March 27: Blessed is the Man, Christ Jesus
♫ Music:
WEEK FIVE INTRODUCTION
TITLE: SOME MESSIANIC PSALMS
March 27–April 2
Some scholars suggest that twenty-five psalms (one out of every six) include at least one messianic prophecy—the criterion for designating a psalm as messianic. Other theologians emphatically state that the whole of the Psalms from beginning to end are messianic in nature. Bishop Demetri of the Antiochian Orthodox Church writes, “Indeed, it is only through Christ that we can understand the poetic language of the Psalms. From the first to the last Psalm, these ancient writings tell us in the language of prophecy that God will intervene through Christ to deliver us from the plight inflicted by our sins.” Messianic Psalms are referenced in eleven New Testament books, especially in the Gospels and in the book of Acts. Around seventy clear references to Christ in the Psalms are fulfilled in the New Testament. Not only did Christ often quote from the Psalms, but so did his disciples Peter and Paul as they proclaimed Christ in the early days of Christianity.
The first three psalms form the Christological structure of the entire Psalter. The blessed man in Psalm 1 is the man Christ Jesus. In Psalm 2 Christ is portrayed as the anointed one, the Messiah. Although we were unable to include it in this series, Psalm 3 depicts the persecuted just man, the suffering servant. Psalm 8 speaks of Christ’s dominion over all things. Psalm 118 refers to Christ as the chief cornerstone, the stone that the builders rejected. Psalm 45 is a love song to Christ the Bridegroom, while Psalm 91 declares Christ to be our refuge and strength—the one who ”raises us up on eagle's wings.” We end this week with Psalm 145, a prayer of praise that extols Christ the King as Lord of heaven and earth forever.
Day 26 - Sunday, March 27
Title: BLESSED IS THE MAN, CHRIST JESUS
Scripture: Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Poetry:
Repentance
by George Herbert
Lord, I confess my sin is great;
Great is my sin. Oh! gently treat
With your quick flower, your momentary bloom;
Whose life still pressing
Is one undressing,
A steady aiming at a tomb.
Man’s age is two hours work, or three:
Each day does round about us see.
Thus are we to delights: but we are all
To sorrows old,
If like be told
From what life feels of Adam’s fall.
O let your height of mercy then
Compassionate short-breathéd men.
Cut me not off for my most foul transgression:
I do confess
My foolishness;
My God, accept of my confession.
Sweeten at length this bitter bowl,
Which you have poured into my soul;
Your wormwood turn to health, winds to fair weather:
For if you stay,
I and this day,
As we did rise, we die together.
When you for sin rebuke each man,
Forthwith he waxeth woe and wan:
Bitterness fills our bowels; all our hearts
Pine, and decay,
And drop away,
And carry with them th’ other parts.
But you will sin and grief destroy;
That so the broken bones may joy,
And tune together in a well-set song,
Full of His praises,
Who dead men raises.
Fractures well cured make us more strong.
BLESSED IS THE MAN, CHRIST JESUS
Along with chapter two, Psalm 1 provides a rich introduction to the whole prayerbook of Israel. It pictures the flourishing of God’s people as the direct result of living out God’s ways, and such blessing is nourished uniquely by the goodness of God’s word. For the Israelite imagination, this word is none other than Torah––God’s gracious gift of the Law, and as Psalm 1 observes in the walking, standing, and sitting of its subjects, internal orientations become externalized in our tell-tale behaviors. These patterns demonstrate either loyalty to his Word or to the counsel of sinners and scoffers.
The Psalmist builds this contrast upon the image of a well-fed and unmoveable tree. Unlike the leftovers of the threshing floor that are carried away by a strong breeze, this great tree is rooted and established, situated near streams of life-giving water, and productive in its season (cf. Jer. 17:8). It is both a sign and channel of blessing; yielding fruit and offering shade for man and beast alike. Its glorious potential is made visible in Mark Cazalet’s The Tree of Life. The magnificent and labyrinthine limbs of his tree both announce the possibility of years and years of arboreal prosperity as well as a warning about how quickly such growth can be cut off. Look closely to see the redemptive mysteries within its branches.
The vision of Psalm 1, then, demands a holistic, uncompromising allegiance to God’s ways. Ideally, God’s garden would be full of such trees, transplanted by his hand and thriving in his midst (cf. Ps. 92:12-15). Tragically, despite even our best devotion to God’s word, none of us could muster this kind of fruitfulness on our own. Recognizing our poverty of spirit surely invites a sense of desperation, perhaps the life and death sort that animates Herbert’s verse: “Cut me not off for my most foul transgression:/I do confess/My foolishness.”
