More than four years ago I embarked on a meditational journey through the Psalms. My practice has been to move verse by verse through the book asking meditational questions of my readers. You have come up with some great answers over the years, but I have provided few.

I have now finished the journey of asking and I am now beginning the journey of thinking on and answering my own questions through the Psalms. Let’s begin:

On May 20th 2016 I asked…

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, Psalm 1:1

ARE YOU EVER TEMPTED TO JOIN THE COMPANY OF MOCKERS? WHAT SITUATIONS CAUSE YOU TO LEAN THAT WAY? WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THEM?

I am constantly tempted to join the company of mockers. I don’t know as it is certain situations which cause me to lean into mocking as much as it is that I am hardwired with an extremely sarcastic nature. My sin nature has strong ties to the haughty eye (or the rolling eye as the actual translation from Proverbs seven deadly sins declares) and my go to response to most situations in the world is…”Why does everyone have to be so stupid?”

Now with that confession I have unmasked what I consider one of the great flaws in my character. James teaches, that confession is good for the soul and that in confessing sin a person can be healed by the prayers of others. You must know that this is something I battle continually and fail at frequently so, please pray with me in this regard.

DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH AN EYE ROLLING NATURE? IF SO I WILL LIKEWISE PRAY FOR YOU.

1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

4for giving prudence to those who are simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

5let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

6for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Knowing what you know about Solomon was he all wise?

While I am going back to answer the questions I asked in my meditations on the Book Of the Psalms I am also moving forward with new meditational questions concerning the Book of Proverbs.

1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

4for giving prudence to those who are simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

5let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

6for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Tell me what you know about Solomon son of David.

More than four years ago I embarked on a meditational journey through the Psalms. My practice has been to move verse by verse through the book asking meditational questions of my readers. You have come up with some great answers over the years, but I have provided few.

I have now finished the journey of asking and I am now beginning the journey of thinking on and answering my own questions through the Psalms. Let’s begin:

On May 19th 2016 in my evening meditation I asked…

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, Psalm 1:1,12

HOW DO I GET OUT OF THE WAY OF SINNERS AND STILL LIVE IN THE WORLD?

Paul the apostle told us we were to be “in the world but not of the world.” It is not our relationships that matter but our influences. I am called to love people…all people like God loves them. I cannot love someone and not be in relationship with them. I know….I know….there are two problems with this. First I cannot be in relationship with everyone. It is physically impossible. So can I love everyone? Not by that definition, but I can love the people I am with. I can love the people God gives me exposure to. Secondly there are people whom it is not safe for me to be in relationship with because they are abusive, or because I am so weak, they corrupt me.

So we are back to our original question,

HOW DO I GET OUT OF THE WAY OF SINNERS AND STILL LIVE IN THE WORLD?

I have to admit that there are some people who are negative influences not healthy relationships. Further, because they are negative influences, my being around them causes me to stumble. When I am around them I find myself walking in step with the wicked.

The only answer is to admit my weakness as my own, and to bring it to God. He is the deliverer. I must trust Him to deliver me from my own weakness of following the crowd. Then, I must leave the crowd behind, at least until such time as I am strong enough to handle it.

Well that is enough for now.