Pilgrim Worship: Thursday Psalms: Delight in the Lord!

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

What a beautiful psalm with which to begin God's collection of 150 psalms! God gives us a very simple description of God-pleasing life. In this Sunday's gospel text, Jesus describes the costs of being His disciple. But here, we have a simple promise of God: you are blessed when you seek to understand and follow God's will every day.

PSALM 1
¹Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
    nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
²but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on His law he meditates day and night.
³He 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.
⁴The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
                but the way of the wicked will perish.

In this psalm, God does not raise a standard we cannot keep. God does not say "Blessed is the person who keeps the law of the Lord, which of course is impossible for our sinful selves. God calls us to find delight, happiness and contentment in His law, knowing it was given in love for our benefit. God calls us to meditate upon it, to keep His will in our minds all the time. Don't fill your mind with the useless or harmful pollution the world gives, but rather immerse yourself in God's Word.

And what will result in one's life, lived under God's direction and delighting in His law? A person who is sturdy and fruitful in good works for God and His people. When drought and struggles come, faith and trust in the law of the Lord will neither wither nor fade. Rather, because this person seeks to follow God's will, he will prosper in his work.

Peace to you in Christ, who comforts us in His steadfast love!