Psa 1:1-6
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.

A. Introduction
1. The Psalm starts with ‘Blessed’. Blessed means ‘happy’ or ‘how happy!’
2. The Sermon on the Mount by Jesus starts with ‘Blessed’.
3. Fulfillment and being complete.

B. Psa 1:1-2
1. Verses 1 and 2 are comparisons. Verse 1 telling us the negative and verse 2 the positive comparisons of a blessed man or woman.
2. Verse 1: Two conditions, one of walking and the other of standing.
3. The ‘Walk’ – A happy man’s behavior
- ‘Walk’ is about our behavior. Either influenced by negative influences or by the Word of God. We are all easily influenced in one way or another, either our behavior is controlled by others opinions or guided by the Word of God.
- Psa 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

4. The ‘Stand’ and ‘Sit’
- To ‘Stand’ tells what we are established in. Or what our lives are dependant upon. Is our faith in Jesus based on Jesus Himself or is it based on what other people tell us about Jesus. Do we have a friendship with Jesus?
- Or the way we live does not take into consideration of Jesus. Are we considerate of Jesus in the way we talk, treat each other, think, etc.
- ‘On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand’


- First is ‘Stand’ in the way or values of sinners, it becomes worst if we are not careful when we can become comfortable with the ways of sinners and start to ‘Sit’ with them. Lot chose to the fertile valley near Sodom and Gomorrah, when the angels came to rescue the family prior to the cities destruction, he was found sitting with the elders at the city gate.
- Can’t beat them? Join them? This can happen if our Christian foundation isn’t based on our relationship with Jesus but in other people’s experiences.
- Eventually negative things start to take root and come out of our mouth.
- Mat 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
- However, the ‘Blessed’ man or woman finds God’s law a delight. Then starts to meditate (or to speak, or talk) about the Word of God. It brings life.
- John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
- Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
- Some people may have full stomachs, big houses and expensive cars, but they may miss out on live. Loh Boon Siew, was one of the richest man in Malaysia, but the saddest thing is that he died alone. Nobody knew he died until the next morning. Did money give him a good life? No!

C. Psa 1:3
1. The ‘Blessed’ man or woman is like a tree planted by a Rivers of God.
- To be planted means to have the God put us in His ‘Garden’. We belong to God.
- Not wild, but having an owner who is God who is like a good farmer that will ensure that we have the right amount of fertilizer and water to grow and to be healthy.
- This tree that is planted is secure and has deep roots, when the storm of difficulty and temptation comes; we are who are like that tree will stand.
- Our faith on Jesus will never be dependant on circumstances. It doesn’t matter how difficult life can be, but we have the assurance that Jesus will be our strength.

2. Planted by the ‘Rivers of water’
- Here it talks about Rivers, meaning there is a continuous source or supply.
- We need not fear that God can’t meet our need; there is a guarantee of an ever flowing supply.
- The rivers can be the rivers of forgiveness, joy, promise, relationship with God.
- The ‘rivers’ is about life. Have you seen a flowing river? There is life; fisher men go there to catch fish. A dead river is not a river, but a stagnant pond where there is a stench and no life. Fish and even plants can’t live there. It becomes useless to anyone. But the God’s ‘rivers’ is full of life and is for our growth.

3. Fruit in due season
- God patiently waits like a farmer for the fruits to be ripe. Only if the tree is planted by Him, meaning if we delight in God’s Word and His Holy Spirit causes the Word to become a truth in our lives.
- We can lie to man, but we are naked to God in our conscience.
- Fruit is talking about the fruit of the Holy Spirit: we will find patience in the time of suffering; faith in the time of temptation of difficulties; a holy joy in the time of prosperity.
- Fruits out of season are not desirable and God is faithful to mature us to bring forth the good fruits.

4. Leaf that will not wither
- God is the preserver of our life and will not let us run dry.
- The covenant of Noah displayed in the rainbow speaks of God’s power to preserve His people.
- We must always remember it is God that preserves us and we can’t do it on our own. We can try in the flesh, but in the end we will not be able to overcome.
- Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

5. All that we do will prosper
- Gen 3:17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
- Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. It is God who brings prosperity into our lives and protects us.
- But as much as God blesses us this should be our attitude : Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
- The curse of sin if whatever we do, it’s difficult to prosper. Not impossible, but the price is heavy. Not just about work and making a living, but also in love relationships, service to God and our relationship with God.
- Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
- There are people who are successful in making money but have very poor relationship and they suffered for it. I have a rich friend whose heart is broken because of a wayward son. Worldly richest can’t buy us happiness.
- Gal 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Man can ‘prosper’ outwardly, but the preciousness in a person is the value that God wants us to bear.