1. Reflections on Psalm 1: How to live a blessed life Last week I was meditating on Psalm 1, and I want to share some of my observations. That is probably the subject for another post, but I welcome your thoughts. Although God created the entire universe (Ps. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Notice that Psalm 1:2 doesn’t say that the blessed man simply reads the Law of the Lord. The Talmud (Berachot 10a) states that first two Psalms were counted as one, and that David opened (and closed) his favorite psalms with the word ashrei, a word that has been variously translated as "the praises" (a plural noun), "praiseworthy" (a substantive adjective), or as "happy," "blessed," and "fortunate." We also find also find prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of trust, and hopeful declarations. Can … How can I make it through life happy? But I want to suggest that we need to hear its message as a guide to making sense of the rest of the Psalms. on Reflections on Psalm 1: How to live a blessed life, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Faith and Works (part 1): Cheap Grace vs. In his godly use of the law of the Lord, Psalm 1:2; This farther pointed out under the metaphor of a good tree planted in a good well-watered soil, Psalm 1:3. Book One The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. It suggests that before authentic praise, before passionate and expectant prayer, there is a deep need to ponder. As we read through the book of Psalms as a whole, we encounter not only praise, but poignant prayers of desperation as God’s people struggle with the dangers and pitfalls of life: enemies, injustice, illness, fear, and the others challenges of life that threaten to suffocate and snuff out the life of faith. He meditates on it day and night because he delights in God’s law. Thus Psalm 1 begins with ashrei-ha'ish and Psalm 2 ends with ashrei kol choso vo. nor sit in company with scoffers. Praise is the climax of the book of Psalm. This psalm has a good deal in common with Proverbs 2:12-15, 20-22 and Jeremiah 17:5-13, both of which contrast the 1 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, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. The wicked are contrasted in verse 4, and the remaining two verses describe the ultimate outcome of each way of life. and on his law he meditates day and night. He delights in it. Instead, we live in the world. It is only six verses. Reading Scripture as Wesleyans: The Contribution of…, What Role Should Experience Play in Christian…, The Courage to Read: Reflections on Psalm 1, Discipleship after COVID-19: Family Worship, What Role Should Experience Play in Christian Spirituality? Whom does the psalmist want us to keep away from? (2) Recognize that the life of faith touches every moment and interaction. 1. It is a coming to Scripture with an attitude of delight that opens us up to the feast that is there. This Psalm consists of two parts: in the first (from verse 1 to the end of the 3rd) David sets out wherein the felicity and blessedness of a godly man consisteth, what his exercises are, and what blessings he shall receive from the Lord. Our attitude toward God’s word is crucial. “Blessed” focuses on God as blesser. Matthew Henry :: Commentary on Psalms 1 ← Back to Matthew Henry's Bio & Resources. The blessedness of the righteous shown, in his avoiding every appearance of evil, Psalm 1:1. How can I make it through life happy? Other people delight in the activities in Psalm 1:1 – godless advice, lifestyle, and associations. Some Reflections on Psalm 1 . Then in verse 2 we find the only positive description of the person who will be blessed: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” What follows in verse 3 is a description of the secure and fruitful life that comes about as a result. Continue to astonish us anew with riches of your Word so that we may be shaped and formed into the people that you desire us to be. . The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant liturgies. Psalm 1:1. Gracious God, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Psalm 8 is an exception in Book 1, as it does not pertain specifically to David. The psalmist has a more audacious vision. Psalm 1 2 Commentary: Delight. (2) Recognize that the life of faith touches every moment and interaction. Psalm 1 is about the blessings of the righteous. Required fields are marked *. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. At times this way of life appears to be the way of success, acceptance, and prosperity … hjj, depressum esse), dull sound, as if vibrating between within and without, here signifies the quiet soliloquy (cf. These are our options while we are awake. Verse six presents a key to understanding this Psalm: For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. How do we learn to delight in the Word? Costly Grace, How to Respond to the Da Vinci Code Movie. 2. An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Book of Psalms Psalm 1. Yet, this is the one quality which is of single importance. (1) This psalm proclaims an authoritative guide to happiness. It does not offer a short series of steps to happiness or a one-time seminar to receive a certification in the state of being blessed. Unleash us to live by faith, be known by love, and serve as voices of hope for all creation. PSALM 1 Psalms 1:1-6. All of this presses the question: How do we live this way? Psalm 1:1 - Psalm 1:2. Some English translation have the word “blessed.” The word is better translated “happy” here in 1:1 because Ps 1 is talking about “happy” in the sense of being in a state of blessing from God. The Trees by Girton pond, a place I often meditate -photo Liliana Janik. Like many people I have found that lockdown has brought my reading of Scripture to life and especially the Book of Psalms. To breathe in your guidance and breathe it out in faithful practice and praise. Psalm 1 is not a prayer nor is it an audacious praise, but it is foundational to the rest of the psalms. Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 1 Psalm 1 – The Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Ungodly Verse six presents a key to understanding Psalm 1: “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” In this psalm, the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly are contrasted. In the Hebrew, meditate also has the connotation of speaking the text aloud. Let our new content come to you through your favorite RSS reader. We are God’s witnesses to the world. [or download in R TF format] Psalm 3: A Morning Song [or download in R TF format] Psalm 4: An Evening Song [or download in R TF format] The book of Psalms ends in 150:6 with the memorable exhortation: “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” This is an invitation to join the whole chorus of creation in the ongoing, vibrant praise and worship of God. The key is to be shaped by God so that we are influencers of the world rather than persons who are influenced by the world. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will be destroyed. Who else taught beatitudes? Breathe it in. Learn how your comment data is processed. Blessed is the man “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.”. Let’s listen to the Psalm in its entirety and then begin to unpack its power: Psalm 1:1 Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night. Then ponder it deeply and continually. The miserableness of sinners, and the final happiness of the godly, Psalm 1:5, Psalm 1:6. The psalmist is not naïve to think that we can avoid the world. “The wicked” of Psalm 1 are those who seek independence from God, those who have only a human or earthly perspective on life, those who live according to the world’s standards and not God’s. Listen to an original song, view beautiful artwork, and read a short written reflection inspired by Psalm 1 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. Angle: If the psalter is providing insight into various human responses to the questions of faith, how might this influence the rest of the collection of psalms? But the blessed man doesn’t. He doesn’t JUST study it. You’ve got a good blog going here. 4) Delight and meditate. These a… Of course there is a need for a certain amount of discipline in the Christian life, but discipline alone is not enough. “Blessed” focuses on God as blesser. 3 They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers. The courage to pick up the Scriptures and read is a key step in the journey and life of faith that ends in the perpetual praise of the God who saves us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus our LORD. (TNIV). The way of the righteous. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. This is not an option. The basic structure of the Psalm is a comparison of two ways of life, one leading to blessing and the other leading to destruction. Later this week I will continue the series on Faith and Works. . (3) Verse 2 offers the positive virtue and practice that serves as the guide and road map to the good and happy life. The opposite state of the ungodly pointed out, under the metaphor of chaff driven away by the wind, Psalm 1:4. 4 Not so the wicked! It is a joy for him to read it and he naturally finds himself thinking about it often. What the righteous man does not do. The book of Psalms serves as the prayer book for God’s missional people as we seek to live out love for God and neighbor in the service of God’s mission to bless the nations and heal creation. As priviledged children of God we need to mediate on the word of God to know Him personal and to live according to Deut 28, Its not enough to know about God but know Him personally by reading and meditating on the Word of God daily, its the only time blessings can flow in our lives, Your email address will not be published. Notice that this is no mere rote or legalistic force-feeding of Scripture. And since we cannot meditate on something unfamiliar to us, we need to read the Word often and commit portions of it to memory. Its concern is with all human authority, not only David’s rule. God’s word is a “law” because it provides the standards for our conduct and the guide for our lives. The character and condition, and the present and future destiny, of the pious and the wicked are described and contrasted, teaching that true piety is the source of ultimate happiness, and sin of misery. The second part of verse 2 is almost a result of the first half of the verse. Psalm 1: 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. Psalm 1 is the first psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in the English King James Version: "Blessed is the man".The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament.In Latin, this psalm is known as Beatus vir or Beatus vir, qui non abiit.. I hope you’re blessed by this brief commentary. Book 1 (Psalms 1 - 41) » Psalms 1-41 in one file [or download in RTF format] Psalm 1: The Two Ways [or download in RTF format] Psalm 2: God Rules OK ! Pray “Astonish me a anew with the riches of your word.” Pray not that you “become a master of Scripture but that the Scripture masters you.”. Arab. What type of psalm is Psalm 1? All of this presses the question: How do we live this way? The perff. The basic structure of the Psalm is a comparison of two ways of life, one leading to blessing and the other leading to destruction. Look after Psalm 5 to learn what the word "righteous" means. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (1), Embracing the New for the Sake of Mission, Can a Christian Be an Environmentalist? Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Embolden us today with the courage to read and receive. (2), Can a Christian Be an Environmentalist? Great discussion! (4-6) Commentary on Psalm 1:1-3 (Read Psalm 1:1-3) To meditate in God's word, is to discourse with ourselves concerning the great things contained in it, with close application of mind and fixedness of thought. verses 4 - 6: enemies of God, we call them godless. Next: Psalm 6, The Lord Has Heard the Voice of My Weeping More Devotions from Psalm 5 Verses 1-2, Hearken! Look at v. 2: delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on it moment by moment. a 2 Rather, the law of the LORD * is his joy;. The holiness and happiness of a godly man. "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; … Psalm 1 has all of live in view. Beatus Vir: a reflection on psalm 1. The Psalter ends with majestic praise and worship. hjs, mussitando secum … (1), Discipleship after COVID-19: Reflections from Early Methodism. There are in it, indeed, further disclosures of God’s mind and purposes, but its especial characteristic is-the reflection of the light of God from brightened faces and believing hearts. The Psalter has nurtured and fed the souls of God’s people for millennia through its rich and relevant prayers and praises to God. Verse 3, Look Up Verse 4, Perfection Verses 5-6, God Abhors Sin Verses 7-8, As For Me Verses 9-10, Rebellion Against God Verses 11-12, Rejoice In the midst of these many treasures, it is easy to speed through the opening Psalm. In Jesus’ name: Amen. These are the core practices that serve as the foundation for the book of Psalm’s vision for life. Calling God’s word “law” gives recognition to its authority in our lives and affirms our obligation to submit ourselves to God. 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk. In verse 1 the person who receives God’s blessing is described negatively, in terms of not living the lifestyle of the wicked. I think it is time to revive my practice of memorizing Scripture. So my question is, how can we become the sort of people who delight in God’s word? A lament, a hymn of praise or a wisdom psalm? In other words, Ps 1 as a presupposition and foundation to the journey of faith calls us to a courageous willingness to read and ponder. in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way * of sinners,. My focus is on verse 2, because I think that it provides the key to living a blessed life. They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Its word is simple but not simplistic. Look at the verbs in v. 1: walk, stand, sit. Psalm 1: Brief Exegetical Commentary. Some English translation have the word “blessed.” The word is better translated “happy” here in 1:1 because Ps 1 is talking about “happy” in the sense of being in a state of blessing from God. It seems to me that an important part of developing a delight for God’s word is learning to meditate on it. So, what is Psalm 1 talking about? Later this week I will continue the series on Faith and Works. (1) This psalm proclaims an authoritative guide to happiness. Do we have the courage to read Scripture, breathe it in moment by moment, and breathe it out through a life of faithfulness, justice, and love as witnesses to God’s kingdom? He finds true joy in … Sometimes it is used in a more narrow sense to describe the laws for human conduct given in the first five books of the Bible, which are also called “the Law.” But at other times the word “law” is used more generally for God’s word. July 28, 2015 Comments Off on Psalm 1: Brief Exegetical Commentary read Studies/Sermons. Psalm 1 is an introductory Psalm, a kind of gateway to the rest, where all kinds of qualities are mentioned. [Note: The following article is an excerpt from a commentary on Psalm 1 that I am preparing.]. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, Why? And that blessing is contrasted with the unenviable end of the wicked – judgment. PSALM 1 * True Happiness in God’s Law I. Psalm 1 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. It is your roadmap for the journey of your life. Psalm 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, n or stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! Instead, it advocates an attitude and a habit. יהגּה, what he is always striving to do; הגה of a deep (cf. 8:1-3), he chose to appoint human beings to rule over the creation (Ps. Psalm 1:2 echoes God’s word to Joshua in 1:7-8: “Be strong and courageous. in Psalm 1:1 describe what he all along has never done, the fut. - Psalm 150:6. 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. Because here is the root, everything else is the fruit, i.e., the result of one living close to God by living in His eternal, infallible, sure, true and tried Word. In this Psalm, the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly are contrasted. Catalyst is a project of AFTE, which is committed to the revitalization of theological education for United Methodists. (1-3) The sinfulness and misery of a wicked man, The ground and reason of both. Last week I was meditating on Psalm 1, and I want to share some of my observations. Chapter 1 This is a psalm of instruction concerning good and evil, setting before us life and death, the blessing and the curse, that we may take the right way which leads to happiness and avoid that which will certainly end in our misery and ruin. The blessed man does not need to force himself to read the Bible, because he delights in it. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night….”. We call them “beatitudes”. This is the warning of v. 1. We must be mindful of how we live. A. Your email address will not be published. 8:5-8). 3. Reading this wisdom psalm first, invites us to read the following psalms through the lens of what is generally known as “Torah piety,” an ethical reflection on what it means to live one’s life in accordance with the vision presented in Scripture. The Psalter is the echo in devout hearts of the other portions of divine revelation. Psalm 1 A Bible Devotion from Psalm 1 The Lord Knows the Way of the Righteous. So a fuller statement of what Psalm 1 is about could be this: “The Righteous are Blessed and the Wicked are Judged.” Breathe it out. The person who will be blessed delights in “the law of the Lord.” In the Old Testament, the word “law” is used in a variety of ways. What about us? ] Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Psalm 1 EXEGESIS: CONTEXT: This is a wisdom psalm, calling people to follow the path of righteousness to obtain the blessings that God confers on the righteous. We do not live apart from the world as God’s missional people. Look at the verbs in v. 1: walk, stand, sit. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Wisdom sayings often begin with “Blessed is the man who…” or “Blessed are those who….”. … Blessed. Arab. A blessed life reading of Scripture an excerpt from a Commentary on Psalm 1: Exegetical... Of divine revelation are psalm 1 reflection who…. ” faithful practice and praise naturally finds himself about... 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