Salmos 1
John Piper · Citado em PreceptAustin
Salmos 1:1
Piper adds that the Hebrew word 'esher "means happy in the rich, full sense of happiness rooted in moral and mental and physical well being." The other Hebrew word for bless is the verb barak which is the verb used of man blessing God and of God blessing man. In contrast, the verb 'ashar used only of God blessing man. Thus it is fitting that in Psalm 1:1, the noun chosen is 'esher, speaking of the blessing from the Most High God to mankind. In the Septuagint (Lxx), the Greek word for blessed is makarios (see word study) and can be summed up as describing the man who is fully satisfied (especially in the spiritual sense), independent of or regardless of circumstances. And so even though the winds and waves of affliction, testing and trial come against the "blessed man" (or "blessed woman"), fortified by the grace from Jehovah, he remains strong, stedfast and satisfied in the Lord. The blessed man knows that he is safe in "the Ark" of Jehovah, the One Who declares I Am... I Am anything and everything you will ever need (not want but need! See related passages - Php 4:19, Ps 23:1, Ps 84:11, Mt 6:33, Lk 12:30, 31, 32, Ro 8:32, 2Co 9:8, He 13:5, 6 2Sa 22:7 Da 3:28, 6:22 Ps 116:4- ; Ps 120:1) Adam
Salmos 1:1
Piper - So, instead of finding his pleasures in the words or the ways or the fellowship of the wicked, the one who is truly happy finds pleasure in meditating on the Word and the ways of God. The description of the godly begins with the negative which prepares his heart for the positive teaching in verse 2. As Wiersbe so aptly puts it, the "blessee" must first be separated and then saturated. He must be separated from the world (the root idea of holy) and saturated with the Word. The more we delight in the Word, the less we will desire the world. Solomon gives us good advice for avoiding the 3 step declension in Psalm 1:1 exhorting us to... Watch (An imperative - it is imperative that we continually guard our heart from "intruders" see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) over your heart with all diligence, (why?) for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23) (NLT conveys the point "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.") O child of God, guard well your eyes From anything that stains the heart; Forsake those things that soil the mind-- Your Father wants you set apart. --Fasick John Flavel very wisely observed that, The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God. Pritchard calls us to... Consider the progression involved: Walk … Stand … Sit. First, the man is walking down the road. Then he stops to hang out with the sinners. Eventually they prove to be such good company that he sits down and has intimate fellowship with them. What started as casual contact in the end becomes a declaration of personal allegiance. The “counsel of the wicked” means the advice of the morally unstable. It’s a general term that describes the worldview of those who do not know the Lord. The “way of sinners” involves a series of lifestyle choices. The “seat of mockers” means to have close, intimate, long-term fellowship with those who openly reject the Lord. The progression goes like this: Thinking … Behaving … Belonging. Worldly wisdom leads to Worldly action, which results in Worldly fellowship. Let us be clear on this point. Blessings come not only from what we do, but also from what we don’t do. Blessed people avoid certain things. And they avoid certain people and certain situations. They don’t hang out just anywhere and they don’t quickly buy into every line of thinking. And they are very careful not to join themselves to the company of those who do not love the Lord... Sin never stands still. It always moves to control us. What starts as casual contact leads on to increasing closeness and permanence of association. Eventually, there is increasing boldness of evil accompanied by a lowering of our own inhibitions. We laugh at jokes that once would have seemed crude to us. We compromise our values in ways we never would have thought possible. We consent to things that would have greatly troubled us in the past. (Ibid) Adam Clarke sees Psalm 1:1 as a picture of the seen in this a progression of sin commenting that... The great lesson to be learned from the whole is, sin is progressive; one evil propensity or act leads to another. He who acts by bad counsel may soon do evil deeds; and he who abandons himself to evil doings may end his life in total apostasy from God. Steven
Salmos 1:1
Piper puts it this way: “When God blesses us, it is what he really loves to do. God is not acting in a generous manner in order to cloak some malicious motive. God is not saying inside, ‘I will have to be generous for awhile, even though I don’t want to be, because what I really want to do is bring judgment on sinners.’ God is truly acting out his deepest delight when he blesses. His joy, desire, his want and wish and hope, pleasure and gladness and delight is to bless . . . to give the kingdom to his flock.” It is the true inclination of God to shower his favor on our dry, shriveled souls. It is not God’s duty nor his obligation to bless us. It’s something he does out of the greatness of his heart. He blesses you with instruction, gentle persuasion, health, comfort, and consolation in times of hardship. He blesses you with friends, intellect, eyesight, and hearing. He blesses you with grace upon grace. Today, cultivate a personal disposition to bless others; let it be the measure of your character and heart as you shower favor and mercy on those who need his touch. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! The Voice of the Lord - David Rudolph How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit! (Ps. 1:1) Sometimes we look at life as a choice between following Messiah or being happy, but it’s really not that way at all. In fact, we cannot be truly happy without following the Lord. When Yeshua gave the derash (sermon) on the Mount, he said, “How blessed are the poor in spirit.… How blessed are the meek.… How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.… How blessed are those who make peace” (Matt. 5:3–9). That’s a lot of blessedness. The word in Hebrew for “blessed” is ashrey. It doesn’t just mean “blessed”; it also means “happy,” or literally, “How happy!” Ashrey is derived from the Hebrew word for “straight” or “right.” For in the end, the way of happiness and the way of righteousness always turn out to be the same path. Do you want to be happy? Stop seeking happiness. Seek righteousness instead. Seek what is right, believe what is right, receive what is right, do what is right, walk in what is right, live by what is right. All the rest will be added unto you. God’s way is the way of true joy. Follow it and you’ll be blessed, and not only blessed, but happy … and not only happy, but you’ll arrive at that state in which you’ll say, “Ashrey!” (How happy!)—with an exclamation point! Today I Will … remember that the way of righteousness and joy are the same path. Charles Dyer - The One Who Is Blessed PSALM 1 Every January 1 we wish friends and loved ones a “Happy New Year!” But how would you like to go one step better next year and have a blessed New Year? The difference in wording might sound slight, but the change in our lives can be profound. To see what that change looks like, we need to head to Israel to visit the author of Psalm 1. Psalm 1 was apparently not written by David. Instead, it serves as an introduction to the entire book of Psalms. If Psalms were a regular book, we would call Psalm 1 the foreword—the introduction that helps explain what the book is all about. We’re not told who wrote the psalm, and that’s okay because we know God is the ultimate Author. Psalm 1 helps us see more clearly that there are only two roadways in life we can choose to follow. One leads to prosperity and blessing, the other to judgment and destruction. And we’re responsible for the pathway we choose. In Israel, roads developed over time following the path of least resistance. Through trial and error people discovered the pathway with the least number of obstacles or that traveled the shortest distance. It’s not that you couldn’t try a different route, but doing so usually resulted in more difficulty and hardship. And perhaps that’s why the writer of Psalm 1 begins by picturing the two roadways available to each person journeying through life. He first announces to his readers that the person who is truly blessed is the one who chooses not to follow the roadway running counter to the plan and purpose of God. “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (1:1). Don’t miss the progression. The person on this wrong pathway starts by listening to the counsel of those who don’t follow God. The person then begins acting like those walking along that same pathway. And the final destination is a life that scornfully rejects all that God has said is right. But apparently this way of rebellion becomes progressively more treacherous. We find this traveler walking … then standing … and finally sitting or ceasing his journey altogether to make this place of scoffers his final destination. He might not have started out with this destination in mind, but it’s where the pathway ultimately leads. If that’s the path leading to destruction, then what’s the path that leads to blessing? The writer gives the answer in verse 2. The path of blessing is the path that leads to God’s Word. The person who spends time in God’s Word, finding pleasure in it and thinking through what God has said, is the person who discovers the pathway leading to God’s blessing. The writer then changes metaphors as he turns from the two pathways we can choose to focus on the two different destinations we’ll reach. And he uses agricultural imagery to make his point. Those who choose to focus on and follow God’s Word are like the fruit-bearing trees in Israel that are fortunate enough to be “planted by streams of water” (1:3). They produce the proper results in the proper season, and when times of heat and drought come, they’re connected to a source of nourishment that sustains them. The psalmist’s word picture was striking because of the relatively small number of streams in Israel. Most fruit-bearing trees in Bible times—whether date palms, figs, olives, or pomegranates—were not planted by streams of water, because such streams didn’t flow through