The Wicked & The Righteous

Day 37 

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. - Psalm 1

Today's technique is "Picture It!" and I found that every single verse had its own scene and its own imagery. Here's what I thought of and what I got out of it.

1 - all three parts of the first verse talk about joining the wicked. Walking with the wicked, standing in the sinner's way; meaning you are already on their path of wickedness, and sitting with the mockers. After thinking about it, I thought of lukewarm Christians, the ones that proclaim that they are following Christ, but do their own thing afterwards, indulging in sin at the same time. The verse clearly states that blessed is the one that does not do any of those things.

2 - delighting in and meditating on his law, the scriptures, the word. We're not only told to study them, but to reflect on them, and find joy in it. It is the living Word of God, it does give us life, and I think it is so important to focus on scriptures day and night.

3 - it tells us that that person who focuses on scripture is like a tree who bears great fruit. It's a direct analogy to our lives, when we indulge in the Word, we will constantly be thinking of pure, just, excellent, and admirable things (Philippians 4:6). In the same way, it will flow out of our minds and into our actions. Our plans will prosper with the Lord.

4 - this psalm really focuses on comparing both the wicked and the righteous. Verse 4 tells us that the wicked will blow away like chaff; which are dried up seeds and grass; the dictionary even defines it as "worthless matter". Without the Word of life, we dry up and wither away. We become useless, broken, and dead.

5 - onto the future now, on judgement day, scriptures tells us that the wicked will not stand in line with the righteous, and the righteous with the wicked (Matthew 25:31-33).

6 - and to sum it all up, God promises to watch over those who follow him righteously. Bringing it back to the first verse about the two different paths one can take, he tells us that the path of wickedness only leads to destruction.

Comparing both the wicked and the righteous I think gives a great overall perspective on how we should live, what the consequences and results are, and how the Lord will react and treat them. This passage also gives an opportunity for one to reflect on their walk with Christ, by asking themselves what they are doing and what they are not (ex. am I meditating and delighting in the word day and night? am I growing and bear fruit or have I become chaff?).

My Prayer: Almighty God, you know who we are, as sinners, as those who have lost or have gone astry, or as those who are following you. Remind us of how we should live and how we should grow. May we continue to dwell on your law and your word so that we may bear good fruit. May we live righteously so that we may gain not the approval of men, but your approval. Help us see with your eyes, think with your mind and speak with your mouth. All glory to God forever. Amen.


verse of the day: