Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 03:3 (Summer 1994)
Article: The Way of Blessing
Author: R. Kent Hughes

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RAR 3:3 (Summer 1994) p. 85

The Way of Blessing

R. Kent Hughes

The first Psalm of our sacred Psalter is the doorway to the remaining 149 Psalms, and is foundational to all the blessings which follow in the Psalms. This beautifully crafted wisdom Psalm describes the pathway to blessing. If followed in one’s heart, it guarantees divine blessing in the life of God’s child.

The Road to Avoid

There is a path which the truly “blessed” avoid at all costs, set forth in terms of negation in verse one: “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.” No one ever has or ever will be blessed who follows such a path.

It is important to note, as we begin, that the forbidden path becomes increasingly dark and permanent as it is followed. The three verbs “walk,” “stand,” and “sit” are meant to make this absolutely clear. Initially one begins walking in the counsel of the wicked. Then this person begins to stand around with them. And finally, he or she sits down with them—having gone from bad to worse! These three deadly postures portray an increasing entanglement in deeper sin. As one walks he takes evil counsel; when he stands he is fixed more permanently in the way of evil; and finally when he sits, he has descended to scoffing. He has become a detractor.

It is a terrible, insidious progression. Here’s how it works in modern life.

Intellectual Walk

First, a person begins to “walk in the counsel of the wicked.” That is, he gets his advice, his philosophy of life, from ungodly people. In the present day, a fundamental tenet of the counsel of the wicked is that God does not exist, or if He does, He is too weak to do anything. This view, of course, poses huge problems intellectually for the unbeliever, but he rarely thinks them out—as it was in

RAR 3:3 (Summer 1994) p. 86

the case of a student Stuart Briscoe encountered. Briscoe began the conversation by asking,” Are you alive?”

“Yeah,” the boy said, looking startled.

“Why are you alive?” was Briscoe’s next question.

“Because I was born and haven’t died.”

“Did you have anything to do with your birth?”

“No, except I was there!”

“Do you plan on having anything to do with your death?”

“No.”

“Then as far as you are concerned, your birth was an accident and your death will be an accident.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Then I know what...

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