How to be Happy (Part 2)
November 5, 2026
SCRIPTURE COLLECTION
Today's Scripture Passage
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:2-3
Related Scriptures:
Psalm 1:2–3
Psalm 119:97–105
Joshua 1:8
Jeremiah 17:7–8
Ezekiel 36:26–27
John 3:3–8
Ephesians 2:1–10
Titus 3:4–7
1 Peter 1:23
James 1:18
1 Corinthians 2:12–14
2 Corinthians 5:17–21
Philippians 3:8–9
John 15:1–8
Galatians 5:22–23
Colossians 1:9–10
Notes & Reflections
How to be Happy (part 2)
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. "Psalm 1:2-3
Men, left to themselves, are unable to delight in the Word of God. They are spiritually dead and what theologians call “totally depraved” (Eph. 2:1; Rom. 3:10–18; cf. Ps. 51:5). Verse one is a description of every man apart from the work of God. Verses two and three, however, only happen through regeneration.
Regeneration is what happens when a man or woman is awakened from their spiritual deadness through the power of the Holy Spirit. They are “made alive” spiritually (Eph. 2:4–5).
Now alive, they hear the Gospel and believe that Christ is trustworthy and is their only hope of salvation. They realize that their works are unable to make them right with God, and they put their trust fully in the work of Christ on their behalf. In this moment, Christ’s life of perfect obedience is imputed to them as if they themselves were perfect.
This is an amazing thing, and once this takes place, verses two and three of Psalm 1 become their reality. The Word of God comes alive and they experience illumination. What they once were unable to understand soon becomes crystal clear. What they found boring soon becomes exciting and worth more than everything. They now know that what the Word of God says is true.
As they feed on the Word, they can’t get enough. More than this, the sins that were once so tempting soon become dull and unattractive. They grow in truth and wisdom. They see true reality and become like a fully grown and healthy tree. The Word they meditate on day and night is the stream that feeds their roots.
Their life even becomes a blessing to those around them. This is the prospering the Psalmist means, not riches, but a life that bears fruit for God in its season. Righteousness consumes their desires, and as this happens, they are filled with satisfaction and joy.
Happiness is found in a life freed from sin, it’s found in the Gospel and the work of Christ, and it’s also found in the ability to love, understand, and believe the Word of God.
Happiness is not found anywhere else.
A man separated from God can never find true and everlasting joy. It’s not found in the right kind of government, it’s not found in a human ruler or president, it’s not found in family, looks, wealth, health, or any other thing the world has to offer.
Happiness is found in truth.
Happiness is found in Christ.
The question is: Are you happy?
Why can’t a man delight in God’s Word on his own?
Apart from God, every man is dead in his sins and cannot understand or love the things of God. The Holy Spirit must first make him alive. Once he is made alive, he believes the Gospel, Christ’s righteousness is counted as his, and the Word he once found boring becomes his delight, the stream that feeds his roots so that he bears fruit for God in its season (Ephesians 2:1–5; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Psalm 1:2–3).
Study Questions
QUESTION 01
According to Psalm 1:2, what does the blessed man delight in and how often does he meditate on it? How does that explain the tree in verse 3?
QUESTION 02
According to Ephesians 2:1–5, what condition are we in apart from God, and what does God do to change it?
QUESTION 03
Psalm 1:3 says the blessed man prospers in all that he does. How does John 15:5–8 help show what kind of fruit and prospering the psalm means?
How To Cling Today
Cling to Christ today by thanking him for helping you delight in His Word.
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