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Weds 18th March - Psalm 1

Psalm 1

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.

- - -

‘Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the Lord.’

I don’t know about you but it can seem slightly odd to think about delighting in the law. As Christians, we’re often reminded that we live under grace, not law.

Now that doesn’t mean we can ignore the law, it means that Christ has fulfilled the law on our behalf and we now have his power to help follow it.

But of course, whether we delight in an instruction depends on a number of things. Who’s given us this instruction? What was their purpose? Is it good for us?

We hope that when a parent instructs or even ‘lays down the law’ for their children, that it would be for their good. Not always, sadly. Likewise right now, we’re living in an unprecedented time when we’re hoping and praying that the instructions during the spread of this virus are the right ones. Of course, no-one really knows for sure but we do know the Lord who watches over the way of those he's made righteous.

So, when we come to God’s law, his word and instruction, we can answer those questions with confidence… who has given us this law? The God who loved us enough that even when we had rebelled, he died for us. What is the purpose of God’s law? That we might know his blessing. Are God’s laws good for us? Yes, the Psalmist answers - meditating on God’s law makes us like a tree planted by life-giving water, yielding fruit and prospering.

Let us pray for those who are making laws right now - for wisdom, and a right balance of precaution without panic. But let us hold on to the greater law, given for an even greater good. He is perfect, just and true and we can delight in him.

(T.R.)

Daily Readings

Thursday 19th March - Psalm 2

Friday 20th March - Psalm 3

Saturday 21st March - Psalm 4

Sunday 22nd March - Psalm 5

Monday 23rd March - Psalm 6

Tuesday 24th March - Psalm 7

 

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.