Let us read Psalm 1:1. It says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” The messages starts with the word, “blessed.” We often say to each other, “God bless you.” For believers it is a very common greeting. How many of us know what the word blessing means? It comes from the Hebrew word ‘esher (אֶשֶׁר),’ which means ‘happiness or blessedness’. The word ‘esher’ originally comes from the Hebrew Ashar (אָשַׁר), which means ‘go straight (toward God).’ The basic meaning of blessings is to go straight toward God. Sometimes we forget to go straight toward God. It is easy to go astray in this world. However we are told that we need to go straight toward God no matter where we go and what we do.
After this, the verse 1 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” This verse refers to those who did not follow God. If we do not follow them, we will not be blessed. In this passage, the wicked is known to “rasha (רָשְׁע)” in Hebrew. It comes from the Hebrew “rah.” It means “to be broken into pieces.” This means that if we do not follow God, our relationship with God will be broken. So we cannot be blessed by God.
Also, the word for sinners is “Chata (חָטָא)” in Hebrew, which means, “miss, fail to arrive, lose way.” This means if someone does not observe the law and commandments of God, he or she misses God or fails to see God. Believers of God are to follow God in order to get salvation. If they do not follow the word of God, they cannot be blessed by God.
How can we make sure as we make our decisions about coming year that we follow God?
Let us read Psalm 1:2. It says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” The Law is called torah in Hebrew. Children of God must hear the word of God, obey him, and teach it to others, so that they can continue to follow God at all times here on earth (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). In order to obey God, children of God should meditate on the word of God day and night. Meditate is hagah (הָגָה) in Hebrew, which means “growl like a lion who is seeking its food.” This reminds us that children of God must be hungry for their spiritual food here on earth, so that they can continue to obey God.
At the beginning of this year, we set up our goals and plans. It is important that we have to go straight toward God and turn away from our sins no matter where we go and what we do.
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook