blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [psalm 1:1]
the psalms start with a blessing–and a warning: when all we want to do is get our wisdom from the world, we will not experience the kind of flourishing that we might. we are not talking about the ‘prosperity gospel’ here, but a true, deep, intimate joy that goes deep and overcomes the despair that the world is trying to cover up and numb with the noisy distraction of wickedness, sin and scoffing.
as believers in Jesus Christ:
we don’t walk in the counsel of the wicked–we walk in the light:
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. [ephesians 5:8-10]
we don’t stand in the way of sinners–we stand on the promises of Christ:
let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. if what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. and this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. [i john 2:24-25]
we do not sit in the seat of scoffers-we trust the one who sits on the throne!
but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. for by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. [hebrews 10:12-14]
and i heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [revelation 5:13]
true blessing is the blessing that have in Jesus Christ–o that we might be on our knees in worship offering back to him what he has freely given to us, crying:
bless the Lord, o my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name! [psalm 103:1]
amen!
~ ce