Psalm 1 pictures two people, from God’s perspective. One is blessed, the other cursed. One delights in the goodness of God’s ways, the other in the company of fools.
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.[i]
Yet the cursed individual doesn’t see it this way. His company is a delight. His ways are pleasing to him. His method of life satisfactory. If the two were sitting along the bank of a river together, the man who plants himself in the Word may suggest to the other “rid yourself of these ungodly pursuits. Turn from your wicked ways and come with me.” And wouldn’t he be offering him a better path? Yes, he would. But he might as well have asked the man to simply cut off his legs, because this is how the request would have seemed to him.
It is deeply imbedded in our human nature to pursue that which will satisfy our hearts. The heart truly does want what the heart wants. An older man retires and takes up other pleasures. A young man casts off partying with friends only as the pursuit of wealth gains a greater affection in his heart. His pursuit of wealth may only later be cast off when a greater prize presents itself, perhaps the power of a political office. As Thomas Chalmers makes clear:
The most effectual way of withdrawing the mind from one object, is not by turning it away upon desolate and unpeopled vacancy – but by presenting to its regards another object still more alluring.[ii]
To bid a man come and die, he must also see a greater glory presented before him. Sure, he may be feasting on anger, lust and drunkenness, but if these continue to allure his heart they are not worthless to him, even though they continually disappoint. Stating so is not likely to make them appear more worthless to him. In fact, he might cling to them all the more tightly. Chalmers goes on:
In a word, if the way to disengage the heart from the positive love of one great and ascendant object, is to fasten it in positive love to another, then it is not by exposing the worthlessness of the former, but by addressing to the mental eye the worth and excellence of the latter, that all old things are to be done away and all things are to become new.[iii]
So that is it–presenting the goodness and glorious benefits of Jesus is central to dislodging sin and worldliness. To remove the strong man of sin, there must be something more powerful and compelling to take up occupancy in the heart. So then, present wine to the person sipping on motor oil. Offer bread to the hungry who gnaw on bits of rock.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” True enough. The life that God offers means we must die to sin. But thankfully it doesn’t stop there. He invites us to become new creations, through faith, feasting on the water and bread of life that will fully satisfy, both now and in the life to come. To the restless that continue to seek satisfaction in the things of the world only to fall short again and again, the prophet Isaiah says:
Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live[iv]
[i] The New International Version (Ps 1:1–3). (2011). Zondervan.
[ii] Chalmers, Thomas, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection; p. 2. https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/the-expulsive-power-of-a-new-affection/
[iii] Ibid, p. 6
[iv] The New International Version (Is 55:1–3). (2011). Zondervan.
Wrecked & Revived 