A Psalm a Day (Psalm 1)

Psalm 1 (New American Standard Bible)

Psalm 1

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.

BOOK 1

    ¹How blessed is the man who ^(A)does not walk in the ^(B)counsel of the wicked,
         Nor stand in the ^(C)path of sinners,
         Nor ^(D)sit in the seat of scoffers!
    ²But his ^(E)delight is ^(F)in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates ^(G)day and ^(H)night.
    ³He will be like ^(I)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, ^(J)he prospers.
    ⁴The wicked are not so,
         But they are like ^(K)chaff which the wind drives away.
    ⁵Therefore ^(L)the wicked will not stand in the ^(M)judgment,
         Nor sinners in ^(N)the assembly of the righteous.
    ⁶For the LORD ^(O)knows the way of the righteous,
         But the way of ^(P)the wicked will perish.

I am excited to be diving deeper into the psalms, as they have such a rich poetic  filling of our Lord Jesus in a scenic musical expression.  The psalms swim deeply into the heart through the living waters of Christ.  

The Bible speaks to many people in many different ways, and it is beautiful how God's Word is so real and so alive, that it is always powerful each and every moment.  <3

When I was reading over and soaking in these words, one thing that I really connected with, was how hard it can be at times to stay on the righteous path when we are in a world that desires for us to be with the ways of the wicked.  When reflecting on the word wicked, I don't identify "wicked" with a person, but with the deeper spiritual symbolism that we are a part of everyday. But what happens is, wickedness becomes the place where one can be because they are following the ways of darkness, and have not accepted Christ.  "We cannot be a slave to two masters." We are either serving Light or darkness.

Whether we choose to believe it or pay attention to it or not, there is a spiritual realm of good and evil happening all around us every day.  This just emphasizes the amazing protection that Christ gives us through His Life.  Through Him, His Blood protects us and has victoriously claimed us as children of Light.  

We sometimes forget this, that He has delightfully given us power and authority in His name and "greater works than these will he do." (John 14) Jesus is telling us, He must go to the Father, and through this, being filled with The Holy Spirit, we will do even greater works! This seems unfathomable to our minds, yet speaks truth to the heart.

I desire to grow more in the Word, and with others to be encouraged and seek Jesus, for the amazing Lord and Savior that He truly is.  To seek His face with the Body of Christ.  And it all starts with just receiving Him, and devotion. Turning our hearts inwardly to Him, ahhhh.

Getting back to the psalm, another line that hit me was that "the wicked will not stand in the judgement."  To not stand....pretty intense....

I encourage that these writings open your heart to seek Jesus personally as I am hungry to take more time to really study His word, patiently and diligently.  We can easily can caught up in our fast paced lifestyle, that just as the phrase goes "stop and smell the roses," we can read the Word but not allow ourselves the time to SMELL it, and taste all that it truly is.

I love you in Jesus Christ.

Today I am thankful for: Papa Scalzo, for giving me my first Bible in summer 2008.