True Happiness
Psa 1:1 Blessed
is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the
way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his
delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and
night.
Psa 1:3 And he
shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his
fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth
shall prosper.
Psa 1:4 The
ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa 1:5 Therefore
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of
the righteous.
Psa 1:6 For the
LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall
perish.
Blessed
is the Man (Psalm 1:1a): Introduction to the concept of biblical blessedness
What does it mean to be blessed? There are few
different Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible that imply the English root word
“bless”. Each word has its own differences. However, I will only discuss the
only Hebrew and Greek word that implies the blessedness of a man. That Hebrew
word is “esher” which appears as many as 42 times in the Old Testament and The
Greek equivalent is “makarios” which appears 49 times in the New Testament.
Psalm 1:1 is one of the places where the word
“blessed” appears: “Blessed (esher) is the man …” Besides Psalm 1:1, the Hebrew
word “esher” can also be seen in Psalm 84:5 – “Blessed (esher) is the man whose
strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” The Greek word
“makarios” appears 9 times in Matthew 5 alone. One example is Matthew 5:3 –
“Blessed (makarios) are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.”
“Esher” and “Makarios” are also translated as
“happy” in some passages of the KJV Old and New Testament. Therefore,
blessedness can be understood as happiness. In a world that is always seeking
happiness, how can anyone be truly happy? Behold, happy (esher) is the man whom
God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty (Job
5:17). Happy (esher) is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth
understanding (Proverbs 3:13). Behold, we count them happy (makarios) which
endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the
Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy (James 5:11).
From the observation of Psalm 1, and the
examples that I just gave above and many other examples from the Old and New
Testament, Happiness always involves the two faculties of the soul: the
intellect (whence we can know the truth), and the will (whence we can choose
and act). Knowledge is useless without the will, and vice versa. Blessedness or
happiness then can be defined as the knowledge and assurance of one’s own unmerited
salvation of the soul and that God always showers His divine favour and love upon
His elect, and as a result that happy man will be in constant state of adoration,
obedience, prayer, thanksgiving, hope, patience and repentance regardless of
circumstances and emotional state. Happiness is not an emotion at all. Christians
can be happy even when their negative emotions overwhelm them. It is a state of mind
that is always confident that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Even while a
Christian is experiencing the worst possible suffering, his happiness or
blessedness can never disappear. God is the one who sovereignly and solely
maintains His elect’s happiness and perseverance. The peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep his heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Blessedness
cannot come without the salvation of the soul and its inevitable fruit of godliness
or holiness.
Factors
that Lead to Biblical Blessedness (Psalm 1:1b-3)
Walking not in the counsel of the ungodly: Rejecting worldly philosophies
It speaks about the doctrines that one believes.
True doctrines save and false doctrines condemn. Anyone who says that
Christianity has nothing to do with doctrines is a liar. The writer has
encountered several persons who made such a claim about Christianity. Said
they: “I don’t care about doctrines, believing in Christ is all that matters”. I
reply to such a person with a question: “what do you believe about Christ?” Sadly,
most don’t realize that whatever they believe about Christ are doctrines
(Christology). They tried to separate the intellect from the will. What even
worse is some claim that believing in Christ is all about emotional experience.
“Feel His presence. Experience Him,” said they. We are living in an era of
irrational and illogical false Christianity that cares only about experience. “Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that
abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John
9).
The doctrines that one believes also affect the
practices of a Christian’s life. A godly man rejects worldly philosophies
because they are contradictory to Scripture and they do not lead to godliness. Anything that is contradictory to
Scripture is the counsel of the ungodly and must not have any place in the life
of a Christian. The counsel of the ungodly can ruin a Christian’s life if he
does not walk carefully. Christians are undeniably in the world, but they must
be not of the world. Any theory, philosophy, and cultural practice that are
against the Scripture, we must reject. Colossians 2:8 - “beware lest any man
spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Only intellectual assent to the
doctrines of Christ as revealed in the Word of God (that leads to godly
practice) brings blessedness and life everlasting. What a blessedness it truly
is when we consciously reject worldly philosophies for the godly doctrines and
philosophies of Christ!
Standing not in the way of sinners: Fleeing from temptation and not finding for the opportunities to sin
If we have truly walked in the way of the
godly, then surely, we will not stand in the way of sinners. The word “stand”
has the implications of staying firm for something. Not to stand in the way of
sinners means to put away all ungodly work and temptation far away from us i.e.
not finding the opportunities to sin, fleeing from temptation and mortifying
our sins daily. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of
evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away (Proverbs
4:14-15). A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple
pass on, and are punished (Proverbs 22:3).
