DAY EIGHT – Thursday, February 25, 2021
Psalm 1:1-6
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.
Verse 1 says: “Happy are those who do not...sit in the seat of scoffers.”
My Oxford Dictionary defines “scoff” in this way: “speak derisively, especially of serious subjects; mock; be scornful.” I fear that I have done my share of scoffing over the course of my life. Now I’m sorry about that. I think that scoffing is a practice that I can well give up for Lent and for the rest of my life, for that matter. I know that the people that impress me and humble me the most are the sincere people--the non-scoffers, the people who have the most worthwhile things to say. Remarkably, they also seem to be good listeners. I’ll do my best to refrain from scoffing and practice sincerity. The psalm indicates that this will make me happy.
David Shepherd
Psalm 1:1-6
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.
Verse 1 says: “Happy are those who do not...sit in the seat of scoffers.”
My Oxford Dictionary defines “scoff” in this way: “speak derisively, especially of serious subjects; mock; be scornful.” I fear that I have done my share of scoffing over the course of my life. Now I’m sorry about that. I think that scoffing is a practice that I can well give up for Lent and for the rest of my life, for that matter. I know that the people that impress me and humble me the most are the sincere people--the non-scoffers, the people who have the most worthwhile things to say. Remarkably, they also seem to be good listeners. I’ll do my best to refrain from scoffing and practice sincerity. The psalm indicates that this will make me happy.
David Shepherd
