1 God favors those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
I want to be blessed by God so I will follow the path God sets before me."
Well, "Blessed" means "favored by God". So, when David says "Blessed is the man..." he is saying that person is "God's favorite".
He's a big God...He can have many favorites. I'd like to be God's "favorite."
I used to think my younger sister was favored by our parents.
Why? Because virtually every dispute was mediated in her favor. Because my parents were more gentle in disciplining her. Because there seemed to be a level of joy that existed between her and my parents that seemed missing with the rest of us.
I suppose all parents have their favorite. It doesn't imply a lack of love for other children...just a special bond with the favorite. But...it's not just the parents. That favored child also seems naturally inclined to please the parents. It's reciprocal.
Well, here's where that reciprocal part comes in to play. This psalm says God favors us if we:
1. "Do not follow the advice of wicked people" - The Hebrew word "rasha" infers a character that is deceitful, boastful, destructive, disobedient, hostile toward God. So...if I am to be God's favorite, not only must I not be "wicked"...I must not even take seriously anything a wicked person says.
2. "Do not hang around with sinners" - Well, are we not all sinners? Here, the Hebrew word helps once more. "Chatta" means a person who is culpable for his/her failures. This is different than "wicked." A sinner could actually be a "nice person." This is anybody who has not been declared "righteousness" through faith in Christ. An unbeliever. Again...if I am to be God's favorite...I must not even "hang around" unbelievers.
3. "Do not join in with mockers" - Mockers are derisive and arrogant. Possibly the most destructive in this trio, David is referring to people whose purpose in life is to deride and haunt people of faith with their own imagined superiority. They belittle and denigrate biblical values. In order to be God's favorite I must never participate in any such activity.
In 2010 I resolve to follow these three injunctions...and the result? I will be "like a tree planted along the riverbank...bearing fruit...prospering in everything I do."
We are naturally followers (sheep), not leaders. We become like the people that surround us. So, this might be a tough proposition. In truth, most of the people we know fit into one of those categories above. How can we possibly satisfy this demand?
The best bet is to begin winnowing the crowd. I know the quickest way to get these folks to leave. Devote myself to God's word. "His delight is in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night." I'm pretty sure folks like that have no interest in God's Word.
So...there we have it: The possibility of becoming God's favorite...along with the attached promises...and the precise prescription for success. Maybe this can be my first successful new year's resolution!
Live boldly out there today...