We are to guard our senses (sight, hearing,
touch, smell, and taste) against temptations. If you still go to a certain
place where you know you will surely be tempted to sin, is foolishness. Flee
from, not stand in, the way of fornicators! Flee fornication, as the Bible
commands us to do. Not only fornication, but we are to flee from every form of
sin, even the appearance of evil. Blessedness comes by way of standing in the
way of righteousness and mortifying sins daily. When king David sinned, he lost
the joy of salvation and he felt miserable, and he begged God to return it to
him as he repented of his sin (Psalms 51). Sins will make the Christians
miserable indeed, but godliness and repentance brings happiness and the joy of
salvation, knowing that God is forgiving and gracious to His elect.
Sitting not in the seat of the scornful: Avoiding
the company of mockers of God
The scornful are those that set their mouths
against God. They mock God and His Words. They ridicule the Christians for
believing in the Bible. Sitting implies being comfortable. Therefore, to sit in
the seat of the scornful means to be comfortable in the company of mockers or
scoffers of God who live their lives without the acknowledgement of God and
care for his own soul.
When I heard of Christians telling me that their
best friends are unbelievers, I was saddened in my heart because they have
become comfortable in the company of the mockers of God. I am not saying that
we cannot have friends who are unbelievers. In fact, we should make friends
with unbelievers for the sake of the Gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ befriended
sinners that He might bring to them the words of everlasting life. However, we
cannot make them our “best friends” to the extent of being comfortable with
them and desiring their company and ungodly philosophies. Such an action is to put
yourself in danger of being influenced by them. Be with them, and yet not be
like them. The standard of “best friends” must be measured by the biblical
standard. Your best friends should be only those who will biblically influence you.
The wound of a faithful friend is better than the kiss of an enemy. When I was
still in secondary school, I had a group of unbelieving friends whom I always hung
out with or played sports with. At a certain time, I became comfortable with
them, until I repented my sin. Occasionally, I am still in contact with them for
the sole purpose of continually finding opportunities to share the Gospel with
them again
Take heed to the divine advice of Proverbs 13:20
– “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall
be destroyed.” May we have the same holy hatred of David who said in Psalm
26:4-5 – “I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with
dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with
the wicked.” A godly man is someone who hates ungodly companions and loves the
assembly of the godly.
Delighting in the law of the LORD: The Christian’s desire
The word “delight” has the implications of
pleasure, desire, or something which one considers as valuable and precious. The
godly man finds pleasure in the law of the LORD i.e. all the 66 books of the
Bible. Without God’s Word there is no salvation, and without salvation there is
no godliness, and without godliness there is no blessedness.
The intellectual belief in God’s Word is the most
basic in Christianity because without God’s divine revelation we cannot know anything
about salvation. When I was still attending a charismatic church, it was common
for people to separate God’s Word (theology) from the person of Jesus. They
claim: “I don’t need theology; I just need Jesus”. That is a foolish statement.
To prove that you love a person, you need to value the words of that person. If
you do not love God’s Word, you do not love Jesus. If you do not study biblical
Christology, you cannot know Jesus. It is as simple as that. He that abideth
not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God (2 John 9). God’s Word is
inseparable from the person of Jesus. Jesus is the Logos of God i.e. the Living
Word of God. If you love Jesus, you must keep His commandments i.e. the Word of
God (John 14:15).
Meditating daily in the law of the LORD: The preoccupation of the mind
What is the proof that one truly delights in
God’s Word? The proof is that He meditates God’s Words Day and night. Meditation
is the mind being preoccupied with the Word of God. It is not about reciting
Bible verses blindly without proper understanding, but it is constantly
thinking about the meaning, implications and the applications of God’s Word for
the purpose of casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Meditation is not about keeping our
mind blank. The Bible forbids us to keep our mind blank because the idle mind
is the devil’s workshop. The mind must not be preoccupied with anything that is
contradictory to the teachings of Scripture. Even while we are focusing on our
work, studies, or a football game, we are still commanded to consciously call
upon His name and to think of the glory of God. The mind only stops thinking
when you are asleep or dead.
The key to maintaining a good Christian
testimony at all times is to preoccupy our mind with the Words of God day and
night. Day and night means all the time when the mind is still awake and active.
Blessedness or happiness is a state of mind that constantly thinks of God as revealed
in His Word. Happiness is impossible without the Word of God. As the hymns goes:
Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee, that I might
not sin, that I might not sin, Thy Word have I hid in my heart. May the Word of
God keeps you sane and sober.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things
(Phillipians 4:8).
