Psalm 1 - What Sources You?

A couple years back I discovered that my cholesterol level was slightly up and since then I’ve developed the annoying habit of checking saturate levels in various foods that I want to eat. Annoying because, in truth, I don’t want to know what the saturate level is, I just want to enjoy a good fry up or a tasty pastie! But the reality is, ignorance is not bliss. Whether I am conscious of the bad fats I’m putting into my body or not, the effect they have on me will be the same. The old saying “what you put in determines what you get out” is sadly true.

Similar principles apply when we think about spiritual life. Psalm 1 opens by comparing the impact of wicked counsel and sinful company with the impact of the scriptures on our lives. Wicked or sinful counsel or company it seems will slow us down (notice the progression in the Psalm - walk, stand and then sit), a bit like the influence of bad foods on the body. But sourcing ourselves on the scriptures is like “a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” The picture is of growth, fruitfulness, prosperity and stability.

I guess the challenge this gives me, is what am I allowing to influence my life? Do I keep the scriptures as my primary filter? Do I chew them over day and night as a way of keeping my thinking straight? Do I delight in them?

It may also be helpful to notice that ignoring the warnings on the food packet about high saturate levels won't stop those saturates having a negative effect on my body. Ignoring the “warnings” that we may sense about the influence of a particular voice, media or person on our lives doesn’t mean that the influence will not have a negative effect on our spiritual lives.

I don’t think this all means that we should leave the rat race altogether and live in a monastery or the like but I do believe the Psalmist want us to think about what we allow to shape our thinking (counsel) our behaviour (our “walk”) and our speech (“mockers”). His goal is that we are blessed in life. What we put in will affect what we put out. Do I want a blessed life?