Over the coming weeks we will journey together through the Psalms for our devotion time. The Psalms are filled with hope, lament,
questions, challenge, and
pretty much every facet of
the human experience.
Today we begin this
journey with Psalm 1.
- -
Happy are those who do
not follow the advice of
the wicked,
or take the path that
sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its
season,
and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the
congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the
wicked will perish.
- -
As soon as I read this Psalm I thought about the photo of the tree during
worship yesterday (thanks to our photographer, Heidi!). The Psalmist likens
the righteous to a tree whose roots are being fed, and even though they will
not continually yield fruit, they will when the time is right.
How are you being fed in these times? How are you staying rooted and
grounded? What are your streams of water?
Let us pray...
God of all, in these Easter days, in these days of new life and of death. We
ask you to keep us grounded, to keep us rooted in your ways of justice,
mercy, and humility. Open our eyes, O God, to the ways we still side with
the wicked, to the ways our lives are entangled with systems of death and
oppression. Lead us on the journey to the living water, through love and
sacrifice, to life and flourishing for all of your children. In the name of all that
is holy, amen.