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Psalm 1
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Continue scrolling to read reflection.

 By: The Rev. Dr. Mark McDermott

Psalm 1 is a short summary of all the psalms – Spoiler Alert!! It sets before us the Two Ways, the way of righteousness that comes from and leads to God, and the way of folly and destruction. (This is also the theme of the Proverbs.) The Two Ways are clearly separate, and there can be no “worldly wisdom” which seeks a higher harmony or is content with some kind of Compromise, as doubtless we in Churchland would prefer. It would make life so much easier!

What is particularly significant in Psalm 1 is verse 1, which speaks the righteous one “who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful.” The action verbs here, walk, stand, sit, should not be regarded as synonyms but as a logical progression, the first leading to the second, the second to the third verb. This is a classic example of the Slippery Slope. At first the righteous one walks in the steps of the wicked, presumably just for a few steps (hey, can’t do any harm
just to see what it is like, no big deal!) Then the righteous one just stands to have look around (hey, just to get a good look, can’t do any harm!) Then having stood a little too long, the righteous one now sits down in the seat of the wicked and sadly now cannot get up again. The trap has been set, and it has sprung! Once you sit down, it will be extremely difficult to get up again, you are in! The door is closed, and you are on the wrong side of it.

Maybe such a person kids himself that in fact he will do some good. Hey, they will listen to me and respect my views, I will have a Moderating Effect. We All Win! Think of Lot, for example. In Genesis 13 he camps near the city of Sodom. In chapter 19 he is now in
the city as one of the elders when the angels of God visit. When he takes them into his house, how did all that work out? Seemingly the inhabitants of Sodom did not Respect His Views at all, what a surprise! What started out as something a bit daring, a little bit close to the line, ended in disaster.

How often have churches kidded themselves that by lowering the bar, going a little bit off course, or by associating with the Important People at the Right Dinner Parties, we will be a Moderating Influence? Too late we find we have been deceived. Psalm 1 reminds
us that a little straying off the Path will lead to destruction and regret. Happy the one who keeps firmly on the right path!