Psalm 1

Psalm 1The Two Ways (Psalm 1:1-6)·       Verse 1 “happy” – Having a sense of joy and satisfaction in our circumstances. It usually comes from having a trust in and being obedient to the Lord. It speaks of a joy that a person has knowing that they’re in good standing with God. · Verse 1 – Some translations use “blessed is the one.” It means to be happy or full of joy. It’s much more than a feeling, it’s a joy that comes from a right relationship with God. o  Jesus uses the Greek equivalent to this word in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11).o  The same Greek equivalent work is used in James1:2 – “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials.”· Verse 1 “advice of the wicked” – The advice in this section refers to spiritual matters like ethics and morality, and views on being faithful to God. ·  Verse 1 “in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers” – This is referring to those refusing to follow God’s lead, those who reject His covenant. · Verse 2 “the LORD’s instruction” – This word can also be translated as law, but it’s better understood as teaching or instruction. It speaks of the revelation of God’s will for His people rather than a list of rules or judicial decisions. · Verse 2 “he meditates on it day and night” – The word meditating here has a literal translation of mumbling to oneself, which indicates concentrating on something in order to understand it.· Verse 2 “he meditates on it day and night” –Here the word meditation describes pondering on God’s Word. When we wrap our hearts and minds around God’s revelations about Himself through His Word, we become more spiritually stable and develop more depth of character. This same phrase is used in Joshua 1:8. The call is to integrate the Lord’s instructions into who Joshua is and what he does, for Joshua to have the Lord’s instructions on his mind so much that they influence his actions. · Verse 2 “day and night” – Believers should face every situation, big or small, with a view that is pleasing to the Lord by knowing and following His Word. o  “If you want to follow God more closely, you must take time to know what He says.”· Verse 3 “like a tree planted beside flowing streams” – Even in a dry climate, a tree will thrive if it has a constant supply of water. A tree bears fruit for others, not itself. When the faithful prospers, he succeeds in bringing benefit to others. (Theology vs. Meology)· Verse 3 “Whatever he does prospers” – This psalms lays out a principle, not a guarantee of success. The ancient Hebrews didn’t limit their definition of success to financial gain, they also valued a positive reputation and community respect. For the righteous, success wasn’t measured in the accumulation of things, but in the experience of God’s blessings on their words and deeds.·  Verse 4 “the wicked” – The translation of this word is a general term for an unbeliever, someone who is outside of the covenant. It’s someone who is living outside of obedience to God. · Verse 4 “like the chaff that the wind blows away” – Chaff is the leftover parts of wheat once it’s been harvested (the stems, leaves, husks, etc.) Chaff is blown away by the wind, cleansing the field.· Verse 5 “the wicked will not stand” – To stand is idea of being able to remain (or survive) during the time of judgment. Some limit this to only the final judgment, but it can read as being God’s judgment in this life or in the future. · Verse 5 “the righteous” – This word translated refers to someone within the covenant and who seeks to be faithful to God. They’re not sinless, but their goal is to keep a right relationship with God. · Verse 6 – This shows the outcome of the two ways of life: 1) God’s protection for the righteous; 2) disaster (or ruin) for the wicked.