Psalm 1:1 begins with a powerful phrase, “Blessed is the man…” (ESV). Those four words could not be more important to a Christian in any age.
But how is it possible to lead a blessed life no matter what may come? Given how messed up the world is, how can it be true of us that “in all that he does, he prospers?” (Psalm 1:3). For that matter, what does it mean to be blessed?
The author of Psalm 1 approached this question in an individual, deeply personal way. Today, we hear all kinds of people claim, “I’m blessed!” Some mean their lives are problem-free. Others mean their finances are in good shape. A few mean they got a great parking spot at the mall.
None of this is what blessed means in the context of this psalm. The Hebrew meaning of “blessed” here is deeply and profoundly spiritual. To be blessed isn’t to prosper materially but to prosper in soul; it speaks of happiness because of a sense of the divine in your life.
While we may not always have material goods, decent health, or a problem-free life, we can be deeply, profoundly, and immeasurably blessed beyond anything that the world can bestow. This is a profound truth, yet it is within the reach of everyone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus.
Psalm 1 has great news for you. God is the one who orchestrates your righteous prosperity. The psalmist declared of the blessed man, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3).
Christ’s constant stream helps us through not only daily temptations but also through the roughest seasons of life. When we are planted beside living water, we can draw on his strength to see us through.