the plots of land owned by most farmers. Any farmer with a stream or other water source on his land was indeed fortunate! Water from such a stream would nourish his trees during the six months of every year when no rain falls on the land. Stop and look closely at the fig tree next to us. It’s early October, and it hasn’t rained for nearly six months. Yet this tree is thriving. I would let you try one of the figs, but it looks like other visitors have already “harvested” all the ones in reach! While much of the land is brown and dry, why is this tree so full of life? The secret is the ever-flowing stream of water right next to its trunk. The psalmist now turns to a second agricultural image to complete the sad contrast between the righteous and those now specifically identified as the wicked. Those who choose the other pathway will not experience the same results. Rather than being fruitful and nourished, they’re as parched as the dry seed coverings that fall from the wheat. They have nothing of substance to hold them firm when the scorching winds of life blow in, nothing to keep them rooted and nourished. Like the “chaff which the wind drives” (v. 4) from the wheat, they have little of substance or value to hold them firm. As the writer draws his comparison to a conclusion, he returns to where he began. The person who chooses the pathway of the wicked will not stand in the assembly of the righteous at the time of God’s divine judgment. That’s the time when God will eternally separate the wheat from the chaff. In contrast, God says that He “knows the way of the righteous” (v. 6). And the word for know has the idea of personal, intimate knowledge. The word is sometimes used as a euphemism for sexual relations between a man and a woman (Gen. 4:1). If you choose to follow the path of God, you not only come to know God, but you discover He also knows you in a deep, personal way. Sadly, the other pathway leads only to heartache, loss, and ruin. SO WHAT’S THE LESSON for us as we begin this thirty-day journey into the book of Psalms? Let me offer two practical suggestions, each based on the two pathways available to us. Do you want to discover God’s blessing in your life through this study, to come to know Him in a deep, personal, and intimate way? Then resolve right now to begin reading and meditating on His Word every day. You’ll discover a living source of blessing that will sustain and nourish you through whatever may come your way in the coming weeks. But as you start this study, what if you realize you’ve been walking down the wrong pathway of life? The good news is that it’s never too late to return to God. Psalm 103:11b–13 says, “Great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.” Why not make this the moment when you begin a personal relationship with God? Place your trust in Jesus as your personal Savior, your Deliverer from sin who brings you to a forgiving Father. Then find a church that believes and teaches the Bible where you can go and learn more about this pathway to spiritual blessing that God has available for you! (30 Days in the Land of Psalms) Charles Swindoll - Living the Psalms - several devotionals on Psalm 1 Day 1: Psalm 1 Compromise and Erosion The Hebrews’ ancient hymnal begins with a song that addresses one of life’s most common grinds: compromise. Please understand, I’m not referring to those give-and-take times so necessary for living in harmony with one another. Without that healthy kind of compromise, nations could never find a meeting ground for peaceful coexistence and family members would forever be at each other’s throats. I’m thinking, rather, of compromising with wrong, allowing the slow-moving tentacles of evil to wrap themselves around us, squeezing the joys and rewards of obedience from our lives. It happens so silently, so subtly, we hardly realize it’s taking place. Like an enormous oak that has decayed for years from within and then suddenly falls, those who permit the eroding grind of compromise can expect an ultimate collapse. I recall reading years ago of the construction of a city hall and fire station in a small northern Pennsylvania community. All the citizens were so proud of their new red brick structure—a long-awaited dream come true. Not too many weeks after moving in, however, strange things began to happen. Several doors failed to shut completely and a few windows wouldn’t slide open very easily. As time passed, ominous cracks began to appear in the walls. Within a few months, the front door couldn’t be locked since the foundation had shifted, and the roof began to leak. By and by, the little building that was once the source of great civic pride had to be condemned. The culprit proved to be a controversial coal extraction process called “longwall mining,” deep in the earth beneath the foundation. Soil, rock, and coal had been removed by the tons so that the building sat on a foundation that had no support of its own. Because of this man-made erosion, the building began to sink. So it is with compromise in a life. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, one rationalization leads to another, which triggers a series of equally damaging alterations in a life that was once stable, strong, and reliable. That seems to be the concern of the psalmist as he composes his first song, which encourages us to resist even the slightest temptation to compromise our convictions. The Passage and Its Pattern The First Psalm is brief and simple, direct and profound. Even a casual reading of these six verses leads us to see that it is filled with contrasts between two different walks of life—the godly and the ungodly. A simple yet acceptable outline of Psalm 1 would be: I. The Godly Life (vv. 1–3) II. The Ungodly Life (vv. 4–6) Written between the lines of this ancient song is evidence of the age-old battle in which all of us are engaged: compromise—the erosion of our good intentions. Making It Strong in Your Soul Take just a few moments now to review your priorities. Family. Career, vocation, or calling. Job (not necessarily the same as career, vocation, or calling.) Health. Finances. Possessions. Friends. Spiritual development. Feel free to expand the list. As your eyes landed on each word, did your conscience react to anything? Did you mentally flinch or cringe? Compromise occurs when our behavior fails to reflect our priorities. In what ways have you compromised, and how can you get back on track? Day 2: Psalm 1 The Godly Life In the first three verses of Psalm 1, the psalmist describes the one who chooses to live a righteous life, the one who consciously resists the subtle inroads of compromise. He envisions a person who remains wary of anything that might erode commitment to a godly life. His song begins with three negative analogies to illustrate the importance of resisting compromise with evil, lest the evil become a habit of life. Then, in verse 2, he shows the positive side of godliness and the means by which it may be attained. Verse 3 describes the benefits of a righteous walk. Now let’s do some in-depth analysis. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! (v. 1) The first word, “blessed,” is somewhat bland in our English language. The Hebrew term is much more descriptive, especially with its plural ending. Perhaps a workable rendering would be, “Oh, the happiness, many times over. . . .” What is it that causes such an abundance of happiness? It is the uncompromising purity of a righteous walk with God. We see this by analyzing the three categories of remaining terms in this verse. walk .................... counsel ..................... wicked stand .................. path .......................... sinners sit ....................... seat .......................... scoffers The psalmist has spiritual erosion in mind. The word pictures illustrate how easily our intentions toward righteousness slow to a standstill or a complete stop as they are worn away by the company we choose to keep. Walk “Walk” is a term that suggests passing by or “a casual movement along the way.” With its entire phrase, it implies the idea of one who does not imitate or “go through the casual motions” of wickedness. The word translated “counsel” comes from the Hebrew term meaning “hard, firm.” Here, it means a definite, firm, planned direction. Consider this paraphrase of verse 1: Oh, the happiness, many times over, of the one who does not even casually go through the motions or imitate the plan of life of those who live in ungodliness. It is not uncommon to flirt with the wicked life, periodically imitating the motions of those without Christ. We may, in jest, refer to the fun and excitement of ungodliness or chuckle at our children’s questionable actions. David warns us against that. He tells us that we will be abundantly happier if we steer clear of anything that could give the erosion of spiritual compromise a head start. Stand The Hebrew word for “stand” has the idea of coming and taking one’s stand. The word “path” comes from the word meaning “a marked-out path, a certain and precise way of life.” Can you see the progressive deterioration toward more involvement in sinful living? The casual passerby slows down and, before you know it, he takes his stand. On the other hand, by taking a firm stand for righteousness, we will be “like a tree firmly planted by streams of water”—one that cannot be eroded by the winds of wickedness and unrighteousness. Sit The next word the psalmist emphasizes is “sit.” This suggests a permanent settling down, an abiding, a permanent dwelling. It is made even clearer by the use of “seat,” meaning “habitation” or “permanent residence.” Don’t miss this: the way of life is in the sphere of “the scoffer,” the one who continually makes light of that which is sacred—the blasphemous crowd. Can you see the picture in the writer’s mind? We shall be happy many times over if we maintain a pure walk, free from even the slightest flirtation with evil. If we begin to “walk” in “the counsel of the wicked,” it is easy to slip slowly into the habitation of the scoffer. Making It Strong in Your Soul Mentally review the past twelve months paying special attention to your “walk.” How has your manner of life changed from years past? Is your walk more pleasing to God, or less? Consider your willingness to take an unpopular “stand.” Can you be firm? And what about your attitude? Have you taken a comfortable seat among those who do not value the Word of God? Day 3: Psalm 1 An Uncompromising Walk As I read Psalm 1, three illustrations from the Bible flash into my mind. Two men flirted with evil, then fell; but there was one other who refused to begin a “walk in the counsel of the wicked.” The first two illustrations involve Lot and Samson; the third is Joseph. People the world over are familiar with Samson, whose life is best described in Proverbs 5:20–23: For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths. His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray. Most people are not as well-acquainted with Lot, Abraham’s nephew. With Psalm 1:1 in mind, note Genesis 13: So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. (v. 11) Lot “walked in the way of the ungodly.” Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD. (vv. 12–13) He “came and took his stand among sinners.” And in Genesis 19: Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. (v. 1) He now lived among them with his dwelling in “the seat of the scoffers.” How different was Joseph! He refused to allow the daily grind of compromise to take its toll even though Potiphar’s wife continued to make her sensual moves. Please stop and read Genesis 39:1–12. The man literally ran from her alluring advances. I find it most significant that every time sexual sins are mentioned in the New Testament we are told to “flee.” Psalm 1:1 assures us we will be happy many times over if we check the first signals of compromise with evil. Happiness is maintaining unblemished, moral purity. The ancient song goes on: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” (v. 2). This verse begins with “but,” a word of contrast. While the first verse was negative, this is positive. In contrast to compromise and erosion, the godly believer occupies himself with God’s Word. Why does David mention the Law here? Because in order to change our path of living, we need an absolute standard, clear direction. God’s Word gives us that sense of direction. We understand the Law to be a reference to God’s written Word, the Bible (Ps. 119:9). The psalmist claims that the godly person “delights” in the Lord’s Word. He doesn’t look upon the Word as irksome or a burden or an interruption in his day. Rather, day and night he meditates on it. Verse 1 of Psalm 1 gives us a promise of happiness; verse 2 provides the means for experiencing it. Now verse 3 declares the end result: He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. I am impressed that we shall be something rather than do something as a result of delighting in and meditating on God’s Word. Without any fanfare, yet surely as the rising of the morning sun, we shall become treelike in four specific ways. We will be: 1. Planted—fortified, stable, rooted, solid, and strong 2. Fruitful—production naturally follows being planted and growing 3. Unwithered—even during days of difficulty, the treelike soul is undaunted 4. Prosperous—fulfills the goals God has designed for his life I have said for years: “The roots grow deep when the winds are strong” (cf. Jer. 17:5–8). Let me encourage you today to maintain a pure, uncompromising walk; delight yourself in His Word, and you’ll grow into a stable, reliable “spiritual tree.” There is no shortcut to spiritual growth. Like physical growth, it occurs on a daily basis, depending upon the food and proper surroundings. With the right kind of spiritual diet and climate, you can experience “happiness many times over.” And best of all, the daily grind of compromise and its erosive effects can be checked. Making It Strong in Your Soul As you consider your own circumstances, what does “walking in the counsel of the wicked” look like in practical terms? What choices are involved? On the other hand, what practical steps can you take to cultivate a “delight” in God’s Word? List them and establish some specific deadlines. Day 4: Psalm 1 The Ungodly Life A key observation in Psalm 1:4–6 is contrast. Don’t miss the many things that are quite the opposite from the preceding verses. “The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.” “Not so!” That is exactly how verse 4 begins in the Hebrew Bible. It is an emphatic negative assertion. Literally, it says, “Not so, the wicked!” It refers back to the three preceding verses describing the righteous, godly believer, who: • is happy many times over (but “not so, the wicked!”) • delights and meditates in the Word (but “not so, the wicked!”) • is like a tree (but “not so, the wicked!”) • is fruitful and prosperous (but “not so, the wicked!”) Instead, the psalmist uses a single term that portrays the life of the ungodly—“chaff,” the paper-like skin of the grain seeds which separates at the time of threshing. Chaff is completely worthless. In contrast to the firmly rooted, fruit-bearing tree, chaff blows away during the winnowing process. The Hebrew word for “blow” means “to drive asunder, disseminate, diffuse, strike, or beat.” After comparing the lives of the “godly” and the “wicked,” David considers the fate of those who reject the Lord. “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous” (v. 5). The first word connects this verse with the previous verse—“Therefore (or on account of their inner worthlessness and instability) . . . the wicked will not stand in the judgment.” The Hebrew verb translated “stand” is not the same as the previous term rendered “stand” in verse 1. This particular Hebrew term means “to stand erect, to arise.” The idea in the mind of the songwriter is an inability to stand upright before God’s judgment. A parallel statement follows: “nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” The one who has never come by faith to the Lord and trusted Him alone for eternal life and a position of righteousness in God’s eyes has no part among the assembly of believers. Again, let me remind you of yet another contrast. In destiny, there is a great difference between the godly and the ungodly. But so many unbelievers live healthy, moral lives . . . even sacrificial and dedicated lives. How can anyone say they won’t be among the eternal assembly of the righteous? Verse 6 answers that question: “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” You’ll observe it is the Lord who does the judging. He alone sees the heart. He alone; not man. Only God is capable of being just and fair. But doesn’t the first part of this verse bring a question to your mind? Doesn’t He know the way of the ungodly as well? He certainly does! But this sixth verse is explaining why the ungodly will not be able to stand up under judgment nor stand among the righteous assembly (v. 5). Why? Because the Lord takes special interest in the righteous. Because the Lord is inclined and bound to the righteous by special love. He will not allow an intermingling between the righteous and the unrighteous. That is not His plan. The verse concludes with the severe reminder that the way of the unrighteous will perish. What a jolting climax to the psalm! Again, another vivid contrast. Instead of prospering, the ungodly will ultimately perish just as the little red brick city hall was ultimately condemned. Making It Strong in Your Soul God doesn’t demand perfection from believers; all of us fail from time to time. Fortunately, grace abounds. Nevertheless, at least one indication that our faith is genuine is a sincere desire to obey. If you do not “delight” in pleasing God by obeying His Word, perhaps now is a good time for some soul searching. Go there. Day 5: Psalm 1 A Life beyond Compare The central lesson in Psalm 1 is this: there is not the slightest similarity between the spiritually accelerating life of the righteous and the slowly eroding life of the wicked. Take time to ponder the bold contrasts: Godly Ungodly Happiness many times over Not so! Uncompromised purity Driven by the wind Has a guide—Word of God No guide Like a tree Like chaff Stands erect before God Unable to stand erect Special object of God’s care No right to stand among righteous assembly Destiny secure, safe, prosperous Perish Let’s bring this week’s study of Psalm 1 to a close with an expanded paraphrase: Oh, the happiness, many times over, of the man who does not temporarily or even casually imitate the plan of life of those living in the activity of sinful confusion, nor comes and takes his stand in the midst of those who miss the mark spiritually, nor settles down and dwells in the habitation of the blasphemous crowd. But (in contrast to that kind of lifestyle) in God’s Word he takes great pleasure, thinking upon it and pondering it every waking moment, day or night. The result: He will become treelike—firm, fruitful, unwithered, and fulfilling the goals in life that God has designed for him. Not so, the ungodly! They are like worthless husks beaten about and battered by the winds of life (drifting and roaming without purpose). Therefore, on account of their inner worthlessness without the Lord, the ungodly are not able to stand erect on the day of judgment, nor do they possess any right to be numbered among the assembly of those declared righteous by God, because the Lord is inclined toward and bound to His righteous ones by special love and care; but the way of the one without the Lord will lead only to eternal ruin. Making It Strong in Your Soul Read Psalm 1 again, this time aloud. Pay close attention to the “walk . . . stand . . . sit” picture in the first verse. Honestly now, have you begun to tolerate a few compromises you once rejected? What will it take to get that cleared up? Never doubt the dangers brought on by spiritual, ethical, or moral erosion. (Charles Swindoll - Living the Psalms) Frank Ray - Picture Of A Saint Psalms 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. This is a fascinating passage. At first, it appeared that the saint of the writer was sleeping on the job. In most cases whenever you run into any blessings, the blessings come at the end but never at the beginning. Before a diploma, you must first finish school. Before retirement, you must first work. The blessings normally come at the end. But this Psalmist was so excited that he issued out blessings at the beginning. Saints are like that. We actually get our blessings on the front end. When we accepted Christ, He gave us the package deal up front. Most of us just don’t know it. We think we have to wait and wait and wait to be blessed. But I’m already blessed. When I accepted Christ as my personal