April 30 – Reading 120

APRIL 30 – Reading 120

by Marcia Rainey | April 30

“THE WAY OF BLESSING”
(1 Kings 2:1-12; 1 Chronicles 29:26-30; Psalm 1 & 2)

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.  – Psalm 2:12

Don’t we all long for happiness? It’s a universal desire–so much so that the pursuit of happiness is even listed as an unalienable right alongside life and liberty in the American Declaration of Independence. Many of us have thought that we’ll be happy once we graduate, buy a new car, lose 10 pounds, own our own home, marry, land a six-figure salary, or retire. Yet, time and again, we discover that the happiness we expect from these events is, at best, fleeting. Psalms 1 & 2  offer a single path to happiness much different from what our culture offers.   

Psalm 1 presents two divergent paths: the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly. The psalm teaches that true happiness is found in a right relationship with God–delighting in, meditating on, and living out His Word. This person is like a tree planted by a river, drawing constant nourishment and bearing fruit in due season. This is the picture of a blessed life by someone who seeks God and lives under His precepts and care. In contrast, the wicked face inevitable ruin as they follow their own in defiance to God.  

Psalm 2 deepens this message of delight and submission to God by focusing on our response to God’s anointed one. Who is this anointed one or Messiah? The psalmist describes the anointed one as God’s begotten Son – a Messiah who will reign eternally. The apostle Paul, the author of Hebrews, and early Christians with Peter and John all saw in these verses a powerful prophecy fulfilled in Jesus. This psalm foretells that the rulers and people of the world will be opposed to God’s anointed one, but their end will be destruction. In contrast, “blessed are all who take refuge in him”.

The choice is clear: there is a way of righteousness that leads to eternal blessing, while the path of ungodliness leads to eternal destruction. This stands in stark contrast to the modern message that happiness is achieved by pursuing your own way, by following your heart, accumulating wealth, or pursuing worldly success. God’s Word reminds us to choose the path of the righteous through God’s Word and faith in the life and work of His son, Jesus Christ. 

Simple Truth:
Only when we choose the path of righteousness by delighting in God’s Word and taking refuge in His anointed Son Jesus Christ can we experience true happiness and everlasting blessedness. 

Reflections:

1. What culturally championed or self-defined means of pursuing happiness is most alluring to you and why? How have you seen it fail you or others?

    

2. How have you experienced the nourishment of God’s Word, as depicted by the tree planted by a river in Psalm 1?
    

3. Think about the two paths described in Psalms 1 and 2: How are your daily choices aligning with the path of righteousness or ungodliness?
    

4. In what ways does taking refuge in Jesus transform your perspective during challenging times?

    

5. Why is the return of Jesus a significant source of hope for Christians?

Applications:

1. Choose one or two verses from today’s reading to meditate on throughout the day, asking God to apply the verse(s) to your life.

    

2. Evaluate whether your personal ambitions align with the way of righteousness.

    

3. Consider any challenging circumstances you face today and consciously choose to trust Jesus as your refuge. Ask God to give you discernment and wisdom to make godly decisions.

    

4. Thank God for how following Jesus has transformed your life. If you are not a follower of Jesus, consider how your life would be transformed with a commitment to Him and His way of righteousness.  

Closing Prayer…
Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, your beloved son, to live and die so that I may walk the path of righteousness and blessedness. Please form within me desires and ambitions that reflect Your desires and ambitions. Convict me of sin and self-centeredness that I may repent and be formed more fully into the image of your Son, my Savior Jesus. In a society where so many are lost and depressed, seeking happiness in futile ways, help me to guide them to You, the only source of lasting contentment and blessedness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.