Verse of the Day 8/14
Psalm 1:1-2 God blesses those people
who refuse evil advice
and won't follow sinners
or join in sneering at God.
2 Instead, the Law of the Lord
makes them happy,
and they think about it
day and night. Contemporary English Version (CEV)
In my daily readings in the Psalms I just completed the book yesterday which meant that today I am starting over, this time, in the Contemporary English Version. When I read this translation of verse 1 what caught my attention was the reference to those who "refuse evil advice" as being blessed. It reminded me of the passage that we considered the other day from Proverbs 1, written by Solomon, David's son which said "if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them". (Proverbs 1:10). It seems that David and Solomon recognized the importance of being careful of whom we listen to. The English Standard Version below shows a downward spiral of "walking " while taking the advice of the wicked; "standing" in the way with sinners; and "sitting" in the seat of scoffers.
As you walk along someone can come up to you and offer to sell you something. You may listen or not or tell them to go. Listening to their sales pitch is the starting point. Once you stop walking and stand still, they know that they have your attention you've opened yourself up to greater risk. When they ask you to "come over here" to sit and talk about it you've made a greater commitment. That's the progression, each stage shows a greater level of comfort to what is being said.
We are to reject enticements that are contrary to God's Word and use His Word do so just as Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11. The other thing to think about this is that we will be blessed when we do so. David Jeremiah suggests that we count the blessings found in these verses when he writes:
"In verse 1, you are blessed by your separation—the things you don't do and people you avoid ("Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel in the ungodly"). In verse 2, you're blessed by your meditation ("But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates…"). In verse 3, you're blessed by your maturation as God develops you ("like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit"). And in verses 4-6, you are blessed in your destination ("The Lord knows the way of the righteous")."
If you walk with the Lord in the light of His word you will receive blessings. David Jeremiah continues, " blessings for those who turn away from harmful habits, rededicate themselves to studying and meditating on God's Word, envision themselves as trees by channels of water, and look forward to God's leading every step of the way. "
May you be blessed by your "separation" from the things you should avoid; by your meditation in God's Word; by your "maturation" as your faith grows by it; and by realizing your eternal "destination" as you walk along the way. We are to refuse evil and instead walk with the Lord.
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Psalm 1 English Standard Version (ESV)
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1 Blessed is the man[a]
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[b] 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.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
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