Happy the man who knows how to say no

The first psalm begins with the words: "Happy the man". Before describing the beatitude of the righteous man, the first verse of the psalm contains a threefold negation: "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, do not take the path that sinners tread, and do not sit in the seat of scoffers" (Psalm 1:1). Then, the source of this happiness appears: the Torah (law) of the Lord. Only after that is the happiness described as a tree planted alongside running waters, which prospers in all that it does.

The ?? (no) repeats itself twice more at the end of the psalm in relation to the wicked: "The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment" (Psalm 1:4-5). Because the did not know how to say no and did not find their joy in the Torah of the Lord, they will be driven away like chaff by the wind.

Jesus began his public ministry by saying three times "no" to the Tempter, who proposed an easier way to him. He knew how to respond with the words of the Torah. Thus, we can indeed trust him when he promises happiness to those who follow him.