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water. “The wicked are not so,” begins the Psalmist’s description of the wicked. Let us consider the contrast between the blessed and the wicked. This will help us appreciate our new life in Christ so much more. While the blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water, the wicked man is like chaff that the wind drives away. Obviously, the blessed man is deeply rooted in the grace of God. The wicked man has no such roots in God’s grace. When the wind of the Final Judgment blows, the blessed man will be able to withstand it by the firm hold of the grace of God. But the wicked man will be blown away like chaff: “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”
Read More“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 streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Ps. 1:1-3). Today, let’s continue with the description of the blessed man, who delights in the law of the LORD. The blessed man is likened to “a tree planted by streams of water.” What do “streams of water” represent? The blessed man was described as someone who delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on it day and night. So then, the “streams of water” have got to be God’s Law/Word. He who delights in God’s Law is blessed because God’s law is like “streams of water,” which provide water to the tree so it can live, grow, thrive, and bear fruit. By being close to God’s law, abiding in the Word of God, and having the Word of God dwell in us richly, we are like a tree planted by streams of water.
Read More“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” (Ps. 1:1-2). We saw how true happiness includes not doing the works of sin and wickedness. But, thankfully, it is more: it includes delighting in the law of God and meditating on it day and night. The law of God here stands in opposition to “the counsel of the wicked,” “the way of sinners,” and “the seat of scoffers.” So, we should understand it in a broader sense of representing all that is good and true and beautiful according to God’s Word, including His commandments (which are good and holy).
Read More“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” (Ps. 1:1-2). Yesterday, we talked about how the Bible defines a blessed, happy life: according to Ps. 1:1-2, it is defined in terms of righteousness and wickedness. Today, let’s look further into what these verses say about the blessed, happy man.
Read More“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” (Ps. 1:1-2). “Blessed is the man...” can be translated as “Happy is the man....” What do you think it means to be blessed, to be happy? There are many definitions of happiness out there. Tim Keller thinks that many in today’s generation view happiness as “looking good, feeling good, and having the goods.” Even if we reject such thinking as too shallow and materialistic, we cannot deny that some measure of it is included in whatever definition of happiness we have. For example, many try to find happiness in romance or in meaningful and loving relationships with others. But they also think that “looking good, feeling good, and having the goods” is necessary (or, at least, helps) to find true romance or to have satisfying relationships. The kind of happiness most people have in mind is a mixture of having a life of comfort and pleasure and doing some good work for others.
Read MoreWe talked about the three commands Paul gives in 1 Thess. 5:16-18—how we should thank God for these commands because they remind us of what kind of kingdom to which we belong—a kingdom of eternal joy, of unceasing and intimate communion with God, and of God’s sovereign grace. Paul follows up these commands with these words: “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” These words show us how important these commands are in the heart of God and how much God desires that we obey them. It is God’s will that we obey all His commands in His Word. But when He specifies that a particular command is His will, as it is in the case of these three commands, then we know the high place they occupy in all of God’s commands. These may not be the greatest and the second greatest commands (Matt. 22:37-39). But these three commands may rank right below them.
Read MoreThis morning, let’s give thanks to God for the command, “Pray without ceasing!” As the command to rejoice always reminds us that we belong to a kingdom of eternal joy, the command to pray without ceasing reminds us that we belong to a kingdom of unceasing, intimate communion with God. Prayer in its essence is our heart-to-heart communion with God and, as such, is the epitome of our fellowship with Him, the epitome of our enjoyment of God Himself. After everything is said and done, what is it that we really need? Everything in this life comes and goes, both good times and bad times, both good things and bad things. They all slip through our fingers like water, like air. We cannot hold on to our loved ones. We cannot even hold on to our own life. God alone is the Eternal Presence, who will never leave us or forsake us. He is the Anchor of our soul, who keeps us grounded and secure. In His presence, we have everything we really need. The command to pray without ceasing reminds us that we have constant access to God’s presence.
Read MoreBlessed Thanksgiving morning to you! It is appropriate that we meditate on the third command, “...give thanks in all circumstances....” This command, too, reminds us of what kind of kingdom we belong to—a kingdom of God’s sovereign grace. We should give thanks to God because we belong to a kingdom of God’s sovereign grace; we should give thanks to God in all circumstances because we belong to a kingdom of God’s sovereign grace.
Read MoreAs we celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday, I hope we can take some time to reflect on God’s goodness and give thanks to Him. In this year’s Thanksgiving message, I talked about how we should give thanks to God not only when times are good but also in advance, while we go through hardships. But I’d like you to know that we can also give thanks to God for His commands, not just for His promises. So, let’s consider the passage we read last Sunday for the Call to Worship: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). We will take a look at one command each day.
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