October 25, 2026
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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Psalm 1 famously begins with "Blessed (אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי) is the man…" But אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי is not the typical word for "blessed," but the word the Queen of Sheba used to praise Solomon in 1 Kings 10:8 "Happy (אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי) are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom." That is, Psalm 1:1 has the sense of "Oh the amazing happiness, the great joy of that man who delights in the law of the LORD, and on his meditates day and night … for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
But our hearts sink as soon as we read just what it takes to be happy. Psalm 1:1–2, "who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers". Notice the "wicked" here is not a murderer or a rapist. The man who will never be blessed/happy is the man who walks "in the counsel of the wicked". He refuses to learn from God but takes advice from the world. Then he "stands in the way of sinners." The adopts the ways of the world and enters into a partnership. Finally, he "sits in the seat of scoffers". First he rejects God's word. Then he is attracted to others who have done the same. Finally he mocks God's word and those who follow him. He scoffs at what God calls blessing.
The wicked are ever full of themselves and drunk with their own self-importance. But they are "chaff" — lightweight and useless. Life lived without and against God's word has no substance. It has no worth and it will not last. Eventually the wind of time, and the storm of judgment, will blow it all away. If you were to die today, would anyone say your life had weight? Or that you simply took up space while alive, and now that you are gone, nothing you did is worth remembering? Only the life built on God's word can withstand the heat and the drought, which are inevitable in this fallen world. Like "a tree planted by streams of water" it will survive and thrive. This is what God wants for us.
That is why God has provided for us a truly righteous man. Jesus never walked in the counsel of the wicked, never stood in the way of sinners, never sat in the seat of scoffers. But his delight was to do the will of the Lord. Jesus keeps our hearts from sinking when we read this psalm. Jesus says to us John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." We are grafted into Jesus, and through him become alive, green, and fruitful.
Perhaps you do not feel green or see much fruit in your life. You have been scorched by life's heat, and you have lost hope. But your soul's vitality, substance, and fruitfulness are in Christ. We are certain of God's blessings because Jesus has come to us. Our delight is in the incarnate Word of God who loved us and gave himself to us. Day and night we meditate on his love and grace. We learn from him, side with him, and make our home with him.
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Growth Resources
In October we are reading "Shapers of Christianity" by Nick Needham. See also 12 for 26.
Announcements
October 25 (Lord's Day): Reformation Day fellowship at the Ligtenberg home. Please join us for a time of celebration and lessons.
October 28 (Wednesday 6 PM): Daniel Zoom study continues with Daniel 5. Meeting ID: 820 0070 3059. Passcode: 999522
November 1: Daylight saving time ends. We fall back one hour.
November 1: Sunday School continues. Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, ch. 81, "Infant Baptism."
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).
This Week's Prayers
Please email your prayer request by Thursday to include it in the list for the upcoming week — info@gracefallbrook.church