🧐 Psalm 1:1–2 | Who Is the “Blessed Man?”

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📧 In today’s email…

• 📖 Connecting Psalm 1 with Torah

• ✝️ Jesus Christ: The True Blessed Man

• 🔦 Community spotlight!

 🧠 Memorize

_{see if you know what words go in the blanks}

______ is the ____ ___ _____ ___ in the _____ of the ______, nor ______ in the ____ of ________, nor _____ in ___ _____ of ________;

but ___ ______ is in the ____ of the _____, and on his ____ he _______ ___ and ______.

Psalm 1:1–2

Tying Into Torah 📖 

OK—we’ve covered a lot of ground this week with Psalm 1.

But when we look at this psalm in light of the larger book, a lot more is revealed for us to understand and appreciate. 

Let’s start with the overall book of Psalms.

This portion of the Bible is actually divided into 5 separate “books,” meant to compliment the 5 opening books of the Old Testament (Pentateuch). 

These books cover a wide swath of themes and purposes, each highlighted in individual psalms. These categories are:

• Wisdom

• Hymns of praise

• Laments

• Confidence/Trust

• Kingship

• Thanksgiving

As these broader 5 books compliment the Pentatecuh, we see a greater, broader tie-in to torah. 

(Remember back to Deuteronomy 6 from 4 weeks back?)

Verse 2 is what brings us to the practice of torah, chiefly in the phrase “...meditates day and night.”

In the Western world, we think of meditation in Far Eastern terms, but it’s not the same thing.

While Far Eastern practice attempts to empty the mind to achieve enlightenment, Biblical meditation is a practice associated with the heart and mind, which then plays out in one’s actions and words.

An easy way to remember this is distinction:

• Far Eastern meditation = emptying the mind

• Biblical meditation = filling the mind with the things of God

In fact, across Scripture, we see other passages that associate meditation with the mouth.

And if you actually look at the most common forms of Biblical meditation, especially in Jewish schools, meditation is not silent; it’s actually marked by a low vocal chant.

Which connects back to what we drive home with each memory verse:

You need to SING the Word to KNOW the Word BETTER.

In the 21st century, we have tons of data to support the power of singing to strengthen our memory.

But the ancient Israelites knew and used this tool to internalize God’s truth within their hearts — individually and communally!

So, if you didn’t get a chance to listen to our recommended listening on Monday, here are those links again. Grab a friend and sing together!

• Click here to listen to Verses: Psalm 1:1-3 on Spotify

• Click here to listen MIQEDEM: Psalm 1 on YouTube

Jesus Christ: The True Blessed Man ✝️

The beginning of Psalm 1 shows us what the righteous and blessed man looks like, but when we get to the end…

…this is where we see Jesus.

Psalm 1 ends like this:

Understanding Jesus Christ as LORD, we see Him as THE embodiment of the righteous man.

To Know = yāḏaʿ(pronounced yaw-dah’)

yāḏa is the Hebrew word used for “know” here in verse 6.

Just as the word “blessed” means more than “happiness,” the word yāḏa means so much more than intellectual “knowing.”

It communicates a deep sense of intimacy and an essential sense of “being.”

When the LORD knows the way of the righteous, it means He is, shows, embodies, reveals what it means to be righteous.

Therefore, we can rightly claim that Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of the blessed, righteous man.

Reflect 🤔 

In our past reflections this week, we pondered:

• how we can demonstrate our own “blessedness” to others and

• who in our lives we appreciate for demonstrating righteous living

But today, take some time to reflect on the One who makes us righteous and blessed.

Thank you, Lord that you chose us and chose to make us blessed and righteous.

It is a gift freely given that we could never earn. You are a gracious Father! 🙏 

📣 Challenge yourself to share that truth with at least one person today!

Community spotlight 🔦 

Feedback ❤️ 

Thank you all for the feedback you share each week - it blesses us immensely and encourages us to keep going! 🙏 

Here’s my favorite one from last verse! 👇️ 

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I have to say, the app itself is so useful to memorize the verse and the blogs make it so immersive.

I am thankful that you focus on one bible verse at a time. Your explanations, resources and more make it so much easier to reflect and understand instead of just checking verses off a list.

It’s like weekly building a bible verse house on the rock. 

Thank you again and for making this free and accessible to everyone. 

I will definitely support once the Lord allows. 

- C. Escobar

Shout-outs 📣

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Answer key ✅ 

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.

Psalm 1:1–2