Thursday: Blessings of Righteous Living
Daily Lesson for Thursday 22nd of February 2024
Read Psalms 1:1-3, Psalms 112:1-9, and Psalms 128:1-6. What blessings are promised for those who revere the Lord?
Of the many blessings promised to those who revere the Lord, peace is perhaps one of the greatest. Psalms 1:1-6 depicts the righteous by a simile of a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruits in season and whose leaf does not wither (Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Ezekiel 47:12).
Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com
This simile identifies the source of all blessings, namely, abiding in God’s presence in His sanctuary and enjoying uninterrupted and loving relationship with God. Unlike the wicked, who are portrayed as chaff, with no stability, place, and future, the righteous are like a fruitful tree with roots, a place near God and eternal life.
Psalms 128:2, 3 evokes the blessings of the Messianic kingdom, where sitting under one’s own vine and fig tree is a symbol of peace and prosperity (Micah 4:4). The blessing of peace upon Jerusalem (Psalms 122:6-8; Psalms 128:5-6) conveys hope in the Messiah, who will end evil and restore peace in the world.
“In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called ‘a country.’ Hebrews 11:14-16. There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 675.
The New Testament describes the fulfillment of that hope in Christ’s second advent and the creation of the new world (Matthew 26:29, Revelation 21:1-27). Therefore, while the righteous receive many blessings in this life, the fullness of God’s favor awaits them when God’s kingdom is fully restored at the end of time.
Why is the Cross, and what happened there, the guarantee of the promises found in the New Testament of what God has in store for us? How can we get comfort from those promises even now?
(17)
Some of the most peaceful times in my life in recent years are the times I spent on the Boys' Walk on the Avondale University Campus. (Its name derives from when Ellen White was involved in setting up the school and men and women students were given separate walking areas. I could lots of stories about that too but perhaps now is not a good time.) It is a very peaceful walk following Dora Creek from the Avondale Cemetery to the Swing Bridge - about 1.5km. It meanders through Grey Myrtle, Paper-bark Melaluca, Eucalypts, Tobacco Bush, a couple of old swamps, and a few paddocks. Its mood changes depending on the weather from a hot summer day, to a cool misty winter morning.
And, there are always birds. I have photographed over 150 species of birds on or near this track. Sometimes there are other people on the track, but mostly the times I walk the track are less popular with other people. I love the peace of this track. Just 400m away lies Avondale University where I spent over 40 years of my life as a student and lecturer. It is somewhat fitting that peace lies so close to where I worked.
The Psalmists use the metaphor of streams of water and trees planted nearby to invoke a message of peace within our relationship with Jesus. It is an illustration that resonates with me.
Jesus talks about peace:
Jesus talks about peace now in the context of a discussion about Heaven and the New Earth. It is not just a hope for the future, but peace now in the midst of the battle between good and evil.
I will let you into a little secret. Some of my best ideas for Sabbath School Net come to me while I am walking on Boys' Walk.
I really enjoy your description of the place you walked. I love maps, so I looked it up on Google maps and found a 360 degree photo uploaded by Jody Lawson taken on the swinging bridge. It's beautiful. I see why you have such good memories. Thank you. I enjoy your comments so much.
Swing Bridge, Cooranbong
Conforming to God’s image is living righteously,
Allowing God to transform our life is living righteously,
Daily dying to self is living righteously,
Humbly asking God to create in us a clean heart is living righteously,
God has a special place prepared for those who live righteously.
May we accept His grace and invitation to live righteously while waiting for His soon coming.
God always tried to show favor to those who obey Him. But the world has gone so mad that He had to take extreme measures. The most potent and significant unique act God had to take to show the Universe that He is LOVE and can save us from ourselves is demonstrated on the cross! The cross divides not only this planet's history but the Universe's. There is nothing more important than what God did for His fallen creatures.
The "blessed hope" spurs us on amidst the vicissitudes of life, may we strive to anchor ourselves in Christ on a daily basis, that His blessings, to include peace, will attend to us until He returns to take us home!!!
When you live in a desert, an area of shady trees and cool fresh water nearby I s a marvelous blessing...
In 1 Kings 13, the story of a prophet who went from wise to unwise in moments. It was humbling to read that even though you may be wise in one aspect, you can be unwise in others. I praise God because He sits upon His throne of Mercy. Wisdom is ever growing into the image of God where we walk...then stumble..and often fall. BUT GOD! knowing our fragility..picks us up and starts us again! Praise God from whom all blessings and wisdom flow.
Reflections on Psalm 112:1-9:
"Blessed is the man who honors the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments. As I read this, I consider: the blessing is that man is enabled to delight greatly as he walks with his God. The true blessing is the ability to reflect the Goodness of the LORD from within.
"Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous." I consider the blessing to be that man is enabled to experience the LORD’s qualities within himself. The true blessing is the ability to experience the LORD’s character qualities within his newly formed, born-again nature.
"He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD." I read this to mean the blessing is with his new heart he can trust the LORD explicitly throughout the experiences in life. The true blessing is the ability to trust that by living in Christ Jesus man is protected from evil' – Gal.2:19-21.
Man can do nothing of his own; all good is given to man because the Lord loves His creation. It is not that when we revere the Lord that we will be blessed, the blessing is evident in that we are able to revere the Lord! God’s Spirit within man enables him to do the ‘right thing’ - that is the blessing.
The Father calls man unto Himself to reflect His Goodness - unceasingly, faithfully! As long as we live, He will cover with Grace and Mercy those who's life is in His Son. Yes – “God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.” - Ellen G. White.
My brother Matthew and brother Luke texted me and said we can't be saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. And we do our good works in thanks for being saved.
Yes they are right.
Also ellequently said are some of my favorites:
"No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul." Christ's Object Lessons p. 159.3
Christ sacrifice of dying on the cross for our sins, is a guarantee of our salvation, if we realize and act on the thought that, "we cannot earn salvation, but we are to seek for it with as much interest and perseverance as though we would abandon everything in the world for it." Christ's Object Lessons, p. 117.2
These gems, and todays lesson are sweet words that give us confidence in our wonderful Saviour, and allow us to grasp His promises thus being some of the happiest Christians alive.
Blessings to you. Can you please clarify the scriptures for me? I'm not understanding from where you are quoting
Thank you for your clarification 😊