The Way

If you could, instantly, have any book of the Bible memorized, which one would it be? I’ve asked this question to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people over the years. In fact, I asked several friends just recently while enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The most common answers, in no particular order, are usually: Revelation, Matthew, Luke, John, Isaiah, Genesis, and the Psalms. There are no wrong answers, of course. Now, which book would you choose? And why? It’s an enjoyable and edifying conversation to have.

Me? Well, friend, thank you for asking! I’d take Psalms with no hesitation. I love the book of Psalms, absolutely love it. Over the years, I’ve gone back again and again to read, study, and pray through the Bible’s Psalms. Several weeks ago, I found myself, once again, back at Psalm 1. The next day was Psalm 2. Then Psalm 3 and so on. Each day a Psalm; each day a blessing from God; each day a message seemingly tailor-made just for me in just the situation I was in. How God does this, I do not know, but He does it nevertheless, quite apart from my understanding.

 I hadn’t ever thought about the Psalms that way

Several years ago, my oldest son, Landon, and his friends read and talked through the Psalms together. It took several months, and in the course of doing so they each made a list of their top 10 Psalms. They would compare their lists, debate their reasons, and try and persuade the others of their perspective. One day, Landon asked me what my top ten was. I wasn’t sure; I hadn’t ever thought about the Psalms that way. He shared with me his list and the reasoning behind each selection. I remember being pleased and proud that my son was so conversant in the Psalms that he could have a top ten and make a rather persuasive case for each one. It was one of those wonderful father son moments for me. 

I still don’t have a top ten list. I’ve never taken the time to think about and make one. But, having said that, I’m certain that Psalm 1 would be on that list. Over the years, I’ve read it, prayed through it, meditated on it, and preached on it. And yet, just a few weeks ago, finding myself back at Psalm 1, new insights dawned on my understanding. What’s that? You’d like to know what they were? Well, again, thank you for asking!

The first is, well, the first word: Blessed. The book of Psalms—one of the longest books in the Bible, consisting of some 150 “chapters” (really, 150 songs)—begins with what is, I think, the essence of the whole book: being blessed. What does it mean to be blessed? How is one blessed? The Psalms, collectively, offer the answer. The point of it all is knowing and finding God’s blessing on one’s life.

     “Blessed is the one who…” (v. 1)

Friend, God longs to bless you, to shower upon you His favor and goodness. And, in Christ, He already has! For those who will receive it, God’s eternal favor, blessing, and salvation is already theirs, even now, through what Christ has accomplished in His life, death, and resurrection on their behalf. Living in the light of that historical and eternal reality is the key to being, as the Psalmist says in the opening of these sacred songs, “Blessed.” Believe it. Receive it.

But there’s even more. Verse 1 continues:

     Blessed is the one

         who does not walk in step with the wicked

     or stand in the way sinners take

         or sit in the company of mockers, 

Notice an important phrase in that third line: “the way.” It’s a phrase that shows up two more times in the psalm, both in the last verse:

     For the LORD watches over the way of

        the righteous,

     but the way of the wicked leads

        to destruction (v. 6).

“The way,” three times in just six verses. Psalm 1 contrasts “the way” of the “blessed” with “the way” of the “wicked” (vss. 1, 4, 5, 6), “sinners” (vss. 1, 5), and “mockers” (v. 1).

There are not three ways. Or four, or five. There are just two ways: the blessed way and another way. This is why the Psalm opens with, “Blessed is the one who…” and then, three verses later, announces loudly: “Not so the wicked!”

So, again, there are just two “ways”: the blessed way and the “not-so-blessed” way. And the point here is so simple, even subtle, one might easily miss it: God’s blessing is upon a favored and blessed “way,” not so much upon a favored and blessed people. God does not play, arbitrarily, favorites with one person over and against another, or with one group/nation/race over and against another. No, He has blessed a way. Any person or group may choose that way and, thus, be blessed. Conversely, any person or group may choose another, un-blessed, way and, thus, find themselves on the path that “leads to destruction” (v. 6). 

There are not three ways. Or four, or five. There are just two ways: the blessed way and another way.

God’s blessing, in Christ, is upon all people. This is because Jesus, as a member of the human race, and “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), died for and represents, literally, every human being who has ever lived or will ever live. In Christ, humanity is already redeemed, received, enthroned, and, yes, “blessed.”

In her wonderful book, Desire of Ages, Ellen White writes of this beautiful and biblical idea of global and inclusive representation:

And the word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless.

Embraces humanity! (Notice the present tense too!)

Our representative! (“Our,” as in all of us.)

So God’s blessing is not reserved for certain people and withheld from others. No, God’s blessing is upon a “way,” a way of living, thinking, and being. That way is for you. It is for me. And for everyone!

God doesn’t bless/curse people so much as He blesses/curses ways (of life). Friends, we choose which “way” we will live and in so doing we choose whether or not we will be blessed. 

This is what Psalm 1 is about: the way of blessing versus the way of the wicked/sinner/mocker. 

     For the LORD watches over the way of

        the righteous,

     but the way of the wicked leads

        to destruction. 

One way has God’s blessing upon and watch care over it. The other does not and, thus, leads to destruction. None of this is arbitrary or unfair, particularly given the previously discussed truth that, in Christ, God has already blessed and received all humanity! The odds are stacked, unquestionably, in our favor. Yes, we could be lost and wind our way down to “destruction” (v. 6), but it will take some real work and stubbornness to resist God’s saving plan and wooing Spirit. Sadly, some people will succeed in rejecting God’s blessed way, but, friend, it shouldn’t be you! In Christ, you are destined for salvation. Don’t say no. Don’t…

      walk in step with the wicked

      or stand in the way sinners take 

      or sit in the company of mockers (v. 1)

No, that’s not your way. Your way is with those whose

     delight is in the Law of the LORD

     [and those who] meditate on His law day and night (v. 2)

In making this decision, you are, the psalmist says, like a stable and fruitful “tree planted by streams of water” (v. 3). The fallen world is unpredictable, uncharitable, and unforgiving. We all know this all too well. But amidst the wild world’s intractable and untraceable storms, God’s eternal blessing in Christ persists and prevails. 

Let me add one final layer before letting you go. Remember this one? 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Surely you see it. I mean, it jumped right out at you, didn’t it? Jesus Himself is the Way! The way is not an abstract idea, a difficult-to-remember mantra, or a complex theological abstraction. No, the way is a Person! And Jesus is that Person! 

He is the living lesson book on what it means to live the blessed life. He is the Model Man, the Holy Human. He has blazed the blessed trail and invited us to follow—“follow Me,” He delighted to say to confused but curious sinners. Surely you are one of those, right? I know I am. 

In a world gone mad, I’m choosing “the blessed Way.” I’m choosing Jesus. 

How about you? 

David Asscherick

Speaker/Director at Light Bearers

David is a speaker/director for Light Bearers and ARISE co-founder and instructor. Since his baptism in 1999, David has traveled the globe preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his wife Violeta are the happy parents of two boys, Landon and Jabel.