A Clarification for Yesterday’s Sermon

Yesterday I taught from Psalm 1 and I wish to clarify something. The blessing connected to those who delight and meditate in God's word is not circumstantial. One who delights and meditates in God's word day and night should not expect God to reciprocate with pleasures such as raises, physical health, or other earthly benefits. The blessings one can expect are spelled out in verse three:

 

 

One who delights and meditates in God's word can expect:

– firm rootedness in a world that blows away most,

– connection with a source of life beneath the surface in an otherwise arid landscape,

– fruitfulness in terms of love, joy, peace, patience, etc. (see Galatians 5:22)

– durability in leaf-withering circumstances,

– inner prosperity in whatever situation comes along.

 

Furthermore, in contrast to the wicked, the blessed one can expect to stand in the judgment and to enjoy God's watchful attention throughout life.

 

It is a mistake to expect earthly blessings from God who is wooing us out of the world and into his kingdom with deeper blessings. Read passages like the following:

 

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh… Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

Read the Bible and you'll find example after example of godly men who suffered circumstantially, but thrived spiritually. He allowed Joseph to be thrown into a well, sold into slavery, falsly accused of assault, and wrongfully imprisoned. He allowed Job to lose everything he held dear on earth, including his family, his business, and his health. He allowed David to be hunted like an animal and to experience intense family strife. He allowed nearly all the apostles to die horrific deaths. He allowed Jesus to be crucified. And there are many more examples.

 

So, delight and meditate in God's word. Receive blessings from God that will move your eyes from fading earthly pleasures to eternal pleasures which grow deeper and more sure with each passing day.