The word “bless” in some form (blessed, blessedness, blessest, blesseth, blessing, blessings) is used over 500 times in the Holy Scriptures.  In the Hebrew language the word “bless” is barak.  In the Greek language the word is eulogeo.  In each case the word involves one entity calling forth divine favor upon another entity.  A blessing can be proclaimed from either God Himself or man.

In the first Psalm we find the Psalmist (presumed to be King David) proclaiming God’s divine blessings upon a certain kind of man.  Notice that rarely do the Scriptures mention women in the narrative.  The reason for this two-fold.  1) God designed males and females to live in a marital state throughout their adult lives and to produce other males and females who would carry on the natural state of affairs as the Lord commanded in Genesis 12:22 where we find the first use of the word “bless”: “And the Lord blessed them (male and female) and said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply …. (Gen. 1:27.28).  2) God mad mankind male and female (Gen. 1:28) and designed the family unit to be headed by the male in every aspect of family life.  This rule does not make one sex more important than the other.  Each sex has his/her part to play; each part is equal to the other in importance.  If one part fails, the family suffers.  In God’s family hierarchy, the male leads (Eph. 5:22,23/1 Tim. 2:11,12).  This is not a popular concept in today’s anti-God world, but that does not change His rule.  The word is “rule.”  God “rules His people Israel” (Mat. 2:6) who are called “the church” and “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).  God’s people, whether Israelite or Gentile, are spiritual Israelites because they obey His Law.  Those who do not obey His Law are not His people.  These constitute “the many” who enter Satan’s wide gate (church system) and walk his broad path that leads to destruction.  This system has done away with God’s Law and many other Biblical Truths.  Let us now turn to the first Psalm and examine its message which is as relevant today as it was when it was written around 1000 B.C.

Verse 1: The three types of people mentioned in verse one all fall into one category–sinners.  As the Almighty makes clear in His Holy Tome, there have been and still are only two types of people in this world: wise and unwise, holy and unholy, right and wrong.  Simply put, one is either a saint or a sinner.  As Jesus points out in Revelation 3:14-21, those who straddle the spiritual fence (sinners saved by grace) are, in His eyes, 100% sinners whom He describes as “… wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.”  This does not describe a converted soul.  Notice that He rejects their ultra-religiosity which does not affect His opinion of them.  Psalm 1:1 tells us to be aware of this Truth.  Let us study this wisdom-filled verse using God’s study rules found in Isaiah 28:9-13.  Here we are commanded to study His Word: “precept upon (added to) precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”  This Truth is then repeated for emphasis.  Biblical repetition sends a message to those who seek God’s Truth.  Recall that when Joseph interpreted the Egyptian pharaoh’s double dream concerning cattle and wheat, he afterward stated that, because God had sent him two dreams, this meant that the matter was settled and nothing could alter it.  We will follow Isaiah’s Spirit-inspired method for partaking of God’s “bread of life”–A LITTLE AT A TIME AND MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE TABLE.  Let us begin with verse one.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk with the ungodly (rasha–morally wrong), or stand with sinners (chatta–misses the mark), or sit with the scornful (luwts–speaks ill).”  A wise man chooses his companions wisely.  The Apostle Paul wrote that “evil associations corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33).   In Psalms 1:1 David tells us that whether we walk, stand or sit with bad people, we are disobeying God.  Whether we know it or not, we are influenced by those with whom we associate.  Leaven leavens the loaf, not visa versa.  I have personally seen this happen–within minutes.  A good example took place when my wife and I were visiting one of her relatives whose wife did not use foul language, read the Bible, prayed, etc.  On this occasion a foul-mouthed friend to theirs stopped by for a visit.  Within minutes the lady was cursing like their other guest.  Peer pressure does not go away with age, it goes away with maturity, which is a rare commodity in today’s world.

Sin is sin, regardless of its human definitions, spins and torques.  Sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:2).  Being super religious like the Laodiceans of Revelation 3:14-20 and the end-time organization that calls itself “the church” does not change that fact.  No one is exempt.  Concerning verse one, if one is awake one is either walking, standing or sitting.  David is telling us to watch out for Satan’s people who may believe that they are God’s people.  If we do not love God and prove it by obeying His Law as noted in John 14:15 (His “commandments”) and 23 (His “Words”)–they are one and the same–then we are not His people.  The message of verse one is to “watch” so as not to enter into temptation.  Satan often uses other people to tempt us.

Let us be diligent.  Satan also uses situations to tempt us to sin.  I have no problem with big things.  It is the little irritating things that I had to fight against and conquer.  Like everyone else, I have to be vigilant at all times.  Satan knows our weaknesses and attacks them.  He never stops trying to tempt us to sin.  Notice that he tempted Jesus to sin until the moment of His death.  We are no better than God’s Messiah.  L.J.