January 1

Psalms 1-5, 1 Samual 1-2

There is a common theme here in these readings. It centers around he thought of righteousness and evil..

Now we don’t like to hear our disobedience or sin as evil. We love the soften version of “mistake or error.” These words tend to feel better about choosing to disobey or follow the path of evil. But the truth is, the rejection of what is right is evil. When we choose a path that leads us to what we prefer over what is right, it is simply wrong. There is no way to soften that truth.

Psalm 4:4 gives us this instruction

“Tremble and do not sin; When you are on your beds, Search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.”

It’s in your bed when you lie down that you re able to silence the world around you and listen to what is really in your heart. It’s then that you are able to get a clear indication of what your true intentions are. The instruction here, is to be silent and listen. Then offer sacrifices of the righteous. Seek out what is right over what you want. The only way to do this, is to trust in the Lord.

When we jump to 1 Samuel, we read this horrendous story of Hophni and Phineas. Eli knew of their sin, and yet allowed it to happen. They understood that their ways were self gratifying instead of righteous, and yet continued to chase after these ways instead of wanting what was right. Because of this, God allowed them to go deeper and deeper into their sin. God saw the foolishness of their hearts and realized they were not turning back to him. So he left them to their desires. What they wanted, he was allowing them to get as emerged as they wanted to be.

Note, it is their own actions that lead to their demise. Though the Scriptures say that the Lord declared Eli’s sons would die and this family line would be cut short of life, this isn’t the wrath of God that we are reading about. We read of self inflicted punishment. Eli’s sons bring about their own demise and cause there to be a deep wickedness in their own family. God simply allows the path they are on to run its course.

God isn’t trying to punish you. In fact, he is wanting what is best for you. This takes your participation as well. Seek out what is right and desire righteousness. When you do, God takes the things that you miss, and replaces the effects of them with his grace. But it takes a heart of righteousness!

Go back to Psalm 1 and hear the blessing behind this.

Blessed is the one who doesn’t not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of makers, 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 eyelids its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.

So may you be full of righteousness. Remembering that righteousness doesn’t mean you are always right, but that you desire what is right. May you search your heart and allow God to redirect your ways. In doing so, may you be like a tree planted by streams of water, always bearing fruit, and always full of God’s blessings!