savior, He gave me right then everything I needed. He just knows how to issue it out at a given time. Picture a saint as a blessed person. I like it because God himself uses math differently from the way we use it. God counts differently from the way we count. Man says one plus one plus one equals three. God says one plus one plus one equals one—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We say two multiplied by five equals ten. The Lord says two multiplied by five equals 5, 000. Two fish multiplied by five loaves of bread fed 5000 men plus women and children. We say in order to get you must add. The Lord says, “No, in order to get you must divide.” The rich young ruler asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The Lord told him to go and sell all he had and divide it among the poor. We say in order to get up you’ve got to go up. The Lord says, “No the way up is down. The way to become rich is to become poor.” Jesus came down for us to go up. He became disgraced for us to have amazing grace. October 9 Path Of A Saint Psalms 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. Here we are shown the path of the saint. A saint does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, which means a saint doesn’t listen to sinners. Don’t get advice from the ungodly. Most of us have a very small perception or a short vision of ungodly people because we put the ungodly in one little basket. We say ungodly people are pimps, prostitutes, gamblers, dope addicts, whoremongers, and a few liars. They are ungodly, but they are not the only ungodly. You might sit next to an ungodly person in church and never know. You just might be living with an ungodly person. An ungodly person is a person that isn’t walking in the will and in the way of the Lord. Don’t stand in the way of the sinners. Not only should we not listen to the ungodly, but we shouldn’t linger with the ungodly. Don’t hang around with sinful folk. You have other things to do when you are around them. Try to win them to the Lord. But don’t be buddy buddy with ungodly people. We don’t want to laugh at their mess. Don’t laugh when you see a drunkard or a person strung out on drugs because without the grace of God, it would be you or me. Be separated from the world. A saint should be satisfied with the word. Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. A saint is satisfied with the word. It fills him up. When sinners spend time together, they come home empty. A saint can be home alone, yet still be satisfied because the sincere milk of the word is comfort when you are lonely. It lifts your burdens when your load is heavy. It can be food for you when you’re hungry. It can be a battle ax in the time of war. That’s why the writer said, “I hide his word in my heart that I might not sin against God.” C Ridley Pearson - Let me ever avoid the fear of contamination, “the pestilential chair of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1, Septuagint). Let me beware of contracting a habit of thinking lightly of sin. Not to strangle evil thoughts at once is to cherish them, and from conniving at wickedness to deriding goodness is no great step. Once let that step be taken, and I forfeit not God’s favour alone, but that of all men who are not themselves scorners. Richard Hawker - It is blessed to read every portion of scripture which speaketh of perfection in our nature, as referring to the person of the God-man Christ Jesus; and then, from our union with him, and interest in him, to mark our connection as his people, and our concern in all that is said or written of him. In the book of Psalms, particularly, there are numberless passages, which say that of holiness, which can be said of none among the fallen sons of men with the smallest shadow of truth. Who is the man, and where to be found, that hath never walked in the counsel of the ungodly; nor yet, which is more than walking, hath stood, as one not distressed at it, in the way of sinners; nor yet sat down, which is worse than all, in the scorner’s chair? None of the children of men could ever lay claim to the blessedness of such a conduct from his own personal holiness in it. But if we read the words with reference to the ever-blessed and ever-holy Jesus, all this, and infinitely more, is true; for such was the spotless purity of the Redeemer, that his whole nature was altogether clean; yea, the law of Jehovah was in his very bowels. (See the margin of the Bible, Psalm 40:8.) My soul! behold, in this account, the true character of thy Lord; and in it behold the holiness and purity of that nature, in whose holiness and purity alone thou canst ever see the face of God, in grace here by faith, and in glory hereafter by sight in open fruition. Thus read, and thus accepted, the passage in this Psalm becomes blessed indeed. In his righteousness, his people are made righteous; and by virtue of an union with him, and interest in him, and in all that concerns him, being joined to the Lord by one spirit, the souls of the redeemed walk as he walked, avoid the society of the profane, and sit not in the counsel of the ungodly. Precious Spirit of all truth! do thou thus glorify the Lord Jesus to my view; take of the things of Christ, and show them to me; and grant me daily fellowship and communion with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ! James Smith - STANDING IN THE WAY OF SINNERS PSALM 1:1 We clearly see the reason why we should not walk in the counsel of the ungodly by a study of the context. But we must go further. Here we are told not to stand in the way of sinners. I. Standing in the Way with Sinners. Some do this to get them to Christ, and that is right. But the idea here is that of making acquaintances and friends and confidents of the ungodly. Walking out with them. This we must not do. Instead, make friends with God’s children. II. Standing in the Sinner’s Way and Not God’s Way. This is a further thought. We should not travel in the way of the ungodly. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but——.” That is not the way we must go. III. Standing in the Way of Sinners Coming to Christ. Hindering sinners coming to Christ. What a tragedy! How can we be hindrances? We can do so by being very bad samples. Bad samples do not commend the goods. No commercial traveller would ever be guilty of such conduct. Don’t be thankful for new light and not walk in it. What a hindrance is an inconsistent life. SITTING IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL PSALM 1:1 This is the last step in wickedness. Sin is Progressive. I begin by walking in the counsel of the ungodly. Then I am found in the way of sinners. At last I am sitting in seat of scornful. The Three Degrees of Sinfulness. 1. Simply ungodly—not godlike—sin by not doing. 2. Then sinners—those who step over—sin by action. 3. Then scornful—the contemplation—sin by ridiculing. The Last State is Worst. That one who turns sacred things into ridicule has got as low as he can possibly get. He is a murderer. George M‘Donald says: “Contempt is murder committed by the intellect, as hatred is murder committed by the heart.” The Seat of the Joker in Holy Things is as bad as the seat of the scornful. Never use the Word of God irreverently. See the Connection of Scornful with the delight in the Word of God. Note Jer. 15:17. Who was this one who sat not in the assembly of mockers? One who finds God’s Word the joy and rejoicing of his heart. Questions. 1. Do you delight in the Word of God? 2. Do you meditate upon it day and night? 3. Is it the joy and rejoicing of your heart? THE HAPPY MAN PSALM 1 This First Psalm is a fitting introduction to the sacred Psalter. It constitutes almost a perfect epitome of the whole book. Like the sermon on the mount, it begins with the word “Blessed.” The word is in the plural, and has been rendered, “O the happinesses of the man,” etc. He is not only blessed, but blessed with all spiritual blessings. This happy man comes before us in a twofold aspect:— I. His Negative Character. There are some things that he will not do; not because law and judgment dares him to do them, but because he has got something better to enjoy, and a positive hatred in his heart for ways and things that are at enmity with the mind and will of God. 1. HE DOES NOT WALK IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY. He knows that “the way of the ungodly shall perish,” and he keeps out of it. The counsel of the ungodly is to walk in the broad way that leadeth to destruction. His manner of life is not directed by the wisdom of this world, but by that wisdom which cometh from above. 2. HE DOES NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF SINNERS. The ungodly may mean those who live in ignorance of God, but sinners are those who deliberately transgress against the light. To abide in their way of doing things is to show an attitude that is more at home with the way of sinners than merely walking in the counsel of the ungodly. 3. HE DOES NOT SIT IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL. Those who begin to walk in the counsel of the ungodly are in danger of ending in the seat of the scornful. This seat is the chief seat in the kingdom of Satan. There is no promotion beyond this. In a few hours, the Apostle Peter ran through all this experience, from walking in the counsel of the ungodly to the seat of the scornful. He sat by the fire and denied the Lord with oaths and curses, but when he was converted he strengthened his brethren. Those who scorn at the things of God and His Christ walk after their own lusts (2 Peter 3:3). II. His Positive Character. He is— 1. JOYFUL. He has many blessings, but “his delight is in the law of the Lord” (v. 2). The Christian life is not one merely of giving up this or that, but it is entering into a new and happy inheritance in the Word of God. True, the prodigal had to give up some things ere he could possess the best robe and enter into the joys of a happy home. But what were they? The swine troughs and his rags. The Word of the Lord is a land flowing with milk and honey. “Here everlasting streams abide, and never withering flowers.” It is indeed a “delightsome land.” All who love the Lord will find delight in His Word. 2. THOUGHTFUL. “In His law doth he meditate day and night.” In the day of prosperity, and in the night of adversity, he makes the Word of God the man of his counsel. Meditation on the word of truth is as needful to our spiritual health and strength as mastication is for the physical. Like Elijah’s servant, we may need to look again and again before we see the cloud like a man’s hand. “What think ye of Christ?” The Lord expects us to think deeply into these things which He hath caused to be written for our learning. There is no book in all the world that yields such a harvest of blessing to the humble student as the Bible. The testimony of Thomas à Kempis was, “I have no rest, but in a nook, with the Book.” 3. HOPEFUL. “He shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water” (v. 3, R.V.). He is full of expectation, because his circumstances are so very favourable. He is “like a tree that spreadeth out her roots by the river.” While other trees are being starved and stunted by drought, his roots are being fully satisfied; buried in the streams of God’s truth, and mercy, and grace. He has a meat to eat that others know not of. All whose delight is in the law of the Lord are as trees planted by streams of living waters. The roots of faith and love feed in these life-giving streams. 