Delight in the Law of the Lord

By: Pastor Matt

You may listen to this devotion in audio form via podcast here.

Psalm 1

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,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

This is an adaptation of a devotion and prayer that I gave before the Central Valley Christian Schools Annual Society Meeting on Tuesday night, April 26, 2022.

What a beautiful and encouraging picture of the faithful Christian life we find in this first Psalm. It seems especially appropriate for a community like ours, and for a time like ours. Maybe some of you are reading this before going to check on trees, making sure that they have enough water and are bearing fruit.

It is also apt for a time like ours, when it seems like the pressures of work and life and culture in 21st century threaten to uproot us and blow us away like chaff. When age old traditions are quickly and easily forgotten, and the law of the Lord is often dismissed as archaic. But blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord.

So we might ask, where does a delight in the law of the Lord come from, and how does one inculcate this in their children? How does one get planted by these streams of water?

The short answer is that we’re planted there by Jesus Christ, and some of the means he uses to do it are Word and Sacrament and catechesis in a faithful church, a loving upbringing in a Christ-centered home, and a good Christian education. All three of these work together like a three-legged stool.

I pray that this image of the lush, fruitful tree, planted by streams of water might be an encouragement for everyone who desires and hopes and works to see our covenant children embrace the gospel and grow into faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ in whatever vocation God calls them to. May it be a reminder of the steady, patient care that it takes, and that the Lord blesses, to bring his people to maturity. Especially in difficult times, when parenting is such a challenge, when we worry about how they’re going to turn out, we do well to remember that some trees take many years before they bear fruit. And even then, there are seasons where there is no fruit.

But hear again this promise: Whatever such a person does prospers, and the Lord watches over the way of the righteous. Thanks be to God!

Prayer:

Holy Father in heaven, we give you thanks and praise especially for Central Valley Christian Schools and for your faithfulness and grace in blessing what CVC has become. We pray for your continued providence, and your guidance for this society and her leaders, especially the board and all those who work for CVC. For the faculty, the administrators, the staff, we pray that you would strengthen them and give them wisdom for the patient, difficult work of shaping minds. Encourage them with vivid glimpses of students maturing and growing in ability and faithfulness, day by day and year by year.

We also pray for the students served by CVC, from the youngest pre-schooler to the HS seniors about to graduate. Inspire them that they may prepare well for the work you will call them to do and the fruit you will call them to bear.

We pray for all of the churches of those who attend CVC, especially the foundational churches: Hanford CRC, Trinity URC, Tulare Community Church, and Visalia CRC. And we pray for the families who have chosen to send their children to CVC, not only moms and dads and brothers and sisters, but grandmas and grandpas, omas and opas, aunts and uncles, all of whom play a role in shaping each child’s life. We praise you for all of these people and institutions through which you work to form and grow your covenant children into mature and fruitful disciples and followers of Jesus Christ.

We pray that you would give us discernment and courage as we seek to know and do your will. Fill us with a love of your wisdom, that we may bear fruit in the beauty of holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.