(We are continuing with devotionals on seven other "Songs of the Word", Psalms that exalt Scripture.)
The
first Psalm, like the 119th, begins with “blessing”. A person is blessed because he fills his mind
with the truth of God (v2). He is
blessed because the Lord knows his way (v6).
God’s knowledge of the godly is a positive thing, as is evident in Psalm
37:18-24.
Psalm
1 is also a Psalm of contrasts. It is
not enough to describe the blessedness of the godly (v3); it is contrasted with
the cursedness of the ungodly (v4-5). The
classic joke begins, There are two kinds
of people in the world … But this is
no joke: there are, in fact, two kinds of people in the world.
The
first Psalm is also a “Psalm of the Word”.
It is the abridged version of Psalm 119.
The difference between the godly and ungodly is the shape of their minds
and hearts. The ungodly, step by step,
grows deeper in the counsel of the
ungodly, stopping to dwell in the path
of sinners, and eventually taking his seat
with the scornful. The godly
immerses himself in the law of the Lord, making it the substance of his
thoughts day and night. Notice that the
end result is not that he seeks to be blessed but that blessing simply comes to
him (v3).
Two
things are true of the godly person and his relationship to Scripture. First, he delights in it. Scripture is enjoyable to him. It is not a hard task for him to pick up his
Bible to read and study. Do you find
this true in your life? Ask the Lord to
make it so. The experience of many has
been that the more time and effort they put into Scripture the more it becomes delightful.
Second,
the godly meditates early and often on Scripture. The term for “meditates” (v3) means to moan, growl, utter, muse, or mutter. It envisions the person quietly but perhaps
out loud repeating the words of Scripture.
Having hidden God’s word in his heart (Ps. 119:11) he now brings it back
to slowly mull it over. He considers
it’s meaning, it’s application, and it’s relationship to the very issues of his
life.
It
is important to recognize that Biblical meditation is not the emptying of the mind that some may
practice. Meditation is always focused
on the things of God (His word and His works, Ps. 143:5). We are, in fact, contemplating God’s word to
us. We are enjoying conversation with
the Creator. Hearing His counsel, we
walk in the path of righteousness, and delight in sitting at His feet.
There
are two kinds of people in the world …
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