God Does – Psalm 1

A text – Psalm 1

¹ Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers,
² but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law they meditate day and night.
³ They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season,
    and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

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 watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

A reflection:

Here again today, just as in the texts from earlier this week, we are being told to ignore wicked people, sinners, and scoffers. Take delight instead in the law of the Lord. We might even look at the life of Jesus, who lived God’s love in the world. The people whose lives Jesus touched were forever changed. They were healed and restored, and their relationship with God was made strong and eternal.

The wicked, the sinners, the scoffers have one thing in common. They do not have a relationship of trust and love with God. So this week, over and over again in our texts, we are asked to look hard and long at our relationship with God. Whom do we trust? Whom are we planted in? Who will be our judge and also show us mercy? Who will water us when we are wilting? Who loves us from the time before we are born, through our entire lives, and even through death into life eternal?

Who wants us to flourish and gives us every gift so that we can flourish? God does. Who is pure love and pours out love upon us every day? God does. Who stands with us through triumphs and tragedies, no matter what? God does. And when our days are done, who stands on the other side of the river with a lantern, helping us find the everlasting shore? God does.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being our God, Ruler of the Universe and our protector and defender and gift-bringer. Help us never to forget you are always with us. Amen.