The Law - Our Best Friend

Psalm 1:1 continued...

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers…

The happy man does not find his primary source of instruction from men—but from God. He turns away from the counsel of the wicked—but toward the infallible counsel of the Spirit.

If we are to appropriate the words of the Psalmist and distance ourselves from the likes of scoffers, sinners and such—we must master the art of identifying these folk—which is a more meticulous task than one might imagine. If the impression is left from this verse that the sinner referenced is always easy to spot—the reader is mistaken. The instinct of evil is to find hiding places and to charade. And sometimes it occupies the best motives of the redeemed, (i.e. Jesus directing his rebuke of Satan at His lead disciple Peter) making this enterprise particularly difficult.

Psychologists and counselors divide relationship offenders into two categories: aggressors and passive-aggressors. Aggressors are the outwardly abusive types. Passive aggressors offend in more creative, secret and subtle ways. Our archenemy has mastered the latter so well that if donning an appearance, he would likely worm quietly into our closest circle of friends—and we, dangerously unaware.

Public vagrants are conspicuous—but the wolf in sheep’s clothing is all the more poisonous—more likely found in pews of churches than stools at bars or pubs. To make matters worse, these persons are versed in the Law, but tend to distort it—turning it away from its essence and toward their own private agenda or religious obsessions. These persons are religious—and proud; carry an air of righteousness, casting their judgment in spiritual language, but fail to practice justice or administer mercy. They quietly take personal credit for the accomplishments of others. They heap burdens on the already burdened, but fail to relieve it. They join the morality police yet are not skilled in grace. Making matters even worse, the worst enemy of the gospel in our life is only sometimes external—but also situated in our own skin. We can be and most often are our own worst and cruel enemy.

The best alternative friend for the listener then, according to the Psalmist, is the Word itself. The Word both confronts the sin and provides a path for restorative love and prosperity. It comforts the distressed and heals the wounded.

Our objective then is to quiet the counsel and influence of men and harken to the perfections and promises of the law. We must turn up the volume and influence of God’s gospel over our lives and measure the influence of men altogether against the authoritative voice of the Word. 

If we knew how great a friend the Word is to us--we would run to it more often, delight in it more consistently and bare its fruit more prosperously.

Psalm 1:1 - Considering Friendship

Psalm 1:1

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers…

This is an interesting way to start the Book of Jewish Hymns. Happy is the man who is discriminating about his relationships! We all have friends—we all need them. The man that is truly happy—so says the Psalmist—is one who knows that the selection of friends is an extremely important and lofty enterprise. He chooses his friends carefully. One should not choose friends based upon external and visible qualities but with greater deference to internal ones.

Good friends are loyal and long-suffering, forgiving and wise. A good friend—so says Jesus—is one willing to lay down His life for you—one who walks alongside you and stimulates and inspires the best in you—confronting like Nathan the worst in you.

Some of us are particularly social and good at relationships—drawing inspiration and strength from many acquaintances. Some of us are social hermits finding the gatherings of people particularly draining. No matter where one falls on the personality continuum—he should be careful to extend the privilege of friendship to not so many people. This is one area where discrimination is not only permissible but necessary.

In all likelihood, the Psalmist speaks from experience. He’s probably had “friends” with whom he shared much in common (externally), who became a source of great pain, abandonment and disappointment later. Probably he chose friends who were poor moral influences—and he discovered the misery of bad ones. Perhaps those ill-advised friendships became a source for many ill-advised adventures.

We know from other portions of scripture that true friendship is born of adversity—meaning not only that we can find our true friends in the midst of adversity, but also that we can find good use of them there. I wrote some verses based upon this logic:

Do you find me friend or foe?

In adversity I’ll know.

When my troubles overflow,

Then pretend friends always go. (from In A Row, on the CD It’s Alright)

What does one do when friendships turn sour—when the true nature of a person is born out in hardship? The Psalmist says—it’s ok to let them go. Often when we do, we are not only ridding our self of their deleterious influence, but by standing up for ourselves in this way—we indirectly become a more positive influence on them.

Reflective Questions:

Who are your present friends and why?

What person in history would you find the most intriguing friend to have and why?

Do you possess qualities that make for a good friend? In what areas do you need to develop to become a person worthy of authentic friendship?

Do you have, or have you ever had friends that you needed to cut off? 

Reflections in the Psalms

Dear reader,

I am seeking through humble reflections in the Psalms to become one of your best friends. Of course we know that people-pleasing as an objective can be unhealthy—even a disorder—but if delighting in the Law of God is what makes us most prosperous and truly happy—then my efforts here are a high act of genuine friendship.

What qualifies me to help you through this process…you might ask. Nothing much, except that I am a wounded warrior and a humbled lyricist myself, who has found great respite, refreshment and release in these ancient words and from the One who stands behind them.

Back in the days when albums were CD’s and lyrics were profound and legible, I would lay upon the floor with album sleeves propped in front of me, basking in the verse of singer-song writers, feeding upon their depth of insight or clever use of poetic device. But none of those songs has so moved me as these Psalms. Recently, (meaning the last 10 years or so), though all of the scriptures are inspired and inspirational—I have camped in this part of the Bible and have found incredible permission to grieve, to be angry, to be hurt and to raise serious questions and even complaints before the Potentate of Time and the Creator of all the universe.

Christian music today is driven mostly by business ends—what sells? Songs of lament or justice are not so popular anymore. But the Psalms are full of them. We are not allowed to speak of our enemies in our music—much less to curse them—but the Psalmists do, in terms hard to believe sanctioned in the Scriptures. Contemporary songs of worship tend to be happier in tone—as if we are not a depressed generation—as if we are not a nation given to hardship and spiritual famine—as if we are not desperate to find authentic spiritual connection but struggle to do so. Contemporary Christian music too often presumes to offer the answer while invalidating and nullifying the question.

Will you walk with me through these great Psalms and encounter with me not only God—but also our truest selves. As we reflect upon these great lyrics of old, we will be moved to deep but cleansing sadness, profound and penetrating insight not only into the character of God but into the character of our friendship with Him. I will be your partner and friend—but the Spirit of God will be our teacher and physician—not only by instructing the mind, but also by healing and validating the soul.

Your friend,

mo leverett 

Nativity Reflection, Part 1

This Christmas season, we live in a world being transformed by technology, seismic shifts in geopolitical, philosophical movements and globalization. Yet the fundamentals remain the same. Human need - both intrinsic and existential - remain virtually the same as it did in previous epochs. That which was compelling and attractive with prior generations is also endearing now. While the church has adapted to the age of technology - it has not done so well. It is not enough to convey our worship with the most recent hi-tech delivery systems. In the end, we will still be judged by the world and by God Himself on whether we love well - whether we continue Christ's legacy of compassion to a hurting world.

If we increase in number yet diminish in influence this is indicative not of a need for more religious expression but in its quality. The abundance of salt, if it loses its saltiness is of less value - and is no longer salt - but sand, so says Jesus. In other words if our religion loses its precise expression - then it is no longer attractive or impactful. The true measure of effect is how well we love. The Word - was made flesh and moved in our neighborhood, so says St. John. The Word manifest itself in sacrificial love. We cannot distance ourselves from the world's problem. We must enter it - identify with those who are experiencing its crushing blow and testify to its remedy, in person.

A Savior was born into poverty to make others rich. Two questions we should ask of ourselves this Christmas is this: where is my personal Bethlehem and am I extending His legacy of love there?