Let Me Not Wander

vs 1 vs 2 vs 3 vs 4 vs 5 vs 6 Go back and review these verses. When I read them together, I see instructions and an outcome. What do you see? Well, I have finished my first passage of scripture for this blog. I can tell already that this is going to be an awesome journey for me, even if nobody else ever reads it. I have found so many applications for Psalm 1 this last week, it is truly amazing! I hope that you have enjoyed it as well.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (NIV) Keep in mind as you read this, that when a psalmist says, "the way" he is referring to a manner of life. I know that it doesn't seem like this all of the time, but God's ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. When Joseph was thrown into slavery, rejected by his brothers.... When he was accused of wrong doing by his boss... When he ended up on death row in Egypt... I am sure that things might have seemed bleak. But later in his life, he was able to look to his brothers and say, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accompolish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20) Following God's way does not mean a road without trial. But it is a road that is worth traveling. It is full of meaning and promise.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. (NIV) There will be no back-talking, arguing, or excuse-making going on at the judgement seat. Time will be at an end. All opportunities will have been spent. And those people, who have so pridefully and defiantly stood their ground against God, will bow down to their creator and their tongue will be silent. C.S. Lewis once said, "There will be two kinds of people in the end: Those that will say to God 'Thy will be done' and those to whom God will say 'Thy will be done.' " If you are interested, read some thoughts on will .

Not so the wicked! They are like the chaff that the wind blows away. (NIV) Here we can see the flip side of the coin. On one side there is this strong firm tree, planted by a river, bringing forth fruit. It is beautiful, it is beneficial. On the other extreme there is chaff, blowing away in the wind. Chaff is good for nothing. It is purposefully beaten out so that it will blow away. Once, in the New Testament, Jesus gave a similar illustration of a house built on a firm rock and of a house built on the sand. Interesting point to ponder: Notice that when Jesus was talking about the wise and the foolish man, he said that the wise man was the one who would "... hear these words of mine and put them into practice."

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (NIV) What is the result of avoiding ungodly counsel, not aligning yourself with sinners or their ways, and delighting and meditating on God's word? A prosperous life. This is not talking about getting rich. Though there are some who would preach a health and wealth gospel, the Bible does not teach that. This is talking about a spiritually prosperous life. A life that can withstand all of the trials and tribulations this world sends. This idea of a tree by a river paints a picture of a person who is rooted, and rooted in the best of places. This world is a hard place to live in. Difficult times are ahead of you or are already on top of you, trying to bring you down. But if you are firmly grounded in the Christ, drinking daily from the river of His truth, then you will be like this tree. You will bring forth your fruit in your season, your leaf w...

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. (NIV) In verse one, we can see where the happy man is not . Now we can see where the happy man is . God's word is the answer. It is the key, not only to godly living, but to happy living. And that makes total sense. Wouldn't the Creator of all humanity know how a human can be happy, better than anyone else? Where does the happy man dwell? He dwells in the law of the Lord. He is there day and night. It directs his steps, guides his thoughts. Where do you dwell? What is filling your mind on a daily basis? What is your meditation?

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. (NIV) When you see the word Blessed in the book of Psalms, it could easily be translated Happy. "Happy is the man..." And then we see these three things: 1) Don't walk in the counsel of the wicked. Don't listen to what they have to say. Don't go along with their advice. Don't saturate yourself with their teachings. Be aware of those teachings that are buried in television and music. 2) Don't stand in the way of sinners. Don't align yourself with their manner of life. Don't position yourself in that thinking or lifestyle. 3) Don't sit in the seat of mockers. Don't settle yourself in their mocking of God and his way. Don't allow yourself to be counted amoungst those who would consider the ways of God to be old or arcane.