Blessings are ascribed to the godly man because he receives his strength from his LORD. He abides in the house of God because there is no better place. It is the place of divine blessings. Who is this man?
This man is the "adam", the earthly man, made out of the dust of the ground. It shows forth the weakness and feebleness of this man. This is the man who was cursed by God as a result of the Fall. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:19 ). This is the man who became a living soul when God first breathed life into him, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7 ) This is the man who forgot his Creator when he consented to disobey his Creator's direct command not to partake of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. This is the man who together with his wife, sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons because their eyes were opened and they knew that they were naked. Sin causes shame! Such a man is filled with his own ways, whose strength is always lacking. What happens to the soul of such a man, if his sins are not forgiven, after he returns to the dust? The Bible reveals to us a hopeless end in Hell, in the torment of the Lake of Fire, where the fire never quenches.
How then can such a sinful man be blessed? The answer is in the word "thee". For when he repents, he receives from Him not only strength but also blessings! The context of the psalm tells us the personal pronoun "thee" is the "LORD", Jehovah, the covenantal name for the God of Israel. He is the source of the repentant man's blessings and strength. It speaks here of a relationship that cannot be broken, a relationship that cannot be severed. The LORD manifested Himself in human flesh so that we may know Him. The Bible tells us that He is Immanuel, God with us, in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Do you believe that? There was a woman taken in adultery in the very act, a sinner brought to Jesus by the Pharisees and scribes who demanded that she be stoned to death according to the Mosaic Law. They hoped to trap Jesus by their craftiness. Jesus did not reply immediately but wrote on the ground. Then Jesus said to them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." "And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst". Jesus was the only one qualified to cast a stone at the woman, for He is sinless. The others were guilt stricken due to their own sinfulness. They themselves needed to make right with God. Jesus did not cast a stone at the adulterous woman although he was most qualified. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus said to the woman, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" And she said, "No man, Lord," and Jesus said "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." The woman whose sins were forgiven had the strength to live a new life. To be "Blessed" in the Bible is more than being happy; it is to possess the assurance of sins forgiven and a right relationship with God. In other words he is saved!
Dear brethren, are we plagued with a great burden of sin? We can unload it to the LORD at the foot of the cross. There is always redress with God when we humbly seek Jesus for forgiveness. He not only forgives us but gives to us a new lease of life, not only eternal life but strength to live this earthly life until we arrive in Heaven. The blessings of this man whose sins are forgiven are happiness, unspeakable peace and joy. His sole delight henceforth is gratitude and gratefulness to His Saviour. This man henceforth receives his strength from his LORD. The broken relationship is no longer broken but mended. He has direct access to God through prayer and guidance by His Word. He delights in abiding in his LORD in worship, Who is the source of his strength. May it be so for us too! Amen.