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Pray Without Ceasing, Week 9, Day 57

by David Joynt on July 28, 2019


PSALM 1:1 | Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers.

MATTHEW 5:3-11 | Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Psalm 1 is not a prayer but an introduction to the Psalms. It begins with a Beatitude, a blessing. The Hebrew word for happy also means blessing and it lies behind Jesus’ beatitude in Matthew 5:311. Psalm 1 affirms a great truth we can stand on—life can be blessed. When we are down or facing tragedy we need to know that life is meant to be and can be a blessing. There is a right path and God has made it known. There is a road leading to deep relationships and great rewards.

Put yourself into this verse. Blessed are you, _____________ when you do not follow…..

Can you affirm this great truth?

Tags: poor, comfort, blessed, meek

About the Author
David Joynt

Dave Joynt began his service as a pastor at Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona in September 2014. This meant a move away from the Northeast, where he has a long history, growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and then serving congregations in Delaware and New Jersey for a total of 23 years.

Dave was nurtured in a great church in Bethlehem where his parents, Anne and Carey, served as elders. He graduated in classics from Lehigh University where his Father taught, and then from Oxford, where he met his wife Julia. Ordained in 1988, he completed a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1993.

He and Julia have a son, Tristan, and a daughter, Madeleine.

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