Beginning with a Blessing (Psalm 1:1-3)

Psalm 1:1-3

 

1 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;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 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.

 

            As I get started with Bible reading for 2014, it is encouraging to read this passage first. Who is blessed? Who is given prosperity and goodness from God? It is the person who regularly meditates on and delights in God’s word.

 

            Of course I know that this is not about worldly prosperity. It’s not about money or health. But the truth is to receive blessing and goodness from God is to receive joy. God will help the person mentioned here in the psalm to do the things that honor God. Delighting in God’s word will lead to not thinking and acting like those who oppose God.

 

            I don’t respond to this text with a legalistic regulation about how much or how often to read the word of God. However, I do see that the poet calls us to spend our days and nights in contemplation of the sweet truth of God’s word. This makes sense. There is no way to know God apart from his written revelation of himself. You can read it, you can listen to it, you can hear it taught, but the truth is, however you do it, you must make God’s word central in your life if you are going to prosper in your walk with God.