Meditations for the Lent season
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DAY [1]
KEEPING CLOSE TO GOD
21/2/07
READ: Psalm 1: 1– 6
Ash Wednesday
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When there is joy in our hearts usually we have songs on our lips. But what happens when there is heaviness in our hearts? When God’s servants rejoiced, they praised God and when they struggled, they did not struggle alone but went to God with their struggles. Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of another Lent Season; God desires that we are in contact with Him always. We need to look to Him with praises when we rejoice and come to Him with our petitions when we struggle.
By God’s grace we have come into a relationship with Him. To continue in this relationship, the psalmist in today’s text mentions that we ought to refrain from certain places and people. We need to keep away from the company and the counsel of the wicked (v.1). This means that though we can relate with all people, and this we should, but we are not to be influenced by those who have no relationship with God.
The psalmist then goes on to emphasize the importance of attending to the Word of God. This is not just a casual reading of the Word but we are to ‘meditate day and night’ (v.2). The psalmist assures that if we obey, then we would reflect in our lives God’s blessings. He says that such a life would be fruitful and prosperous. He further adds that these blessings would not be short term but continue even when circumstances around us change (v.3). Such a person is truly ‘blessed’ or happy.
The psalmist specifies the blessings that the God fearing person would receive. He plainly states that “the LORD watches over” such a righteous person. This would mean receiving both God’s protection as well as provision. There is assurance of gain even when there is pain. This is in contrast to what happens to the wicked, for they “will not stand in the judgment” (v.5). The psalmist adds that “the way of the wicked would perish” (v.6). The prosperity of the wicked without God will not last.
As we begin another Lent Season, we are reminded that it is good for us to keep close to God and His Word. We are warned not to be influenced by those who have no relationship with God and who are not guided by His Word. As we seek to live as God desires, with our minds transformed by God’s Word (Rom. 12:1 – 3), there will be blessings and struggles. For the blessings we thank God and for the struggles we trust Him.
Verse to reflect: “For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:6)
PRAYER: Father, help me keep close to you and your Word so that I may walk on the right path and trust you for my needs. Amen.
The writer, Rev. Victor Vethamani is the District Superintendent of the Central District of the Tamil Annual Conference.
Rev. Victor Vethamani has been writing the Lent Meditations for the past ten years. This is the tenth book and he says, “perhaps the hardest to write.” These meditations are based on Psalms 1-25 and the “Hallelujah Psalms” (113-118) and other songs in the Bible. Here is the first meditation for Ash Wednesday.
From the Foreword
Salvation experience brings the Christian into a relationship with Jesus Christ, but unless this relationship is rooted in God’s Word, the individual cannot grow into maturity. The joy of knowing our sins are forgiven is not enough; we must have the faith and strength to meet the daily challenges that come our way. The psalmists portray well their struggles in life and how by God’s grace they were able to face those challenges. Lent Meditations 2007 draws lessons from them with the theme “But I trust you LORD” (Psalm 13:5).
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