4. FRUITFUL. “That bringeth forth its fruit in its season.” The fruit is according to the character of the tree, and is always in season. Men do not gather grapes of thorns. His roots being in the rivers of God, he has abundance of life, so that fruit-bearing is the natural and simple result. Being filled with the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit is manifested (Gal. 5:22, 23). The man who is ready, as opportunity offers, to bear testimony for Christ, will bring forth fruit in his season. Being filled out of the river of life, he will be filled with the fruits of righteousness (Phil. 1:11). 5. BEAUTIFUL. “Whose leaf also doth not wither.” There is a vital connection between the root and the leaf. Dry roots soon bring the dry rot into the leaf. Men cannot see the roots of the Christian character, but they can see the leaf, and the hidden condition of the roots may be judged by the outward appearance of the leaf. The outward life will be fresh and green when the inward life is pure and full. Withered leaves are signs of a withered life. When our testimony for Christ and His truth loses its freshness and power, we may be sure that there is something wrong with the roots, for the streams never run dry. It is the Spirit’s purpose to put the beauty of the Lord our God upon us. 6. SUCCESSFUL. “Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper;” or, whatsoever the tree produceth shall come to maturity. The bud, and the blossom, produced by the Spirit of life, will come to perfect fruition. “All cry and no wool,” does not belong to the sheep of His pasture. The purposes of God begotten in the heart of Joseph, ripened into perfection, for the Lord was with him and made it to prosper (Gen. 39:23). Our Lord could say, “I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do.” And He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. If it be God who worketh in us both to will and to do, then what soever we do shall prosper, for He who hath begun the good work will carry it on, until the day in which it is perfected. III. The Contrast. “The ungodly are not so” (v. 4). No, they are far from it. The ungodly are the lawless ones who have no delight, or reverence for the law of the Lord; They are a law unto themselves, and the fruits of their own character and deeds shall be reaped by them. They are not likened to a tree planted, but to chaff driven. They have neither root, nor life in themselves. Chaff had once a close connection with the wheat, and may, in its outward aspect resemble it, but it is a dead worthless thing, to be burned with unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12). “The way of the ungodly shall perish” (v. 6). The chaff has no power to resist either the wind or the fire. The lawless, like chaff, are driven about with every wind of doctrine, popular opinion, or worldly success; they have no connection with, or capacity for receiving of those streams of life, that flow so copiously in the hidden Kingdom of God. They shall not stand accepted in the judgment nor be numbered with the congregation of the righteous (v. 5). Only “he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). How helpless the empty chaff is before the driving force of the wind. There is no refuge for it. “The wicked is driven away in his wickedness; but the righteous hath hope in his death.” “Every plant which My heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13). The way of the ungodly must perish, because it is the way of pride, pleasure, unbelief, and Christ rejection. It is the way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end is death. “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Joe Stowell - ENJOY! BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO DOES NOT WALK IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED.—Psalm 1:1 As we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, not only do we conform our lives to what He intends for us to do but we find unspoiled joy as well. While it is tempting to be diverted periodically toward the distracting pleasures offered to us along the way, those who stay the course experience the kind of happiness and joy that only God can give. The psalmist declared that God desires to bestow pleasure on His own. Psalm 16:11 says, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” In Psalm 36:8, David said of God’s faithfulness to men, “They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.” The themes of happiness and joy as outgrowths of a faithful, obedient life are underscored in Christ’s words to His disciples in John 15:10–11: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” The pleasure that is a by-product of living to please God is not simply a package of quick thrills. It is, rather, the deep satisfaction that comes to a life that is “straight,” or “correct.” Not straight in the sense of strict or stoic but clean, without pretense or hypocrisy, and free from the clutter of shame, loss, and regret. Satan appeals to our pleasure instinct with momentary highs that are fraught with devastating downsides. True pleasure is experienced in the rightness of a life committed to God’s glory and gain. The righteous laugh more heartily, enjoy more fully, and find good times more lasting because their pleasure is ultimately pure and centered in Him. J. I. Packer writes, “God values pleasure, both His and ours, and it is His pleasure to give us pleasure as a fruit of His saving love” Have you been looking for pleasure in the wrong places? No Shortcuts - Charles Swindoll Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked . . . but his delight is in the law of the LORD. PSALM 1:1, 3 Years ago I read of the construction of a city hall and fire station in a small Pennsylvania community. The citizens were so proud of their new red brick structure—a long-awaited dream come true. Not too many weeks after moving in, however, strange things began to happen. Several doors failed to shut completely and a few windows wouldn’t slide open very easily. As time passed, ominous cracks began to appear in the walls. Within a few months, the front door couldn’t be locked . . . and the roof began to leak. By and by, the little building that was once the source of great pride had to be condemned. An intense investigation revealed that deep mining blasts several miles away caused underground shock waves that subsequently weakened the earth beneath the building foundation, resulting in its virtual self-destruction. So it is with compromise in a life. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, one rationalization leads to another, which triggers a series of equally damaging alterations in a life that was once stable, strong, and reliable. (Living Beyond the Daily Grind) David Jeremiah - TRUE HAPPINESS Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. MATTHEW 5:8 Blessed means “happy, blissful, joyous, ecstatic.” Those characteristics the Lord lists are like an explosion on His lips, a description of the inner joy we can experience. This expression was commonly seen in the book of Psalms. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,” says Psalm 1:1. Anyone who has ever been burned by ungodly counsel will attest to the fact that a man who doesn’t get mixed up with ungodly counsel is happy. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,” we read in Psalm 32:1. We are to be blissful and ecstatic over the fact that the Lord has taken away our sins. That’s the same expression Christ used when He began talking about the Christian life. Blissful, happy, joyous—these are the words that describe the Christian walk. Matthew 5:1–12 describes nine characteristics of the happy Christian life. If you want to know what happiness is all about, search through this “happiness manifesto” from the Lord Jesus. He’ll explain to you what true happiness is all about. Stewart Custer - COUNSEL “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” (Ps. 1:1). A good man must avoid the thinking processes and habits of the wicked. Instead he should be delighting in God’s Word (v. 2). “The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever” (Ps. 33:11). “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Ps. 73:24). The inspired description of Messiah shows His wisdom. “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2). The Lord Jesus promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit for believers. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). GOLDEN THOUGHT The Spirit will guide us into all truth. BENEDICITE! - F B Meyer "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly .... But his delight is in the law of the Lord."