🙏 Psalm 1:1–2 | Showing How Blessed You Are

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📧 In today’s email…

• Showing blessedness 😌

• Showing appreciation 🙏

• Resources to dive deeper 📕

 🧠 Memorize

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

______ is the ____ who _____ not in the _____ of the ______, nor ______ in the ____ of ________, nor _____ in the seat of ________; 

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

Psalm 1:1–2

Showing Blessedness 😌

Yesterday we focused on a handful of keywords in Psalm 1, noting how the writer uses verbs, imagery, and referencing “the way” to show exactly “who” a righteous man is. 

But (intentionally), we saved one keyword for today: the word “blessed.”

We see “blessed” echoed throughout Scripture, most notably in Matthew 5, where Jesus shares the Beatitudes:

Blessed is also the very first word that opens the book of Psalms.

There are a few root words words commonly used throughout Scripture that translate to “blessed,” a few of which are:

• ašrê (sounds like ash-rei), which we see in Psalm 1:1

• bārak, is used throughout the Old Testament, as early as Genesis when God “blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply”

• makarios, which we see used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount

While all three of these words are sometimes translated into English as “happy,” it’s important to realize that they carry far stronger meaning than how we typically use the word “happy” today.

(Happy meals, happy birthdays, etc.)

“Blessed” can mean:

• A state of pure enjoyment of God’s special favor, grace and presence

• Inner peace, happiness, and joy that is not affected by circumstances

• To kneel in submission and full surrender before God

When we look at the opening word of Psalm in the original Hebrew, we see the word ’ašrê (ashrei), which is referring to how you would describe a person who is blessed.

It’s a display of blessedness, that shines through our actions and words to those around us.

And just like we reviewed yesterday: An unbelieving world will know us by our fruit.

And that fruit should reflect Christ and demonstrate our connectedness to Him.

So when you demonstrate Christ-likeness in your words and actions, people will see you as ’ašrê — and start to wonder what the source of it is.

Apply & Respond: Who Shows ’ašrê? 🤔

The word ’ašrê requires some kind of observation; its definition depends on how other people perceive you to be blessed.

Make a List ✍️ 

In that vein, a great practical step is to reflect on a few people in YOUR life who demonstrate ’ašrê and write their names down in your prayer journal.

Write down how they demonstrate blessedness, and spend time praying for them, thanking God that He has placed them in your life.

🤝 Then, thank them directly!

Give them a word of encouragement, showing how much you appreciate their example. I promise this act will be a blessing to you and them.

Delighting in the Lord 🙌

So exactly how do we “delight” in the Lord and His law?

This week’s quote answers that, and it comes from John Piper, founder of Desiring God ministries. Here, he focuses on delight, which we see marks the righteous man at the end of Psalm 1.

It’s a great practical way to think about delight a little deeper.

“Delighting in God means savoring the diverse excellencies of God, especially as they are manifest in Christ…

Delight in his love, his care, his protection, and his desire to have that kind of intimate personal relationship with you…

All through the day, every good thing that gives us pleasure should be an instance of delighting in God.”

— John Piper

Recommended Resources 🎙️ 

Here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into this week’s passage:

• 📹️ The Bible Project on Psalm 1 (link here)

• 📚️ Falling in Love With God’s Word by Keith Ferrin (link here)

• 📚️ The Psalms by Alabaster (link here)

• 🎄 Advent Scripture Journey by Keith Ferrin, for anyone looking to press into Advent in a new way this year (link here)

• 📖 Blue Letter Bible: Psalm 1 Commentary by Matthew Henry (link here)

• 🗒️ Got Questions: How do we delight in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2)? (link here)

• 💻️ John Piper on “How Do I Delight Myself in the Lord?” (link here)

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