40 Days of Prayer, Day 32
Day 32, Wednesday, September 21
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1
The Contrite Heart and the Careful Selection of Friends
This psalm is such an appropriate introduction to the entire Book of Psalms. The first word of the book, "blessed," indicates the tremendous benefit to hearing and following the truths of this particular book of the Bible, in addition to the benefits of following the truths communicated throughout the entire Bible. The connotation of being blessed by God runs counter to our transient culture. We often pursue happiness. Happiness is driven by our circumstances. Happiness often derives its pleasure from our own selfish motives. Ironically, chasing happiness can hinder our experience of true joy because it runs counter to God’s standards for blessings. As happiness seeks immediate pleasure, on our own terms, blessedness seeks joy on God's terms. Happiness is ultimately idolatry, the worship of the self. Blessedness comes from an act of worship by seeking God above all else. Blessedness invokes the inward joy that comes from God. It comes from outside us and it comes to us on God's terms.
In this opening verse, the psalmist identifies hindrances to divine blessing. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! Avoid those who are wicked, sinners and scoffers. Avoid them for they assault our very pursuit of joy. Paul says, "bad company corrupts good morals.” Here we see that bad company also hinders divine blessing. If we long for the joy that only God can give, we must be careful how we spend our life. We must be careful of the company we keep. We cannot fellowship with people who are dominated by sin. We must be careful where we get our advice and where we get our priorities. The wicked come at us from all sides, constantly speaking with authority into our lives saying, “Live this way!” “Embrace this idea!” “Follow this dream!” Their ways sound good because they come with promises of happiness in the near term. The way of the lost sounds promising, but the result is destruction and misery. The one with a contrite heart discerns the fading promises of the broken culture. The contrite in heart quickly identify the false messages from those who do not love God and do not submit to His Word.
In contrast, verse 2 juxtaposes a life committed to the negative influences of the wicked with that of a life committed to the Word of God. Notice the joy in this. That individual "delights in the Word of God." The blessing does not emerge from mere obedience to the Word of God. Rote submission to the Bible will not do, but instead delight, meditate, and abide in the Bible. Then comes this beautiful picture in the third verse - this picture of the blessed life. If we hear and follow the teachings of the Bible, we are like a tree planted deep, near a good source of water, producing good fruit.
Prayer Focus
God, keep me from godless voices that would rob me of the truly blessed life only You can give. Keep me in your word. Help me to abide in Your Word. Grant me wisdom so that I might discern what messages and ideas come into my life that I should avoid. Grant me courage to embrace the messages that come into my life that affirm Your Word. Produce a delight in my heart for You. Amen.
From Bunyan’s The Acceptable Sacrifice
Man, as he comes into the world, is not only a dead man, a fool, proud, and self-willed, but also a fearless creature. 'There is, ' says the text, 'no fear of God before their eyes' (Rom 3:18). No fear of God! There is fear of man, fear of losing his favor, his love, his good-will, his help, his friendship; this is seen everywhere. How do the poor fear the rich, the weak fear the strong, and those that are threatened, them that threaten! But come now to God; why, none fear him; that is, by nature, none reverence him; they neither fear his frowns, nor seek his favor, nor inquire how they may escape his revenging hand that is lifted up against their sins and their souls because of sin. Little things they fear the losing of them; but the soul they are not afraid to lose. 'They fear not me, says the Lord' (Mal 3:5). How many times are some men put in mind of death by sickness upon themselves, by graves, by the death of others? How many times are they put in mind of hell by reading the Word, by conscience, and by some that go roaring in despair out of this world? How many times are they put in mind of the day of judgment. Still they have no fear of God and His judgments.