THE BLESSED ONE (Psalm 119:1-16)

Psalm 119 begins by unpacking who a blessed person is. In verses 1-3, David says a blessed person is one:

• whose way is blameless

• who walks in the law of the LORD

• who keeps God’s laws or testimonies

• who seeks God with their whole heart

• who does no wrong, and

• who walks in God’s ways

If we will be honest with ourselves, no one qualifies to be blessed from the above list. The psalmist recognizes this and expresses His willingness to do what God expects of Him so that He would be blessed.

He says:

• You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently (recognizing that God’s instructions are meant to be followed to the letter). – v.4

• Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes (recognizing that he fell short of the criteria to be considered blessed and cannot keep God’s statutes on His own). – v.5

• Then I shall not be put to shame, having my own eyes fixed on all your commandments. A consequence of departing from God’s laws or not giving them the attention and seriousness that they deserve is shame. Shame is an uncomfortable or painful feeling due to recognition or consciousness of one’s impropriety or dishonour. It is something to regret. It is to fail in hope and expectation. – v.6.

• I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes, do not utterly forsake me (recognizing that because he falls short of God’s standards and can only be considered blessed by receiving God’s mercy). – vv. 7-8

What does it mean to be blessed? According to Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, to be blessed is to be granted God’s prosperity and well-being in the form of both physical and spiritual grace.

In summary, from Psalm 119:1-3, one needs to have and live a life of complete perfection to be considered blessed. But Jesus lets us know that we cannot do it by ourselves. Perfection and the blessing that follows come as we recognize our hopelessness before God and surrender our lives to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says God made Jesus (who knew & did no sin) to become sin so that we can become the righteousness of God in Him. We live a perfect life, vicariously, through Christ and because of this we can be blessed – we are blessed.

Jesus clarifies this in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12, He doesn’t say that the blessed are those who are perfect, but rather those who recognize their spiritual poverty and surrender to Him who can fill up what they lack – the poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.

However, although, we do not and cannot live right by our ability, God expects us to mature and continue to grow in Him. He wants to be conformed to His image – the more we behold Him in a glass, the more we are changed into His image (Romans 8:29; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18). So, the psalmist asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” He answers it from vv. 9-16 (as does the rest of Scripture):

• By guarding it according to your word – v. 9. James 1:21-22 – Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not heavens only, deceiving your own selves.

• By seeking after God with your whole heart (recognizing that you cannot do it yourself) – v.10

• By storing up / keeping God’s word in one’s heart (which keeps one from sin) – v.11

• By learning from the LORD – v.12

• By speaking God’s word – v.13

• By delighting (taking pleasure) in God’s word – v.14, 16

• By meditating on God’s word – v.15

• By focusing on Jesus and His ways – v.15

• By never forgetting God’s word – v.16

In conclusion, the Blessed One lives by God’s word– using it to guard their hearts, seeking God through it, storing it up in their hearts, taking pleasure in it, meditating on it, and never forgetting it. We grow by the Word (1 Peter 2:2).

Nourish Your Spirit