The Path to Victory in an Evil World

Photo by Norbert Kaźmierczak on Unsplash

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night.3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1: 1-3

A few mornings ago I was starting the day with some devotional and prayer time. I usually know what Bible passages I will be reading and what I will be praying about. But on this particular morning I was distracted by unending thoughts about the condition of the world. The evening before I had watched some disheartening news stories that revealed how violent people are becoming toward one another. This same scenario plays out on cable news casts night after night.

Obviously I realize that violence has been a part of our world for centuries but it just seems, at least to me, much more pronounced and announced these days. It seems that virtually every news cycle contains report after report of horrific violence, hatred, and discord. I couldn't get it off my mind.

I paused and asked the Lord to replace these earthly thoughts with something I could praise Him for. Immediately I felt compelled to read Psalm 1 even though I have read it, and even preached sermons on it, quite a few times in my life. 

As I read those first 3 verses I began to focus on the passage in a way I hadn't focused on it before. I mean, it basically says, 

"Don't get your life advice from people who have no love for or loyalty to your Lord, and have nothing good to say about anything. Don't hang out where they tend to hang out. Rather, spend your time reading God's Word and reflecting upon it's teaching and life will be better than awesome for you." 

I normally become very optimistic as I read these verses but on this occasion I kept focusing on the words seat of scoffers. 

I think that, in general, we all know what God means by scoffer. But one writer put the meaning of the word in interesting terms writing:

A scoffer is typically presented as a kind of fool, one who has rejected the wisdom of God entirely, with a particular emphasis upon his speech. Indeed, scoffer is sometimes used synonymously with mocker to describe a person who is so critical that they have soundly left wisdom behind. ...  “Claiming to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22). Thinking themselves to be the wisest of all, scoffers mock any real wisdom and plunge themselves into the depths of foolishness.

Another writer likened scoffers to the Marley brothers from the Muppets. These 2 elderly brothers are typically found looking down on everyone and everything in the world and making condescending comments about them. 

I know that scoffers have always been around but it seems that in recent days there has been an enormous surge of them. They seem to be appearing everywhere, but particularly on social media, cable news. and found among many of our political leaders. 

As I have noted before, people tend to be much bolder with social media comments than they otherwise might be in actual conversation. 

My fear is that many Christians are sitting among the scoffers of our day as they see their posts or listen to them on cable news. 

In a recent episode of the Ben Shapiro Show Mr. Shapiro was talking about how pornographic 

people are becoming. He wasn't talking about their becoming porn stars in film but rather in how they present themselves for all to see via social media. 

Shapiro went on to discuss the significant drop in birth rates around the world but particularly in America. He observed several contributing factors but topping the list was the release of the iPhone back in 2007 which allowed people to interact with countless people and media sources literally on a continual basis. The need for personal one-on-one relationships is becoming less important since people can interact in real time with others literally in any part of the world. People are getting their need for "connection" met via social media "likes" and "comments" as opposed to traditional means. This is leading to a scoffing of traditional values among many, even "Christians." One result is that fewer people are getting married and starting families. 

People are increasingly emboldened to scoff at the things God created and designed for mankind. Among them, as noted, are marriage and the idea of starting a family. People are also scoffing at the idea of patriotism and being loyal or patriotic concerning their country. I am stunned by how amazingly ignorant many young people are about our country's heritage and the values which led to its founding.  

Via social media many Christians are "sitting" among the scoffers. This is evidenced by Shapiro's further acknowledgment that church attendance has dropped some 20% since 2007 among adults who claim to be Christians.  

So, What Should True Believers Be Doing?

Obviously we shouldn't be scoffing. Psalm 1 contains an action plan for Christians who see what I am seeing in this world of violence and scoffing. Here's the plan:

... on His Law he meditates day and night.

I have been tremendously burdened in recent days to seek the heart of God through prayer and Bible reflection. I have always been one who prays but there have been few times when I have sensed that prayer was the only spiritual weapon I had. 

The psalmist says, "Instead of listening to the scoffing of the scoffers, listen to God through His Word." The "Law" the psalmist wrote of was the Word of God for God's people prior to the coming of Jesus. These days, however, we understand that our meditation is upon God's Word, the Bible. 

God has impressed this upon me in countless ways over the last 3 years. I have often reminded the Lord that I am, and have been, like Isaiah who said "I am a man of unclean lips and I come from people of unclean lips ..." I have often been no better than the scoffers of this world. Sometimes even worse. 

Yet God reminds me of His grace and mercy. In spite of my many imperfections He wants me to seek His face. He forgives me. He restores me. He loves me. 

He also wants to forgive the scoffers, restore wayward Christians, and demonstrate His love to ALL mankind. 

He wants me to pray and meditate upon His Word every day. He wants each of us who claim His name to "meditate on His Law day and night." Rather than stare endlessly at a 3 inch by 5 inch device in an effort to observe what everyone else is doing, thinking, and saying; God wants us to return to Him and focus on His mercies, actions, and calls for service. 

And the Result?

Not that we would or do deserve it, but God says that if we do this we ...

will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. 

Prosperity is something we all want and even need. I have never enjoyed financial prosperity and likely never will. I am glad that the "prosperity" God refers to is not related to finances. Rather, it is related to healthy spiritual growth. The planted tree analogy the psalmist provides makes that clear. A tree planted by streams of water will produce fruit because moisture is readily available.

The roots of such a tree will literally suck up the necessary moisture to become strong and fruit-bearing. 

As God's children we are planted in His Word. God wants you and me to absorb the spiritual moisture  of His Word so that we can be prosperous for His purposes. 

"In whatever he does, he prospers" can have more application than just spiritual prosperity because God does promise to give us the desires of our heart if we delight in Him. But Paul writes something of great significance to bring some context to that idea: 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

In Closing

I believe our only defense in this world of violence and scoffing is to reflect upon God's Word and seek the heart of God through passionate prayer. I desire more than ever to seek God's heart for the rest of my life and those that I love. 

Psalm 1: 1-3 gives us ...

A Biblical Principle - stay away from the scoffers and nay-sayers and focus your time and energy on God and His Word.

and 

A Blessed Reward - spiritual growth, closeness to God, and usefulness for His purposes. 

I can praise Him for this. 

I will have much more to share about this matter of prayer in the posts to come.

Please share this with other believers. 

Tony Guthrie