What Now?

Last week we finished our Reading the Bible in 90 days program, so it seemed quite natural to ask the question, "What now?" I suppose it is obvious that reading through the Bible shouldn't be an end in itself. This thought led me to Psalm 1 -- The Blessed Man:

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does 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 will perish.

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984

This Psalm tells of the blessed man. How does one become a blessed man or woman. First this psalm tells us some things not to do:

• Don't walk in the counsel of the wicked. In other words, don't live like the wicked
• Don't stand in the way of sinners. Don't stand for what they stand for. Don't support ungodly positions
• Don't sit in the seat of mockers. Don't hang around with those who mock God

Then the Psalm goes on to tell us some things to do:

• Delight in God's word. Spend time in reading it. Make reading a priority.
• Meditate on it day and night. The word used for meditate has the same root as that of ruminate. Picture a cow placidly chewing it's cud. Bring God's word up again and again. Think on it often

Well, what does it mean to be blessed by God. First of all, it isn't a good feeling, although one who is blessed generally does feel good. A blessing is really God's good will and favor toward the one who is blessed. Picture a tree -- sturdy -- firm -- planted by water. This is a tree that will stand in good times and bad. It is a tree that yields fruit and it doesn't wither even in time of drought. This is a metaphor of someone who is blessed of the Lord. The psalm goes on to say that this person prospers in everything. In the Old Testament, prospering doesn't necessarily mean riches. It just means that things generally go well. Things happen as they should. This happens because the way of the righteous is watched over by the Lord.

Well, what does it mean to not be blessed by the Lord. Wicked people (people who don't live for God) are like chaff. Picture the left overs as the wheat has been winnowed. The left over is chaff. It just blows away. The Psalmist further states that when judgement comes, the wicked wont make it through, at least with a not guilty verdict. They wont be counted along with the righteous. In fact, ultimately they will perish.

By this time, most of us -- at least of we believe the Bible to be true -- decide that it is better to be blessed than to perish. What is the difference. First there is the sin question which is dealt with in the death and resurrection of Jesus. But, in this Old Testament passage, the difference between blessing and no blessing is how we treat God's word -- The Bible. For our congregation which just finished reading through the Bible I presented some, "What nows":

• Continue to read the Bible daily
• This time don't just read, study. Obtain a study Bible or commentary. Read smaller portions.
• Meditate on these passages.
• Memorize verses or passages that inspire you
• "Sit under the authority of the Word." Always as the question, "So what?" If this is God's word, what is being said to me. Should I do something to follow through on what I read?

I can truthfully say that my life has changed over the years. A large part of the change is due to a continual reading of God's word. I recommend it.