The nature of our rescue, however, still surprises the most legalistic penitent. While Jesus is indeed the long-awaited fulfillment of the psalm’s righteous one, he is not the over-achieving Pharisee we might expect. This Savior is no dour slave to the Law, tediously grinding out his obedience. Rather, Jesus surpasses all law-keepers through his inimitable, authentic delight. When the Gospels present Jesus walking, standing or sitting, we see the Law really come to life, bearing the fruits of healing, wholeness, and redemption.
In trusting him, we are given something even better than his marvelous example. Jesus actually invites us into his delight. When he says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me... For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” we are called to abandon our strivings, receive the acceptance of his radical love, and find a new relationship to God’s Law fueled by delight (Matt. 11:8-30). We overcome through sharing his joy. Then, as Marty Goetz’ setting of Psalm 1 celebrates so aptly, we are led by the beautiful obedience of Christ, our righteous one (v.1), into the ever-enlarging assembly of all God’s righteous ones (v.5-6).
Prayer:
Most Merciful Heavenly Father,
If we would follow in the obedient way of Jesus and seek the blessings of his righteousness, we cannot lean on our own power. We need his Spirit. Set us apart for this holy journey and let us join our hearts to Augustine of Hippo’s own earnest request:
Breathe in me,
O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may be holy.
Act in me,
O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart,
O Holy Spirit,
that I love only what is holy.
Strengthen me,
O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then,
O Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
Amen.
Dr. Taylor Worley
Visiting Associate Professor of Art History
Wheaton College
Wheaton, Illinois
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Artwork:
The Tree of Life
Mark Cazalet
2003–2004
Oil on wood panels
600 x 400 cm
Chelmsford Cathedral
Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom
Photo: Courtesy of the Chelmsford Cathedral
British artist Mark Cazalet was commissioned to create this painting depicting the Tree of Life for Chelmsford Cathedral. Painted on thirty-six oak panels, the symmetrical design of the massive oak tree represents two opposing concepts––life and death. The painting contains a wealth of detail and multiple layers of symbolism and meaning––prompting thoughtful careful examination. On the right side of the composition is an idyllic English landscape full of animal life and abounding with acres of golden wheat––full of peace and abundance. Reading beneath the huge oak is a local Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop St. Cedd, an evangelist during the Middle Ages, who founded several churches in the area. On the left side there is a decaying landfill site of discarded trash and decomposing plant life––full of waste and senseless neglect. In the lower dying branches of the left side of the tree Judas Iscariot hangs; his ill-gotten silver coins falling to the ground from his coin purse, but atop the right side of the tree however Cazalet paints the figure of a “Judas redeemed,” depicting a young man climbing to the heights of the tree. Cazalet asks us to consider the question if any sinner is ever truly beyond redemption. Through this work, Cazalet questions us to consider the consequences of our values and faith with an eye to our terrestrial and eternal future.
https://thevcs.org/death-judas/he-repented
https://www.artandchristianity.org/mark-cazalet-the-tree-of-life
About the Artist:
Mark Cazalet (b. 1964) is a contemporary British painter and print-maker who has undertaken many diverse commissions, especially in ecclesiastical settings. Currently based in London and Suffolk, UK, he trained at the Chelsea School of Art and then the Falmouth School of Art. After graduating, he was awarded the French government’s national studentship award to study in France, where he studied at L'ecole-des-Beaux-Arts Paris in the studio of French artist Christian Boltanski. Cazalet has completed several large-scale glass and painted works for many ecclesiastical locations, including the cathedrals of Worcester, Manchester, and Chelmsford. He works with fabricators in materials as varied as mosaic, mural, stained glass, etched/engraved glass, textiles, and lino woodcut limited edition books. Cazalet's studio practice is based around drawing, painting, and printmaking, and is usually concerned with landscape themes, informed by particular qualities of light, color, and presence. In the spring of 2012 and 2013 he was artist-in-residence at The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation in Connecticut. Cazalet is a member of faculty at The Royal Drawing School and also teaches at West Dean College and The Edward James Foundation, Sussex. He is a trustee of City and Guilds of London Art School. He is represented by the Beardsmore Gallery in North London and frequently exhibits in major regional and international shows.
https://www.markcazalet.co.uk/
https://www.royaldrawingschool.org/artists/faculty/mark-cazalet/#3
About the Music:
“Psalm 1” from the album Hope of Glory
Lyrics:
How blessed, how happy is the man,
Who will not walk in the way of the ungodly.
