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. 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, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Let me paraphrase the first two verses. Blessed is the man who does not enjoy being with people who are wicked but spends his time with those who are seeking to serve God. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to read God’s word and to spend time thinking about it. Now, does that fit me? Do I really enjoy being with good, moral, honest people who love God and who like to talk about spiritual things? Do I choose my closest companions from those who refrain from telling vulgar jokes and those who seem to always have a suggestive comment or reply?

Some look at the Bible as a book that keeps them from being happy or that restrains their enjoyment of life. John said that if we are a friend of the world we make ourselves enemies of God. When we love God because he has first loved us, we see that becoming like him is a good thing. It is when we adopt his attitude of love, patience, mercy and compassion toward others that we can find real joy. When we realize that God alone is the judge and we don’t have to try to assume that role, we lift a burden from our shoulders. We quit looking at others from a judgmental standpoint and try to help them instead of criticizing them. This also takes away most of our anger because we can know that God will deal out the vengeance and therefore we can just forgive anyone and anything that others do to us. We no longer have to worry about anything because God is big enough to take care of it and he has promised to do so. My role in all this is to become like him by allowing his Holy Spirit to live in me and change my heart. As my heart changes, my attitude will change and my actions will follow. No wonder the law of the Lord is a delight to read, to study and to live by!

O God, please give me wisdom to know that true joy and peace only come from you. Lord, help me to make the time in my life to study your word more and to learn to revel in doing so. Give me wisdom to understand it and strength to apply it. Forgive me when I am proud and keep me from being self-righteous. Fill me with your love and make my life an example so that I can reach out to others and share your saving grace. In Jesus’ name.