Roger's Postings

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Psalm 1. How to be truly blessed!! 26/10/08

( 1) 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. {2} But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. {3} He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does 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 will perish.


The blessed person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Oh, how we would so often like to be like that! The image is so clear and so uplifting. As one who grew up in the mallee scrub, amongst the stunted trees that struggled for the moisture and nutrients that they needed, it was always so refreshing to go up to the Murray River and see the majestic, fresh river red gums along the waters edges. Even though the climatic conditions were no different; no more rain, the same hot dry winds and harsh winter frosts, yet these trees were flourishing and healthy; huge and strong. Oh, how it would be, to be able live through life like that.

Yet so often we feel like the other image in this psalm: like chaff that the wind blows away: Tossed back and forth by the winds of life that we seemingly have no control over. We seem to live only a few short years, with many difficulties and tragedies and then we die: blown from history and all that we cling so desperately to. We strive to be something of substance and fulfilment, but we are tossed about to such an extent that we just cannot quite attain to that goal that we believe should be there in life for us. Even when we seem to gain something of this, all of a sudden the winds of life blow it all away. Oh, if only we could have this something more: if only it would all work out for us. If only!!

If only, we would drink in all the goodness that we need to grow healthy and strong. If only we put the roots of our lives deep into that which enables us to stand tall and strong in the midst of the storms and difficulties of life. If only we would be able to move in the right circles and gain that which is good and right. If only it would all work out as the world promises us that it will. If only.

Here we need to first of all remember that as long as we live in this world we will have to face the hot north winds and the hassles, difficulties and the tragedies of life. They will always be there. That is life in a world that has been corrupted by sin. There will always be droughts and flooding rains. Sickness and death will always be there. The harsh realities of one person making life very difficult for another will always be a part of life where selfishness and greed lives. We will be confronted with all kinds of philosophies and false teachings, peddled by people trying to make a name for themselves.

No matter how hard we try, or how good a system we can create, or how much money and material possessions we accumulate, sin will always make life difficult and tragic: always. We will never have utopia in this world. Instead it will be much more like the harsh realities of the Australian climate; tough and difficult. The stench of death will always surround us, nothing is surer.

So how can we be blessed in such an environment? How can we stand tall, strong and health in a world that is so corrupt? Well, here in this opening psalm we find that which is truly helpful and good. Here we are given some very sound advice as to how this blessing can be there for us in the face of a world that is far from ideal.

The real issue, however, will be, do we want to heed what is said here or not. It will be very difficult even for us to go against the grain of what is popular in our society. The thinking and philosophy of our world is at odds with this view, because it wants to live by and for itself, without regard for God and what he has to say. The world doesn’t want to fit in with God; and so without thinking, brews up storms and tempests all the time, because they fail to take the reality of God and sin into consideration. However we too, also get caught into this tempting way to live, and do not want to consider that our world is at fault.

As much as we do not think that we also are at fault, let us listen to what God has to say to us in this regard. 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. How often isn’t it that this is exactly what we do? Yet we are here told that the blessed ones will be those who do not seek the counsel and advice of those who are evildoers. Nor do they conform to the example of sinners. Nor do they most importantly sit around and associate with those who are actively mocking the things that are sacred.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. God’s Word is surely what enables us to be truly blessed.
God’s will give us the basis of all that we need for both this life and the next. Here let us hear again what God told us through the Old Testament reading: (Lev 19:2-18) 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. {15} "'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly. {16} "'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour's life. I am the LORD. {17} "'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbour frankly so you will not share in his guilt. {18} "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD.

Or listen to Jesus: (Mat 22:37-39) "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' {38} This is the first and greatest commandment. {39} And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'

Seek to do all this and you will be blessed. Long to be this kind of person and you will find all that you need to get you through this life and into the next. Not that you will ever achieve living by the ideals that God has given us perfectly; but as you aim to you will realize your failures and be turned to look to Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins: you will actively and regularly seek his guidance and help to live as he would have you do.

In fact you will sink your roots deep into the nourishment that he has for us. You will stay by the waters of your baptism, so that you can constantly receive the assurance and strength that you need in order to cope with the spiritual droughts and all the other difficulties that you face in this life. You will regularly listen to his Word and apply it to your life so that you can have the strength to withstand the storms of all the deception and evil that this world throws at you. Feed regularly on Jesus Christ’s body and blood in Holy Communion so that He can reassure you of his forgiveness; and strengthen you so that you can have the inner health and vitality that is needed in harsh climate of our current society.

As you do all this you will prosper: you will be blessed. Not as the world sees blessing and prosperity; but as one who has the absolute assurance of knowing that as they are connected to the Lord Jesus, and all that he has won for us and that he has given us to be and live. That surely gives you the confidence to hold your heads up and get on with being the kind of people that God here calls us to be. That peace and spiritual healthy and well-being that God nourishes you with is beyond understanding and it is seen by others around you.

So remember; 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. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

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