-- Ps 1:1, 2. THE THEME of this first Psalm is the Blessedness of keeping "the Law," which is the transcript, of the mind and will of God. David was never weary in its praise-- How I love Thy law; it is my meditation all the day!" What we all need to-day is a passionate love for the will and commands of God. Docility to learn, and faith to fulfil are the two qualities by which our heart may be kept pure and childlike, and through which we shall come to understand the Bible, nature, and human life. Well may the Psalter, which enshrines obedience to God's Law, begin with Blessed and end with Hallelujah! Here are, first, the negations of the loyal and true soul. If we refuse to walk in the counsel of the wicked, we shall never sit in the seat of the scornful. But these negatives are chiefly valuable as contributing to the positive, as the wall protects the plant that grows behind it. Our religious life must be fed from hidden springs, as the rootlets of the tree creep under the soil to drink of the stream (Psa 1:3). Such a life becomes fruitful and beautiful. It is also prosperous, because it abides in the will of God. It cannot be really injured by evil, and in the deepest sense it realizes the purpose for which God commissioned it. Any life which refuses reverence and obedience to God's will must resemble the rootless, fruitless, and lifeless chaff, which is scattered by the winnowing wind. Which type does your life resemble? Are you the deeply-rooted tree, yielding beauty and fruit and shelter to many, or is your life being frittered away like the worthless chaff? PRAYER Open to me, I pray Thee, O Spirit of Truth, the treasures of Thy Word, that my soul may be continually enriched, and that I may abound in every good word and work, to Thy honour and glory. AMEN. A PSALM OF BLESSEDNESS - F B Meyer "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked. But his delight is in the law of the Lord."-- Psa 1:1-2 . THE BLESSED, or Happy, man is described negatively (Psa 1:1 ). There is a gradation in the attitude, the sphere of influence, and the condition of his companions. In attitude, we may begin by walking, advance to standing, and end by sitting. If we would avoid the sitting, let us guard against walking or standing. In the sphere of influence, the beginning of backsliding is when a man listens to counsel; he then drifts into the path trodden by sinners, and finally is hardened enough to sit where scornful talk surrounds him on every hand. The condition of evil companions. We should be repelled if we were to be plunged suddenly into contact with the scornful, but our moral interests may not be specially outraged by the counsel of the wicked. Indeed, the advice which wicked men give sometimes resembles closely what our heart suggests and our taste prefers. It is so specious, so apparently sensible and natural, that we are captivated by it. Only gradually do we slide from those who forget God to those who set His law at defiance or openly blaspheme Him. Our motive in going amongst ungodly men must be carefully considered. If it is to help and save them, as our Lord did, no harm will come to us. But if we go into the way of sinners for our own amusement, need we be surprised if the bloom pass off the fruit, and the fine edge from the tool? Let us examine ourselves. Are we startled and shocked now, as we used to be, by an indecent illusion or a blasphemous word? Is there a coarsening process at work? Even where we are not injured by worldliness, we may suffer by contact with the low ideals of our fellow-Christians. Let us watch and pray; let us consider one another and exhort one another day by day, lest any be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13 ). The Blessed, or Happy, man is also described positively (Psa 1:2 ). This delight comes as naturally as appetite for food, when the soul is in a healthy condition. Under the inspiration of that delight, we shall meditate on God's Word continually, storing it in the heart, and reciting it when travelling, or in darkness. Remember that the Lord knows the way you take. He is sensitive to every jolt and lurch, to the stony hills and the easy valley, to the foes that lie in wait. In His keeping you will never become as the light chaff, or the perishing way of the wicked written in the dust. PRAYER We commend ourselves, and those we love, to Thee, dear Lord. We put our hand in Thine, that Thou shalt lead us by the untrodden" way. AMEN. John Henry Jowett - GOOD AND BAD ROADS Psalm 1:1- 6 THERE is nothing breaks up more speedily than a badly-made road. Every season is its enemy and works for its destruction. Fierce heat and intensest cold both strive for its undoing. And “the way of the ungodly” is an appallingly bad road. There is rottenness in its foundations, and there is built into it “wood, and hay, and stubble,” How can it stand? “The Spirit of the Lord breatheth upon it,” and it is surely brought to nought. All the forces of holiness are pledged to its destruction, and they shall pick it to pieces, and shall scatter its elements to the winds. “I am the way!” That road remains sound “in all generations.” Changing circumstances cannot affect its stability. It is proof against every tempest, and against the most violent heat. It is a road in which little children can walk in happiness and in which old people can walk in peace. It is firm in the day of life, and it is absolutely sure in the hour of death. It never yields! “Thou hast set my feet upon a rock and hast established my goings.” “This is the way, walk ye in it.” PSALM 1:1 READ: Genesis 13:1-13 TOURISTS are now welcome to visit Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 Russian nuclear accident that released deadly radiation throughout the area. The tourist bureau has invited travelers to tour the city of Chemobyl, the radioactive waste dump at Kopachi, and the concrete sarcophagus around the reactor. All visitors will be given a free radiation test at the beginning and end of the tour. Medical treatment, if needed, will be provided at no extra charge. Most of us would think twice before taking advantage of an offer like that. We value our lives too much to set foot in a place that could expose us to deadly radiation. Lord, I am quick to believe my own lies, quick to fall for my own deception. How can I honestly claim to believe that I will be strong enough to resist the temptations I will face in certain places when I am not even strong enough to resist the temptation to go there in the first place? How foolish! May I resist the first temptation so I will never have to face the second one. Buster Keaton looking expectantly "The Navigator" 1924 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. —Psalm 1:1 To improve efficiency, a company hired a consultant, who called a meeting of all shop personnel. Stressing the need to listen to experts, he said, “Imagine you’re on the Titanic, and it’s sinking. You climb into a lifeboat. Which direction would you row?” Then he asked, “What if you had the ship’s navigator with you? Now which way would you go? You’d row the way the navigator told you to, right?” There were murmurs of agreement until one fellow in the back piped up, “Well, I don’t know. He’s already hit one iceberg!” The book of Proverbs urges us to get advice from the wise (Pr 1:2-7). Wisdom in the Bible is the “skill for living.” The Hebrew word translated “wisdom” is the same word that’s translated “skill” in reference to the detailed work of Bezalel and Aholiab in constructing the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11). God gave them and others skill for artwork, building, weaving, and carving. Today, wise men and women have a valuable skill—”the skill for living.” Don’t take your lead from others until you take a look at their lives. If they have crashed into a lot of icebergs, they may cause your life to sink as well. When you're in need of wisdom, Be careful to whom you go; Make certain they are godly, And that God's Word they know. —Fitzhugh Robert Neighbor - The Marks of the Blessed 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. "But his delight is in the Law of the Lord; and in His Law doth he meditate day and night" (Ps. 1:1, 2). The blessed Man of these verses primarily is Christ. He is the only One Who never walked in the counsel of the ungodly; Who never stood in the way of sinners; Who never sat in the seat of the scornful. He is the only One Who delighted perfectly in the Law of the Lord; Who brought forth fruit in its season; and Who prospered in all His ways. The first Adam walked in the counsel of the lawless one. He had a posterity that is in the way of sinners; he became a party to and took his seat with the scornful. The first Adam refused either to delight himself in, or to obediently follow after the Law of the Lord. He was a tree with withered fruit, and certainly he did not prosper in his way. What is true of Adam is true of all his seed, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Men are certainly guilty; they are no better than their fathers were; they walk according to the counsel of the prince of the air; they stand in the lineage of sinners, and are partakers in the seat of the scornful. We readily grant that the three verses before us may refer to the saved; but, they are true of the redeemed only, because they are true of the Redeemer. The words speak first of all of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then of those who are hid with Christ in God. The only Blessed Man, Who came in line of Adam's race, Yet never walk'd, or stood, or sat in sinners' way or place, But always did delight in God, and did His Law embrace — Was Jesus Christ, God's only Son, all filled with truth and grace. The happy man (Lachlan MacKenzie, "The Happy Man") The happy man was born in the city of Regeneration in the parish of Repentance unto Life. He has a large estate in the county of Christian Contentment. He was educated at the School of Obedience —and often does jobs of Self-denial. He wears the garment of Humility, and has another suit to put on when he goes to Court, called the Robe of Christ's Righteousness. He is necessitated to travel through the world on his way to heaven—but he walks through it as fast as he can. All his business along the way—is to make himself and others happy. He often walks in the valley of Self-Abasement, and sometimes climbs the mountains of Heavenly-mindedness. He breakfasts every morning on Spiritual Prayer, and sups every evening on the same. He has food to eat, which the world knows nothing of—and his drink is the sincere milk of the Word of God. Thus happy he lives—and happy he dies. Happy is he who has . . . Gospel submission in his will, the love of God in his affections, true peace in his conscience, sincere Divinity in his breast, the Redeemer's yoke on his neck, the vain world under his feet, and a crown of glory over his head! Happy is the life of that man who . . . believes firmly, prays fervently, walks patiently, labors abundantly, lives holily, dies daily, watches his heart, guards his senses, redeems his time, loves Christ, and longs for glory!
