“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
Psalm 1:1-2
Where are we looking?
When sharing news, we often start with do you want the good or the bad news first? The positive or the negative? This Psalm begins with the negative and yet from it we draw the positive – by stating what a righteous man should not do, we see the converse.
1. ‘Counsel of the Wicked’
The word ‘Counsel’ suggests an advisor, the person you look to for guidance and wisdom. When we need guidance, do we turn to the world or to God? In some cases, we need to turn to the other – if I have a medical problem, I would rather go to my Doctor than my Pastor! Yet on the whole, are our life decisions on careers, money, family etc. rooted in biblical wisdom and godly advice or do we look for answers in the world?
What is our overall APPROACH to life?
2. ‘Stand In the way’
There is a shift here from not just ‘visiting’ the world for advice but now standing and being identified with them. The implication here is that worldly behaviour is being replicated.
Does our BEHAVIOUR replicate or stand out as different from the world?
3. ‘Sits in the seat’
Again, that progression is continuing, from visiting, to standing, to sitting. Here we see an image of being settled and at home amongst the ungodly, this is where there is a resting place. Whilst we are certainly to be amongst unbelievers, (if we do not meet them how do we share the Gospel?) we should clearly not be at home there. When we are amongst unbelieving colleagues, friends and family are we conscious of our difference?
Where are we most COMFORTABLE?
4. ‘Delight’
Here the Psalmist moves from the negative to the positive, the believer should find their ultimate delight in God’s Word and through reading it becoming more like him. Our daily quiet time should be a pleasure not a chore.
Do we DELIGHT in our daily quiet times?
5. ‘in the Law of the Lord’
It is God’s Word that the believer should delight in, it is there we learn how to live, there we see the examples of Godly living. Ultimately in our Lord himself. There are two models of living – the righteous and the unrighteous.
Where do we take our EXAMPLES from?
6. ‘he meditates day and night’
People have different approaches to instruction books, some read it cover to cover before even looking at whatever it relates to. For others it is a ‘consult as a last resort’ approach. God’s Word is not there as a last resort, it should be the focal point of each day. One of the principles of the organisation I work for UBM (United Beach Missions) is ‘Love for His Word’, it should be a driving force for each team member, yet more than that it should be the focus of our whole lives. Love for the Lord (another UBM principle!) and Love for His Word are intricately bound up in each other. In order to do this, we need to know it!
Where is our Focus?
Tirzah Jones is a member at Malpas Road Evangelical Church, Newport