The God-Charted Road

Psalm 1 NIV

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.

Closed Doors

It was late Summer. It’s hot. A young couple has got a baby and a toddler. They just moved from Kansas City area to Chicago area. They sort of know their way around. The husband has his first real job. The wife is a teacher. An unemployed teacher. It’s mid-August. Teachers don’t get hired in August. They are looking at confirmation of that. Dozens of letters all saying, so nice to meet you we don’t have any openings at this time. Feel free to keep checking in. The young wife looks really tired. She’s made 100+ phone calls. She says that’s it, I give up I can’t make any more calls...

We don’t have insurance. I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t looking good.

What do you do in life when things don’t seem to pan out? It can be a frustrating/overwhelming feeling...

Without God such a moment becomes a moment of desperation. If you call the wrong friend they might give you advice like Job’s friends. It’s hard to believe these friends really spent a lot of time walking with God. They seemed to have a belief that bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people. So if the climb is getting steep at times they are certain that means you are on the wrong hill or doing it wrong. Our passage today mentions the seat of scoffers. Scoffers are babblers or loose talkers who talk other people down. khaa is the sound of a scoffer. Scoffers are like those guys up in the balcony on the muppet show. They stand off to the side and pass judgement on people who are probably better than they are, lol. It’s not a blessed way to live. They don’t give good meaty advice. They give juicy gossip that adds up to nothing. They don’t even mean what they say, they just like hearing themselves say it. Their goal is to feel superior but what they don’t tell you is the very empty feeling that comes over them after they say this garbage… If you listen to someone like this for long it will make you lose your bearings. Trust me, even they don’t believe what they are saying. Having a smart mouth is not the same as being smart.

Below this level you have people who are actively wicked. Scoffers love to play with the circumstances of others and the power of words. It’s a game to try to look good. It usually arises from insecurity. The Wicked are those who actively do wrong and maybe even because they know it is wrong. They revel in whatever makes them feel good at the time. They become a danger to themselves and to others because they are constantly chipping away at boundaries. For short stretches it might look or feel like freedom. But they just haven’t come to the end of the chain quite yet. It may seem like you can run pretty fast just like that old hound dog on Foghorn leghorn cartoons. Old enough to remember that? Boom! His collar stopped him dead in his tracks every time. That’s what happens with sin. It may seem great for a season but then you discover the truth. The price tag is high.

People who have lived this way for a while they know better. Often their goal is pull you in with them. They may seem fun to be with but in the end there’s a price to pay. The big reveal is they aren’t a true friend. They need another victim to sponge off of. They need another foolish person to take advantage of. Sin will have its way when we give in to it’s sway. So cut your ties. It’s not the blessed way to live.

Blessed: Ashrey

Blessed comes from the Hebrew here: Ashrey. Let’s say that together: Ashrey. Blessed.

O the blessedness of the man! And the word ... is emphatic: THAT man; that one among a thousand who lives for the accomplishment of the end for which God created him.

It means that true happiness lies here with this pathway. God is the one who does the blessing. And the blessing of God leads to a more lasting happiness. It holds up over time.

As I mentioned God does the blessing. So you walk in the light God provides. And in the counsel of the godly, the wise, the prudent.

You may not be aware but there is a convenient resource you can go do that has taken down the wisdom and learning of thousands of years, many civilizations, all those who learned God’s lessons and gleaned the best to share with you. Yes, this exciting resource is called: The Bible.

The Written Word of God

Psalm 1:2 NIV

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Those who are blessed, truly happy, have learned to enjoy the Word of God. It takes a little effort. Anything worthwhile does. Understand God blesses everyone. But not everyone realizes what God has done for them. Those who put some energy into learning the Bible realize how blessed they are. God can bless you more if you learn, reflect, and really take in this message at a deep level in your life.

Can you delight in God’s Word? If you got a letter from a loved one in the mail you would be excited to open it. Even an instant message or an email from someone you love brings delight. Scripture is like a gift to be opened daily. It allows love to flow into your mind and heart. It allows truth to sharpen your mind. It can get you in touch with the living God. The Holy Spirit makes these words come alive for you. It’s not always like bells and whistles going off. But it’s useful.

Paul said it this way to young Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Meditating on something means really focusing on it and thinking and praying over it. The image is of someone sitting there really thinking it through. Maybe even talking to themselves a little. Don’t do this part in public, lol. But some people think out loud and that’s ok to do with the Bible. Others like to write down their thoughts maybe in a journal. Not every thought needs to be put on paper. But find what works for you. If you’re never wrestling with what it means then you won’t be growing or changing much. First you have to believe that the Bible has what you need. Next you have to develop some desire for that message. Once you’ve tasted of it’s goodness this is very doable. Next you have to care about the distance between where you are on your journey and where God’s Word is inviting you to be. There’s usually a gap. All of us have more growing to do. Stay hungry for more of God that’s how you stay happy.

Look at the Benefits: like a tree transplanted by the water. Always in bloom. Strongly rooted and nourished. Whatever they do prospers. I can testify this way to it: something good always comes of it. It’s a great way to live. God’s way.

Let’s go back to that living room. It was close to a desperate moment. But nobody there was a scoffer. Nobody there gave bad advice. Everyone there just knew God was in this somehow...

The young woman’s mom said, honey I think we need to make one more phone call. Just one more. If they don’t have an opening we will put all this away and try for next year.

She picks up the phone. She dials a number she’s already dialed countless times. Even though the day is getting on someone answers. She tells about herself one more time: Actually we just had someone resign their position. Can you be here in 15 minutes? Her dad jumped up and said I’ll take you. They made it. They hired her on the spot. That young woman was my wife and that was 1994 and she still works there to this day. You can trust God. You really really can. God has a way to make a way even when there’s no way it can happen. God is not limited by how it usually goes. It wasn’t easy. What if she hadn’t made that call? It was no accident her mom was there giving wise and loving counsel.

I can’t promise you everything will come up roses and kittens. That would just make you sneeze anway… But I can promise you that God is faithful and God knows what He is doing. And God’s Word shows you the path to follow. Walk in his ways. Follow where he leads.

Sometimes I love the way Eugene Peterson puts it. Here is his paraphrase of this Psalm.

Psalm 1 The Message

1 How well God must like you— you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College. 2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. 3 You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. 4 You’re not at all like the wicked, who are mere wind-blown dust— 5 Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. 6 God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row.

Is God charting the road you take? It’s the blessed way. It’s the best way. Let’s pray....