Psalm 1
Psalms 1:1-2
1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
What is your delight? What really gets you going? Or to put it the other way round, how important is God’s word to you? Is it a joy to read, something you can’t put down? Is your time spent with your Bible something you look forward to, and indeed do first thing every day, regretting the fact you can’t spend more time?
When I got married we were presented with a bible. In the cover the pastor of the church had written Joshua 1:8 which is very similar to today’s passage. Joshua was on the verge of leading the people of Israel into the promised land. He had seen God at work through Moses, and now it was time for him to step up. The similarities between leadership and marriage are immense, and so it should come as no surprise that the same instruction holds true for those about to enter marriage, or indeed for anyone. When starting in a relationship, starting in leadership, starting a new job, or school, you expect the best advice to be work, and study hard. Listen to your boss, teacher, or whoever. Make sure you are on the case with your homework, projects, or sermons. Instead the advice here is, get stuck into the word of God.
It is easy for the business of the day to take you away from reading the word of God, and it quickly becomes a chore, not a delight. In taking that instruction to put God first, no matter what, your entire outlook changes. How you do that job, live that relationship, or lead that church is now based on communicating the joy of God, not how you feel that day.