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. (Ps. 1:1-3)
The three functions described here—counsel, way, and seat—emphasize that the righteous avoid thinking like, behaving like, and dealing with the wicked. (Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 1:1). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press)
Notice also how this progresses, or digresses, in our lives if we are not careful.
First it is walking. There are times we are walking in life and it is inevitable we come into company with those who are not kingdom minded. We come into contact with those that may say things initially that sound “right” to us, but after awhile their true motives become clear.
This is decision time. We can keep walking with them… “in step”… or we can “peel off.”
If we walk in step, we come to second stage of development that will eventually lead to the erosion of our soul: we stand.
Our conversation with them has reached a point where we’ve stopped our journey and we’re standing to listen to them. More of that poison seeps into our soul.
“Their ideas sound good. Not so crazy as I thought,” we begin to reason.
Then… we sit. We come to a place where we think like… behave like… and then just deal with what is wicked. Our souls have fallen asleep and vigilance has left.
Walking happens. Standing and sitting? Those are choices.
Where is our delight? Where is our focus? When the Kingdom is working in us, our delight is in the teaching of the Kingdom. Our focus, our meditation, is on the ways of the Lord. We become firmly rooted trees.
When we are bearing the fruit of the Kingdom, it doesn’t matter who we encounter while “walking.” The fruit of the Kingdom shows up and then it’s up to those we’re with to decide if they want to walk with us.
Where are you rooted? Where is your gaze turned?
Apprentice 2 Jesus 