The idea is to keep walking. There is a time for waiting. There is a time to rest; even a time to run. Walking, however, is different.
I remember my father going on long walks early morning. Getting up was problematic the more older I became. But in the early days I remember eagerly waking up and along with my brother going on that walk with him. We never talked. The point was to walk. If we had questions however, he would answer them. There was no real agenda per se, except to walk and keeping up the pace so as not to get left behind. It was a good thing.
Psalm 1 in The Holy Bible begins, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of wicked….” There is a time for running, waiting, resting. But there is also a time for walking. Walk and contemplate. Walk with the questions. Walk with the desire and aspirations, meditating on that which is true, journey with truth. What would it be like to walk with Truth in the form of a person?
Psalm 1, vv.1-2 is about the journey and postures we may adopt on the journey: walk, stand, sit. I like to think of walking with Truth as journeying with Jesus in person. Go wherever he is going, stand around with him where he is standing, or simply sit on the porch or in a coffee shop with him, delighting in his instructions, and holding the word of Truth in my heart and mind.
vv.3-4 speak to me about being rooted in what Christ stood for and reaping the benefits thereof – abundant and timely yield of spiritual fruit, unceasing in the pursuit of the eternal good, the always beautiful, never rash or unbecoming of the way of Truth, consistent in character and calling, unlike “chaff that the wind drives away.”
There is an end to all of this as we know it (vv.5-6) – the world and all people and creation at large. There is a definite end for both the righteous and the wicked. What use is eternal Truth in a world that is fading away? With the end comes a new beginning. The Lord knows the way. Let’s walk with him.
PSALM 1 (English Standard Version)
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
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
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1 The Message (MSG)
1 How well God must like you—
you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon,
you don’t slink along Dead-End Road,
you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.
2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.
4-5 You’re not at all like the wicked,
who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
unfit company for innocent people.
6 God charts the road you take.
The road they take is Skid Row.
The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
