Week 1
Psalm 1 and 2
Psalm 1:3 (ESV)
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.
What does it mean to be blessed? A quick search of the hashtag #blessed on Instagram reveals a variety of results, including family, friends, health, and opportunities—all good things. However, some people associate being blessed with an abundance of wealth or a life filled with pleasure and leisure.
Most of us would agree that our families and friends are blessings, and that good health and opportunities are also significant gifts. We might even acknowledge that God blesses some with wealth (though many of us are still waiting for that!) and even provides good things to those who want no part in Him, including those we might consider evil or wicked. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 5:45, saying, “For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah questions God, asking, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; they are near in their mouth but far from their heart” (Jeremiah 12:1-2).
This raises an important question: How is the blessing of someone who earnestly pursues God’s Word (and therefore makes God the object of their pursuit) different from the indiscriminate blessings often showcased on social media? The answer is found in verse 3: “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.”
The blessing that come from pursuing God’s Word is character it produces, which ultimately produces hope. The one who fears the Lord and meditates on His Word can endure hardship, suffering, and persecution, knowing they belong to God and are rooted in His unchanging character. Not only do they endure, they also find joy in the midst of suffering because they have hope and assurance that God will triumph over evil and deliver His people to Himself. It is in hope that they prosper.
As you read through Psalm 1 and 2 in the coming days, take time to reflect on how God has blessed you—not only in the general sense (family, friends, health, etc.) but also in shaping your character, and give Him thanks for all of it. Take stock of how often you dwell on the worries and cares of today and ask God to help you grow in your desire for His Word and help you to trust what it says.
Our hope is not in the futile kings and kingdoms of this world, it is in the sovereign God of the universe who has redeemed us through Christ and adopted us as His sons and daughters, heirs to the Kingdom of God with Christ. In God and in God alone do we take refuge!
What does it mean to be blessed? A quick search of the hashtag #blessed on Instagram reveals a variety of results, including family, friends, health, and opportunities—all good things. However, some people associate being blessed with an abundance of wealth or a life filled with pleasure and leisure.
Most of us would agree that our families and friends are blessings, and that good health and opportunities are also significant gifts. We might even acknowledge that God blesses some with wealth (though many of us are still waiting for that!) and even provides good things to those who want no part in Him, including those we might consider evil or wicked. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 5:45, saying, “For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah questions God, asking, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; they are near in their mouth but far from their heart” (Jeremiah 12:1-2).
This raises an important question: How is the blessing of someone who earnestly pursues God’s Word (and therefore makes God the object of their pursuit) different from the indiscriminate blessings often showcased on social media? The answer is found in verse 3: “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.”
The blessing that come from pursuing God’s Word is character it produces, which ultimately produces hope. The one who fears the Lord and meditates on His Word can endure hardship, suffering, and persecution, knowing they belong to God and are rooted in His unchanging character. Not only do they endure, they also find joy in the midst of suffering because they have hope and assurance that God will triumph over evil and deliver His people to Himself. It is in hope that they prosper.
As you read through Psalm 1 and 2 in the coming days, take time to reflect on how God has blessed you—not only in the general sense (family, friends, health, etc.) but also in shaping your character, and give Him thanks for all of it. Take stock of how often you dwell on the worries and cares of today and ask God to help you grow in your desire for His Word and help you to trust what it says.
Our hope is not in the futile kings and kingdoms of this world, it is in the sovereign God of the universe who has redeemed us through Christ and adopted us as His sons and daughters, heirs to the Kingdom of God with Christ. In God and in God alone do we take refuge!