Greetings O Ye Blessed Ones...
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the paths of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he MEDITATES day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season. Whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement. Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous. But the way of the ungodly shall perish." (Psalm 1:1-6)
I love that the first chapter in the book of Psalms is BLESSED...which means...HOW HAPPY. The contrast is the godly...who will be happy...and ungodly who "ARE NOT SO."
This BLESSING...is hinged on the relationship with the Word/Law. This relationship is not a casual reading of the Word/Law...but a reflection, a moaning, a muttering, to ponder, to make a quiet sound such as a sighing...to meditate or contemplated something as one repeats the words. We call this MEDITATION...hawgah (haw-gaw) in the Hebrew...ruminate in the Latin.
NOTE: "In Hebrew thought, to meditate upon the Scriptures is to quietly repeat them in a soft, droning sound, while utterly abandoning outside distractions. From this tradition comes a specialized type of Jwish prayer called DAVENING...that is...reciting texts, praying intense prayers, or getting lost in communion with God while bowing or rocking back and forth. Evidently this dynamic form of MEDITATION-PRAYER goes back to David's time." (Thanx and a Tip O Da Hat to Strong's Concordance and The Spirit Filled Life Bible).
The cause and effect of this of this "day and night" meditation...life....fruit production...green leafs...and true, Biblical prosperity.
Joshua 1:8 underscores this thought..."This book of the Law shall not depart from your MOUTH...but you shall MEDITATE on it DAY AND NIGHT...so that you may be careful to DO all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way PROSPEROUS...and then you will have GOOD SUCCESS." (Joshua 1:8)
The WORD/LAW (1) in the mind...(2) in the mouth...(3) in the actions...brings about prosperity (having enough to meet your needs and overflow to meet the needs of others)...and good success (accomplishing God's purpose in your life).
This BLESSING is also hinged on the company you keep. I think this is because...ungodly, negative, scornful people will distract you from the WORD...and draw you into their way of non-blessed life. Walking, standing, sitting in their presence...is progressive and is not recommended...IF you want a BLESSING. This does not mean that you are better than they are...but it does mean...that..."it's hard to fly with eagles...when your surrounded by turkeys."
Jesus hung out with sinners to the point of the religious people of the day pointing their religious fingers at him and accusing Him of being a winebibber and glutton...but...when the ungodly are like chaff and wind drives them away...and the ungodly will not stand in judgment... and the the sinners not standing in the congregation of the righteous...IF the "godly" are standing in their presence...they will be swept away.
The good news is that the Lord knows the way of the righteous...who is rooted into the rivers of living waters and the Word/Law of God. and will (1) bring forth its fruit in season (2) their leaf will not wither (3) whatever he does...shall prosper.
Let's get ROOTED by the river and in the Word of God.
Love and Planted Kisses
Rodney "Ruminating" Boyd
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