Salmos 1:2
Piper writes that… The deepest mark of this happy person in Psalm 1 is that he delights in the Word of God. Bible reading and Bible memory (see Memorizing God's Word) and meditation (see Primer of Biblical Meditation) are not a burden to him, but a pleasure. This is what we want. What a sadness when Bible reading is just a drudgery. Something is wrong. What shall we do?… We struggle with Bible reading and memory and meditation because we don't find pleasure in it. We have other things we want to get to more. TV or breakfast or work or newspaper or computer. Our hearts incline to other things and do not incline to the Word. And so it is not a delight. Did the psalmists ever struggle with this? Yes they did. Take heart. We all do. How shall this be changed? This is Prayer Week, and so the answer we will stress is that it is changed through prayer. This is what I will focus on next week. We must pray for God's enabling to help us delight in his Word. (Sermon on Psalm 1 - Meditate on the Word of the Lord Day and Night) I scanned the Scriptures thoughtlessly-- My haste had closed my ear; Then prayerfully I read once more-- This time my heart could hear. --Gustafson AND IN HIS LAW HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT: Ps 40:8, 104:34, Ps 119:11,15,97, 98, 99, Joshua 1:8, 1Ti 4:15 cp Ps 19:14, Pr 2:1,2, 3,4, 5, Pr 3:1, Col 3:16 Psalm 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MEDITATION: SCRIPTURE SATURATED SAINTS As we continually meditate on God's Holy Word (you are meditating aren't you and not simply passively reading the text?) and by the Spirit obey what He illuminates, we continually are transformed from glory to glory by the same Spirit, growing in grace and Christ-like holiness, even as a tree grows and thrives and flourishes in a well fertilized and well watered soil. How do you know whether you delight in God's Word? From the context the Psalmist would say you demonstrate your delight by meditating on it day and night! Using this as your benchmark, would you say you "delight" in His Word? As Thomas a Kempis quaintly put it "I have no rest, but in a nook, with the Book." Talk with the Word and the God of the Word and they will speak to you… Proverbs 6:20 (Commentary) My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 21 Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck. (sounds like meditation!) 22 When you walk about, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you. And when you awake, they will talk to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life. In His law - By the use of the preposition "in" one gets the picture of not just a "surface scanning" but immersing one's self in the pure milk of His Word (1Pet 2:2-note). Get "in" His Law, so that His Law can get "in" you and carry out it's transforming work. When you truly delight in the Word, you will have a desire to spend time in it and to meditate on it. His Law (08451) - John Piper describes law or Torah as ""instruction: God's Words about God's ways." Someone has written "The Bible is bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions." God feeds the birds, but He doesn't throw the food into their nests. The Bible is like a table, laden with nourishing food we need every day: promises, instruction, wisdom, comfort, and encouragement. Like any good host, God tells us, "Come and get it!" But we often fail to do this. We depend on everything but Him and wonder why our faith is feeble. But if like our feathered friends (God feeds the sparrows) we'll come and feast daily, expectantly, and actively, our divine Host will provide for all our needs. Depend on it! Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like eating without chewing. See related resources on Biblical Meditation… Discussion of Biblical Meditation Primer of Biblical Meditation Quiet Musing - Spurgeon's stirring motivation for meditation on God's Word A Treatise Concerning Meditation - Thomas Watson Meditates (01897) (hagah - see word study) strictly speaking means to utter a sound and hence it is employed of inward utterance, of the words a man speaks to himself; and also of giving open and loud expression to the thoughts. And so in Hebrew thought, to meditate upon the Scriptures is to quietly repeat them in a soft, droning sound, while utterly abandoning outside distractions. Meditation has the idea of digesting something thoroughly, of ruminating (going over in the mind repeatedly, slowly) on it, of chewing the cud (of God's Word of Truth), of considering a verse by pondering it from various angles. The Septuagint (Lxx) frequently translates hagah with the verb meletao (Ps 1:2, 2:1, 35:28, 38:12, 63:6, 71:24, 77:12, 143:5, Pr 8:7, 15:28, 24:2, Isa 16:7, Isa 59:3, Isa 59:13) As stated, the original Hebrew idea is to mumble under one's breath. I get the picture of one "brooding" over God's Word, almost like a mother hen sitting on her eggs until they hatch! Have you ever been to the "Wailing Wall" in Jerusalem and seen the men facing the wall rocking back and forth muttering or chanting. That's a picture of meditating, but only a partial picture because without the Holy Spirit our Teacher, such mumbling becomes a rote, mechanical exercise. Hagah - 24 verses - Usage: declare(1), devise(2), devising(1), growls(1), make a sound(1), meditate(5), meditates(1), moan(3), moan sadly(1), mutter(2), mutters(1), ponders(1), utter(2), uttering(1), utters(1). Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Job 27:4 My lips certainly will not speak unjustly, Nor will my tongue mutter deceit. Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? Psalm 35:28 And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long. Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. Psalm 38:12 Those who seek my life lay snares for me; And those who seek to injure me have threatened destruction, And they devise treachery all day long. Psalm 63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, Psalm 71:24 My tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long; For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my hurt. Psalm 77:12 I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. Psalm 115:7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands. Proverbs 8:7 "For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Proverbs 24:2 For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. Isaiah 8:19 When they say to you, "Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter," should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? Isaiah 16:7 Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail. You will moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth As those who are utterly stricken. Isaiah 31:4 For thus says the LORD to me, "As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey, Against which a band of shepherds is called out, And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise, So will the LORD of hosts come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill." Isaiah 33:18 Your heart will meditate on terror: "Where is he who counts? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?" Isaiah 38:14 "Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security. Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken falsehood, Your tongue mutters wickedness. 11 All of us growl like bears, And moan sadly like doves; We hope for justice, but there is none, For salvation, but it is far from us. Isaiah 59:13 Transgressing and denying the LORD, And turning away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words. Jeremiah 48:31 "Therefore I will wail for Moab, Even for all Moab will I cry out; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres. While James does not use the word meditate, the idea is certainly alluded to in his description of the blessed man… But one who looks intently (parakupto) = stoop down amd look into in order to see something exactly ) at the perfect law, the law of liberty (eleutheria - Freedom in Christ is not the right to do as one pleases but the Spirit enabled power to please God by doing what is right!), and abides (tarries, remains) by it, not having become a forgetful hearer (James 1:23-24-note) but an effectual doer (speaks of obeying the Word - not legalistically but controlled and empowered by the Spirit), this man shall be blessed in what he does (Notice the promise is "conditioned" on looking intently and obeying unhesitatingly!). (James 1:25-note) Comment: Notice that this passage begins with "but" which is a term of contrast. which signifies a "change of direction" and always begs the question "What is the author contrasting?, Why?, Who is involved?, etc" As you query the text with the 5W/H'S., you will find yourself re-reading the passage as well as the preceding passages. In effect you are "meditating" on James 1:25. You are "looking intently" at the Word. Notice the other benefits - You are forced to slow down. You are establishing the context (which is always key to accurate interpretation). You are re-reading the passage and you are much more likely to retain the truth in this passage then if you were "speed reading" in order to make sure you get through your daily Bible reading so that you don't fall behind on your "through the Bible in a year" reading program! You may go through the assigned chapters for the day, but the real question is how much of the truth of those passages "went through" your heart and mind and soul and spirit. It is better to chew one verse well, then to read through one chapter and not even recall what you read by the end of the day! As F B Meyer said "Read the Book in happy fellowship with its Author; meditate until it is assimilated… Better one verse digested than a whole chapter bolted ("swallowed" hastily without chewing!)." Matthew
Salmos 1:2
