Blessed is the Man
Part II
By Allan E. McNabb

In Part I, we began a study of happiness from Psalms 1:1-3.  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

We noticed that those who are unhappy:

  1. walk in the counsel of the ungodly
  2. stand in the path of sinners
  3. sit in the seat of the scornful.

Besides telling us who is unhappy, David also tells us who is happy.  Happy people delight in the law of the Lord, meditating upon it day and night.

Happy People Delight in God’s Law
David also reveals the reason that these individuals are happy.

First, those who delight in the law of the Lord and mediate in it day and night are like a planted tree, not a wild tree.  This one is chosen of the Lord, a special tree that He cares for, cultivates, fertilizes, prunes, and loves.

Second, this one is happy because he is planted by the rivers of water.  There is an overabundance from which to drink and therefore feed.  The Lord feeds His children that they may never fail unless they turn their hearts from Him to heed ungodly counsel.  Therefore, this one grows big and strong - standing strong in this present age against sin; and in age to come, eternal life.

Third, this one is fruitful.  The season for Christians to bear fruit is everlasting (Gal. 5:16-26).  Unless a Christian heeds the counsel of the ungodly, he continually bears the fruit of the Spirit. His fruit never fades away.  His leaf never withers away.

Fourth, what ever this one does shall prosper.  Godly men doing godly things always prosper.  Why?  Because godly men do not judge themselves according to the flesh - prosperity of the flesh.  But rather, godly men judge themselves according to spiritual prosperity.  Jesus promised his disciples something to eat and something to wear.  And with this, godly men count themselves prosperous.

Christians Change, and Are Happy
Now notice the change undergone by Christians.  They have been rescued from the power of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).  They have been baptized into Christ and have therefore been united (planted, KJV) in the likeness of Christ's death and in the likeness of His resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5).  Those who are planted in Christ are watered through ministry of the word of God (1 Cor. 3:6).  Those in Christ therefore walk according to the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit (Rom. 8; Gal. 5). Christians are: 1) born of Spirit; 2) watered by the Spirit; 3) bear the fruit of the Spirit.

Happiness is Being God’s Child
For us today, the first step toward happiness is becoming a Christian. Then happiness is living as a child of God, according to His word, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Happiness is: Being God's child.