Blessed is the one who… delights in the law of the Lord

Praying the Psalms in Lent

Psalm 1  “Blessed is the one who… delights in the law of the Lord”

                Lent began last Wednesday marking the forty days not

including Sundays that Jesus spent in the wilderness with the Spirit of God leading and teaching and guiding him as he prepared for his ministry amongst the people and eventually his purpose in dying. During this Lenten and Easter seasons I have chosen to reflect on Jesus not as the man in the wilderness but as the Son of God who came to save us from sin and offer to us the gift of eternal life and how we might be assisted in our discovering  Jesus through reflecting on some of the psalms.

. Psalm 1 describes the faithful person who delights in God’s law and meditates on it and continues to do so regularly. This same person has also chosen to not be with wicked or sinners or found with those who mock his commitment to God. In order to understand this the one who is blessed is compared to a tree which is planted by water and yields fruit in season and prospers. This is in contrast to the wicked who might stand in judgement except for the fact that they like chaff are blown away. This is because God watches over those who are righteous and those who are wicked will die.

What does this Psalm 1 call us to do? To make good choices. To read and meditate on God’s word and to live not with a righteous attitude but to be open in heart and mind in order that the Spirit will guide us. We are to live according to God’s law and we are to share with others Christ’s story. For when we study God’s Word we soon learn of the promise of the Christ as the messiah and that the promised one of God would save those who believe.

In this Lenten season we need to ask, what is God calling us to learn about ourselves and our relationship with God as well as what our relationship with Christ Jesus and those who love him are really about. As we focus our faith on learning and growing in understanding of Jesus, are we willing to share our thanksgiving and praise?

Reflection:

During this Lenten season take the time to read God’s word—the gospels, the psalms and as you read each passage or section, stop and reflect on those words in the quietness of your hearts. Mull them over in your mind. Let God’s Spirit guide your thoughts. And listen, God is with you.

PRAYER:   Before you read Psalm 1 again. Pray.

Holy God let me be and become the blessed person in this psalm. Enable me to realize what a difference reading and meditating on your word  can be as I strive to hear your message for me each day. Enable me to recognize the wicked in my community and help me to discern this for myself. Show me again how you watch over me and lead me to life in you even when I have doubts or fears. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.