I prefer the shorter title than the one suggested by AI:
Living Like the Blessed One: A Life of Delight, Productivity, and Divine Protection
The theme is based on my exegesis of Psalm chapter 1.
I preferred the shorter title because it is easily remembered and its Tagalog translation is more suitable and relevant to Filipino readers. At least, that's how I feel when I read the Tagalog version of my interpretation.
The Book of Psalms is an inspired Prayer Book of the Jews. It contains both corporate and individual lament and praise. To open this prayer book with Psalm Chapter 1 seems to me like a vision of how a prayer life should be aimed. Though the structure of Psalms is arranged differently from that of the narrative, still we can glean an idea of its central theme. Yes, it is poetical and its structure should be analyzed differently from that of prose. However, due to time constraints, I have no time to visit the library and check whether my analysis is accurate and sound or not. Nevertheless, despite the deficiency in terms of genre analysis, as far as personal study and reflection are concerned, I believe that the outcome of this study is beneficial not only to me but I hope to the readers as well.
Taking The Blessed Life as the theme, we can ask the question:
How can you say that you are living a blessed life?
It is not strange to us to hear people describe their lives as "ruined" (wasak). Such a life is anything but productive and prosperous, in short, the exact opposite of the Psalmist's description of a blessed life. The Psalmist has a unique way to describe that kind of life. He compared it to a "chaff" that can easily be blown away by the wind. Such life is leading to destruction.
No one in his right mind would dare to live a ruined life. We want the best in life. Sadly, the means that we use to achieve our ideal life lead us instead to a life that is contrary to what we aspire to. It is because we follow our path and we stray from the path given to us by the Lord as described in His words.
The Psalmist Description of the Blessed Life
The verbs "walk," "stand," and "sit" speak about the lifestyle of the blessed one. These expressions talk about your daily walk, principles in life, and companions. In Tagalog:
Sa buhay na pinagpala, makikita kung sino ang kasama mo sa paglalakad, sa iyong paninindigan, at sa iyong mga kasalamuha.
Such a distinct lifestyle of the blessed one talks volumes about his delight in life. He finds the study of God's law pleasurable and that is why he regularly meditates on it, day and night.
Furthermore, the Psalmist compared a blessed life to a tree with the following qualities:
- Planted by streams of water
- Productive,
- And always fresh and vibrant
And the actions of such a law-centered kind of life have been prospered by the Lord. This is in sharp contrast to the life of the wicked. His life is compared to a chaff and easily blown by the wind. This means that a life that does not delight in the law of the Lord has no substance and direction; it has no higher purpose beyond oneself.
Lastly, the Psalmist describes the blessed life as under God's protection. His way is watched over by the Lord. Again, this implies that the life of the wicked is not under God’s watch and that is why it is heading to destruction.
Summary and Conclusion
Realizing this, our prayers should be for the Lord to reform our lifestyle, to help us find His law pleasurable, to make us strong and vibrant like the productive tree, to prosper our activities, and to protect us in our life's journey. You can say that your life is blessed as God reforms your lifestyle, as you delight in his law, as you become productive and prosperous, and as you enjoy His protection. In short, it is only by the grace of God that you can live a blessed life.