Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
I've been thinking about walking with God lately. Tony Campolo said in a recent podcast that when people ask him how to deal with doubt, he tells them to go read the Psalms. I'm not struggling with doubt particularly at present, but I am feeling like I need to start pursuing God afresh, so I thought I'd start with the Psalms.
It starts with a description of how to be blessed by God, or more accurately, what to avoid if you want to know God's blessings.
Spurgeon says:
Few can claim the text's [that is Psalm 1:1-2] blessings. Perhaps some can claim a sort of negative purity; they do not walk in the way of the ungodly. Let me ask “Is your delight in the law of the Lord? Do you study God's word? Do you make it your right hand, your best companion and your holy guide?” No? Then this blessing is not yours. (The Treasury of David - Spurgeon)
I know that the peace and 'settledness' that I so treasure will only be mine when I am rooted in God's word. Only then will I be like “a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (Psalm 1:3).
If I want to know the richness of life God offers me, I have to spend time immersed in what God has to say.