Piper commented Paul gives Timothy (and saints of all ages) "a command and a promise. Paul commanded, “Think over what I say.” And then he promised, “God will give you understanding in everything.” Some people see tension between cogitation and illumination. Not Paul. He commands cogitation. And he promises illumination. How do the command and promise fit together? The little connecting word for gives the answer. “Think … because God will reward you with understanding.” We must form the habit of being systematically disturbed by things that at first glance don’t make sense. Or to put it a different way, we must relentlessly query the text. One of the greatest honors I received while teaching Biblical studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, was when the teaching assistants in the Bible department gave me a T-shirt which had the initials of Jonathan Edwards on the front and on the back the words: “Asking questions is the key to understanding.” (From "Brothers We Are Not Professionals") I think Piper is spot on, for one of the crying needs for the SAINTS is to SLOW down and SAVOR the SPLENDOR of the SAVIOUR, the Living Word. As Piper says in another place… You can learn more from a book if you stop and ask it questions than if you just read it passively. That includes the Bible too. One of the great problems in Bible reading is that we move our eyes over the words and come to the end of a column and don't know what we've read; we don't feel our minds or spirits expanded because we saw nothing fresh. It was purely mechanical. There was no discovery, no life, no breakthroughs to new insight. One of the best ways to change that is to train yourself to ask questions of the text. (Ed: Amen! Hallelujah!) Often the posing of the question itself will already carry its answer with it and will open your mind to new things. This fairly prosaic, historical text in Luke 3:21–38 gives me an opportunity to show you what I mean. I'll simply take you with me through this text, pointing out the questions I asked and the answers I came up with. My guess is that as you follow me, questions of your own will arise. Good questions usually beget other questions, and that's how insight grows and grows. (From his sermon intro - The Baptism and the Genealogy of Jesus) Wesley describes "night and day" as "Not seldom and slightly, but diligently, and constantly. Steven
Salmos 1:2
Piper writes that… meditation in Hebrew means basically to speak or to mutter. When this is done in the heart it is called musing or meditation. Here is where I plead with you to get involved in the Fighter Verse memory program or some other pattern of Bible memorization. Unless you memorize Scripture you will not meditate on it day and night. But O the benefits and delights of knowing communion with God hour by hour in his Word. If you have ever wondered, What is hour-by-hour walking in fellowship with the living God? the answer is: it is his speaking to you by his Word through your memory and meditation and illumination and application and your speaking to him words of thanks and praise and admiration and desire and seeking for help and guidance and understanding. The Word is the basis for your hearing him and for his hearing you. The depth and solidity and certainty of your walk with God and your communion with God will rise and fall with whether God's own written Word is the warp and woof of the fabric of your fellowship… So I urge you to memorize Scripture, and meditate on it day and night. It will change your life in many good ways. (Meditate on the Word of the Lord Day and Night) In A Godward Life (Book 2) John Piper emphasizes the important relation between the Word and our faith or trust in God (in His Word, in His promises, etc.)… Faith feeds on the Word of God. Without a steady diet it gets weaker and weaker. If you are dissatisfied with your Christian courage and joy and purity of heart, check the way you are feeding your faith. Compare the way you eat. Suppose that you start the day with a glass of orange juice. It's good, and good for you. It takes you maybe five minutes to drink it if you read the newspaper at the same time. Then you go off to work or school. You don't eat anything else until the next morning. And you have another glass of juice. And so you go on drinking one glass of juice a day until you drop. That's the way a lot of Christians try to survive as believers. They feed their faith with five minutes of food in the morning, or evening, and then don't eat again until twenty-four hours later. Some even skip one or two mornings and don't give their faith anything to eat for days. Now the effect of starving your faith is that faith starves. Not hard to understand. And when faith is starving, it is getting weaker and not able to do much. It has a hard time trusting God and worshiping and rejoicing and resisting sin. It gasps and stumbles. Henry Blackaby gives a somewhat more "mystical" definition of meditation writing that… Meditation means “to think deeply and continuously about something.” For a Christian, this means remaining in the presence of God and pondering each truth He reveals about Himself until it becomes real and personal in your life. This takes time. (Experiencing God Day by Day) The Man Is Ever Blessed By: Isaac Watts The man is ever blessed Who shuns the sinners’ ways, Among their counsels never stands, Nor takes the scorners’ place. But makes the Law of God His study and delight Amid the labors of the day And watches of the night. He like a tree shall thrive, With waters near the root; Fresh as the leaf his name shall live, His works are heavenly fruit. Not so the wicked race, They no such blessings find; Their hopes shall flee like empty chaff Before the driving wind. How will they bear to stand Before the judgment seat Where all the saints at Christ’s right hand In full assembly meet? He knows and he approves The way the righteous go; But sinners and their works shall meet A dreadful overthrow.
Salmos 1:3
Piper explains that if you separate from sin and saturate your mind with Scripture … You will be a fruitful person. O for more fruitful people! You know them. They are refreshing and nourishing to be around. You go away from them fed. You go away strengthened. You go away with your taste for spiritual things awakened. Their mouth is a fountain of life. Their words are healing and convicting and encouraging and deepening and enlightening. Being around them is like a meal. This is the effect of delighting in the Word of God and meditating on it day and night. You will yield fruit in season. (Psalm 1 Meditate on the Word of the Lord Day and Night) ALL THE LORD'S TREES SHOULD BE "EVERGREENS!" Leaf does not whither - The life of a Scripture saturated follower of Christ is a vibrant, living testimony, for his good (God) works give clear evidence of the reality of the profession of his lips. As
Salmos 1:3
Piper says… The point here is that the hot winds are blowing and the rain is not falling and all the other trees that are not planted by streams are withering and dying, but in spite of all the heat and drought, your leaf remains green, because delighting in the Word of God and meditating on it day and night is like being planted by a stream. The happiness of this person is durable. It is deep. It does not depend on which way the wind is blowing or whether the rain is falling. It gets its life from an absolutely changeless source: God in his Word. David Dickson (1834) on "his leaf also shall not wither"… This man shall be enabled to bear out a holy profession of his faith in, and obedience to God, in adversity, as well as in prosperity Pritchard - The phrase pictures a leafy tree that seems like an evergreen because its leaves are in season all year round. People like this are constantly refreshed by the Word of God, constantly renewed, constantly drawing on new strength for new situations. They are never boring, never dull, never living off yesterday’s blessings, but living each day in the strength of the Lord whose mercies are new every morning. Habakkuk describes such a person… Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17-18-see commentary) F B Meyer… …his leaf also shall not wither - "If a man abide not in Me," said our Lord, "he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered." The same thought is here. Thrust down your rootlets to the oozy river bed, and there is no doubt about your continuing earnest, patient, God-filled. The sun of temptation may strike you with sword-like beams, but you will have a source of supply which they cannot exhaust. The secret of an unwithering beauty is in the Word of God, delighted in and meditated upon day and night. And what is the Word of God, but the life of God. translated into human speech? Wean yourself from all beside, and learn to feed on God. Withdraw your rootlets from men and things, and let them travel to the river of God, which is full of water. Close other doors, and open those that. lead out on to the terrace, whence you may behold the far-spread landscape of what He is, and says, and is willing to be to us all. Note that word meditate (Meditate). The root must lie in contact with the stream, and the soul must steep itself in the Word of God. We must give the truth time to enter and pervade our souls. We must have retreats, shut away from the rush of life, up and down the glades of which we may tread. These retreats are oftener found within the soul than without. Just as in the temple of old, there was Solomon's porch, where Jesus walked, so in the temple within there are closes and cloisters, where we may commune with our heart, and be still. Prospers (06743)(tsalach/salah - see word study) means to accomplish satisfactorily what is intended = generally expresses idea of a successful venture, as contrasted with failure. The source of true success is God's Spirit Who enables supernatural spiritual prosperity. Don't twist this promise to apply only to material prosperity, for that is far less valuable than spiritual prosperity. God may choose to prosper us materially, but not at the expense of our spiritual prosperity! The Septuagint translates tsalach with the verb kateuodoo which means to "have free course or passage, prosper." (BDAG) William MacDonald astutely (and I think accurately) observes that… This kind of man shall prosper in everything he undertakes. The reason, of course, is that he is living in fellowship with the Lord, and all his service is therefore guided by the Holy Spirit. The only way to be efficient and successful in the Christian life is to be led by the Spirit of God. Self-directed activity is an enormous waste of time, money, and effort! (Ed: Note striking contrast - Spirit led versus Self directed - Beloved, which describes your works/ministry?) Piper says the phrase "he prospers" describes "a life whose "labor is not in vain" (1Corinthians 15:58-note), but succeeds in God's good purposes into eternity."