Lectio
“I have not sat with the council of emptiness, and I will not enter with those who carry out injustice. I have hated the assembly of the malicious; and I will not sit with the impious.” (Psalm 25:4-5)
Meditatio
Meditate on David’s strong rejection of evil and injustice. Consider how easy it can be to compromise one’s values by associating with those who engage in harmful or immoral actions. Meditate on the importance of vigilance in maintaining personal integrity. Ask yourself: Are there “councils of emptiness” or “assemblies of the malicious” in your life—people or environments that tempt you to stray from righteousness? How can you strengthen your resolve to remain faithful to God’s ways?
Think about the company you keep. Are they people who encourage your spiritual growth, or do they pull you toward actions that go against your faith? Our hatred for injustice is not born out of pride but a deep love for God’s righteousness. Meditate on how you can cultivate a strong love for justice and a holy disdain for sin, making a firm commitment to avoid the paths that lead away from God.
Oratio
O Lord, give me the courage and wisdom to walk in the path of righteousness. Help me to avoid the councils of emptiness and to reject the ways of those who practice injustice. Strengthen my heart, that I may love what is just and despise what is evil, not out of pride, but out of love for You and Your commandments. Keep me from sitting with the impious, and guide me always to walk in the light of Your truth.
Contemplatio
In contemplation, picture yourself standing at a crossroads, with one path leading to the “council of emptiness” and the other to the company of the righteous. Feel the weight of David’s resolve to stay away from evil influences and to walk in integrity before Yahweh. Contemplate the peace that comes from staying on the path of righteousness, away from the noise and emptiness of sin. Let the vision of the assembly of the malicious fade from your mind, replaced by the quiet strength of those who walk in justice and truth, always in the Lord’s presence.
Actio
As you go about your daily life, be mindful of the influences around you. If you find yourself in situations or among people who promote injustice or wickedness, take steps to distance yourself from them. Seek out those who encourage you to live according to God’s will, and strive to be an example of righteousness in your own actions. Let this passage guide you to live with integrity, rejecting all that is empty and unjust, and choosing the path that leads to God’s truth and justice.