How blessed, how happy is the man,
Who will not stand in the path of the sinful
How blessed how happy is the man,
Who will not sit in the seat of the scornful
And it’s not hard to understand,
Why God would bless that man.
[Chorus]
He delights in the law of the Lord (2x)
Night and day, day and night,
He meditates on all that’s right,
And he desires nothing more
His delight is in the law of the Lord.
How blessed, how happy are the ones
Who have their hope in a living Redeemer.
How blessed, how happy are the ones
Who will one day see the face of their Savior
But how distressed shall be the ones
Who turn away from the love of a Father,
Unless they come to understand,
God’s kingdom is at hand.
[Chorus]
And they delight in the law of the Lord (2x)
Night and day, day and night
They meditate on all that’s right
And they desire nothing more
Their delight is in the law of the Lord
Oh, to be like a tree by the rivers of water,
Bearing it’s fruit in season,
Should my leaf never wither,
Should I flourish and prosper there’s a reason.
[Chorus]
I delight in the law of the Lord (2x)
Night and day, day and night.
I meditate on all that’s right
And I desire nothing more
For my delight is in the law,
Oh, our delight is in Your Law.
We delight in the law of the Lord (2x)
Night and day, day and night
We meditate on all that’s right
And we desire nothing more
Our delight is in the law of the Lord
And we desire nothing more
Our delight is in the law of the Lord
About the Performer/Composer:
Emmy-nominated musician Marty Goetz (b. 1952) has been called a modern-day psalmist. He is a Messianic musician who grew up in the Jewish faith and later accepted Jesus Christ as the Messiah. In 1970, he enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he pursued a growing interest in the performing arts by teaming up with another young musician, Bert. When Bert became a born-again Christian, the act broke up, but Goetz couldn’t stop thinking about the increasing number of Christians who seemed to be popping up in his life. Some time later, he realized with certainty that “the Jesus of the New Testament was the Messiah my people have been longing for.” Within a year, Marty began to establish himself as a strong and passionate voice for Messianic believers within the church. Goetz has been recording music steadily since 1985 and today lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Jennifer. He has ministered before congregations as diverse as Jack Hayford's Church on the Way, Greg Laurie's Harvest Christian Fellowship and Harvest Crusades, Coral Gables Presbyterian, Chicago's Moody Church, and David Wilkerson's Times Square Church. Ministries such as Focus on the Family, Insight For Living, TBN, Promise Keepers, Billy Graham Training Center/The Cove, and CBN have invited Marty to come and share his musical gifts and talents. His songs are Scriptures beautifully set to music, leaving listeners spiritually moved, inspired, and educated.
https://www.martygoetz.com/about-marty
https://billygraham.org/story/a-jewish-believer-who-found-jesus/
About the Poet:
George Herbert (1593–1633) was a Welsh-born English poet, orator, and Anglican priest. Herbert’s poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets and he is recognized as “a pivotal figure: enormously popular, deeply and broadly influential, and arguably the most skillful and important British devotional lyricist.” He was born into an artistic and wealthy family and was primarily raised in England. He received his education at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1609. He went there with the intention of becoming a priest, but he became the university’s public orator and attracted the attention of King James I. Herbert subsequently served in the parliament of England in 1624 and briefly in 1625. After the death of King James I, Herbert gave up his secular ambitions and took holy orders in the Church of England, spending the rest of his life as the rector of St Andrew’s Church in Salisbury. Throughout his life, Herbert wrote Christian poetry with a precision of language and a masterful use of imagery. Some of Herbert’s poems have been turned into hymns and are still in use today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Herbert
About the Devotion Author:
Taylor Worley, Ph.D.
Visiting Associate Professor of Art History
Wheaton College
Wheaton, Illinois
Taylor Worley is visiting associate professor of art history at Wheaton College. He completed a Ph.D. in the areas of contemporary art and theological aesthetics in the Institute for Theology, Imagination, and the Arts at the University of St. Andrews and is the author of Memento Mori in Contemporary Art: Theologies of Lament and Hope (Routledge, 2020). Taylor is married to Anna, and they have four children: Elizabeth, Quinn, Graham, and Lillian.