Psalm 1: It's Not The Company You Keep (Tell His Story)

 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

This is a little surprising on a quick read, because, after all, didn't Jesus spend time with some of the worst sinners around? We're supposed to be like Christ, but hey, here's the Psalmist telling us to not walk with the ungodly, stand with sinners, or sit with the scornful.

Well, not quite. Look how it's phrased.

We shouldn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly...in other words, don't let them read the map to you.

Don't stand in the way of sinners really means don't be 'like' them. Don't imitate them, even if they're cool.

And since hospitality is defined by the dude sitting at the head of the table, so too is scorn. Taking that seat defines you.

So as long as you're grounded in The Word, you don't have to flee the sinners (you are one too, of course, but you don't... I hope... happily wallow in that role) or the unrighteous. You can be a lens of Grace for them.

Of course, if you feel tempted to their sins, to their mockery...then, yeah, run.

Fast.

Sylvia will run interference for you. She's only tempted by ice cream.

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