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water: The source of the Christian’s godliness and blessedness
Just like a tree which cannot grow without a water
source, a Christian cannot grow in godliness and blessedness without God’s active
causation through His Word and the Holy Spirit. God actively waters His
children that they may grow daily in practical holiness in this temporal life. A
Christian’s growth is absolutely dependent on God’s power. A Christian is
planted by the grace of God. For it is God which worketh in you both to will
and to do of his good pleasure. God is the ultimate source of our salvation, godliness
and happiness.
That bringeth forth his fruit in his season: Christians do not stop growing spiritually
Though God is absolutely sovereign over man’s
salvation and sanctification, man is still responsible to do his duty i.e. to
work out our salvation with fear and trembling. There is no contradiction
between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in salvation and
sanctification. God uses the second causes of man’s volition or will to achieve
His eternal plan of salvation. Because man is made a moral being in the image
of God, man is called by God to be responsible to Him for his works. It forms
our duty and wisdom to grow in godliness and accommodate ourselves to different
circumstances that have been predetermined by our almighty God before the
foundation of the world. The godly man, therefore, must be fruitful and
continues to grow in fruitfulness: “that bringeth forth his fruit in his
season.”
The growth of a Christian in this world is an
endless growth. Sanctification knows no limit. Even the godliest on Earth still
has much room to grow spiritually. We are to improve every opportunity of doing
good and doing it in its proper time. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23). We are commanded to grow in each
of the fruit of the spirit that is listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and the rest of
the Scriptures.
His
leaf also shall not wither: Christians persevere in faith
A leaf shall not wither when the tree is constantly
nourished with water and the right nutrients. So, it is with the Christian. The
God of grace, who has chosen His elect before the foundation of the world, will
not let His elect wither or perish. A godly Christian perseveres in his faith
in all circumstances. A Christian will never lose His salvation and His trust
in the Lord never stops no matter what happens. Blessedness is regardless of
circumstances and status. This can be shown from the life of the Apostle Paul,
whom in the midst of harsh persecutions, calamities, prison conditions and
bodily ailments, still deliberately chose to meditate on the happiness which
God gave to him: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice
(Philippians 4:4).
A godly Christian also repents daily of his sins, and does not unrepentantly and consistently sin against God. He perseveres in his holiness. He is not pleased even with the slightest of ungodliness found in him. Repentance is a big part of godliness which brings blessedness or happiness. What a blessed thought it is that our God is always ready to forgive us of our sins. The only Christian who does not repent is the one who does not persevere in his faith. That person’s salvation is not there in the first place, and he never has true happiness.
Whatsoever
he doeth shall Prosper: Spiritual Prosperity
Prosperity has the implication of having an
abundance and success. When a Christian does things in conformity to the Bible,
it is considered by God as success because it brings glory to Him. As the
Christian do more things in the conformity of the Word of God daily, he shall
grow in his maturity i.e. spiritually prospers. 1 Timothy 4:8 defines what true
success is: “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable
unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is
to come.” Godliness is the Christian’s profit. The Christian concept of happiness
and prosperity has nothing to do with earthly possessions. Apart from Christ, both
the wealthy and the poor cannot be truly happy and prosperous.
A preacher of God’s Word may tirelessly be
preaching the Gospel for many years, yet there are not many people who believe
the Gospel through his preaching. Despite the small number of people believing
in the Gospel through his preaching, that preacher has prospered or succeeded simply
because he is used by God to call out that few elect unto salvation and thus
fulfilling God’s eternal plan of salvation. The duty of the preacher is to just
preach the Word joyfully, but it is God who brings people to believe in the
Gospel. The preacher has no power to cause people to believe in the Gospel.
The Destiny
of the Wicked Reprobate and God’s Terrible Attitude Towards Them (Psalm 1:4-6)
The wicked reprobate (those whom God has predestined to be a vessel of wrath) can never find happiness like the elect, regardless of worldly status (“the ungodly are not so”). All the blessings of Psalm 1:1-3 will never come to the wicked reprobate. God does not give the wicked reprobate any grace to do what Psalm 1:1-3 commands. God does not love the wicked reprobate so that He will not save and sanctify them.
God causes the wicked reprobate to grow with the elect, like the chaff with the corns, that the former will be destroyed forever (“are like the chaff which the wind driveth away”). When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever (Psalm 92:7). The wicked reprobate has no place in the habitation of those whom God has undeservingly saved by grace and mercy alone (“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous”). The Lord knows who are His and He will make them happy forever, but the wicked reprobate has only one destination: the Lake of Fire (“For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish”)
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