PSALM 1:1-6
“Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people,
Take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers.
Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord
And reflects on His teaching day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside streams…
A tree that produces fruit in season
And whose leaves do not wither.
He succeeds in everything he does.”
“Wicked people are not like that.
Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away.
That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgement
and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather.”
Think back to some of your years of life experiences. . . David was doing that as he wrote this Psalm. He had certainly been given advice by people who were far away from God. They may have seemed to be successful, experienced people in his life at the time. As is true for us as well, there are always people in our lives who have lots of “advice” to give you. And due to the endless communications we encounter through media, written words, radio, and people in our lives, the amount of “advice” we are given each day, it almost becomes numbing. . . overwhelming . . . bringing us to a point of longing for simple “quiet.”
David was no stranger to outside influencers in his life. He lists people giving him “advice.” But he has seen through the facade they have built for themselves, and David flatly identifies them as “wicked.” They were in his life, nonetheless. Then he identifies a group of people who were just “flat-out living in sin.” They were not in his category of “wicked.” They were “sinners.” Common, everyday “sinners.” Not outstanding sinners. . . just the “normal sinners.”
Like us. Then David points out “the company of mockers.” Mockers need a crowd. It’s not much fun to “mock” somebody all by yourself. You need an audience who will react to your mocking. It’s the fuel for “mocking” to take place. Imagine standing alone in a room and verbally mocking someone or something. That is no fun. You need some feedback of agreement to fuel your mocking. “Mockers” always need the “group”to fuel the mocking. Otherwise, there’s no energy to it.
David’s background of being a shepherd-boy provided his experience of what it means to be alone with God. It was a solid foundation for him and the future that God had planned for Him. He had no idea that his future would include amazing successes, gut-wrenching failures, impossible challenges, and many heartbreaking experiences.
I wonder what the impact would be if we simply turned off the electronics and just sat in the quiet . . . even just a few minutes each day.
When the “crowd” has gone . . . when “what was” is no more, when loved ones are gone, strength has waned, and the “quiet” is the familiar reality, can your heart still be drawn to Him? Can the “quiet” be the nesting place to hear His Whispers of Love . . . Awareness of His Presence . . . Reassurance of His Love. . . and the Starting Point of another
Day to walk with Him. His Work is never finished in our hearts, minds and souls. It may not always be an “adventure.” But it can always be tender and sweet.
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