Post by foxjj on Oct 13, 2023 7:51:40 GMT
Psalm One -ESV
In this life, you and I will encounter many periods of insecurity be they minor inconveniences, life changing accidents, financial or, health issues. Knowing that a person has no control over certain conditions in their life can be devastating to them. However, for one who has a relationship with The Almighty, such circumstances can be a time of spiritual growth. Psalm One speaks of righteous living and the blessings of walking with The Lord. The Psalm gives wise spiritual instructions for us all in this time of crisis that we constantly find ourselves in:
“1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
This the first of the psalms, contains Godly Wisdom and was written as an encouragement to live righteous, with the promise that the one who lives this way is blessed. To be blessed is to be in the happy state of those who revere The Lord, who put their trust in Him, and do His will. In Psalm 119:1-3 it is stated this way: "1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!"
Verse 3 of Psalm one describes such a person like a tree planted by the water yielding it's fruit in season. This is a simile which is a figure of speech comparing one thing to another of a different kind. It is used to make a description more vivid - e g, brave as a lion. A tree withstands the storms of life and in flourishing blesses men, birds, and animals. So it is with a righteous person who reaches out in order to bless others as they themselves have been blessed by God.
Verse 4 describes the wicked as chaff, which is another simile. At that time a farmer would use a winnowing fork to separate the chaff from the wheat by tossing the full heads of wheat into the air, allowing the wind to blow away the now useless chaff, leaving the valuable wheat. So it will be at the judgment when sinners will be separated from the righteous. (Verse 5)
Verse 6 states: "for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." This is the second part of the message in Psalm one, a warning to everyone that there will be a day of judgement when God will separate the righteous from the wicket. The righteous are the ones who honour God, and order their lives in all things according to His will. Paul describes Christian righteousness as that of faith in Jesus when he wrote: "not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith." - Philippians 3:9. Born again believers do not fear judgment or pestilence because: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 1:1.
Today, let us praise The Lord for the assurance in His Word.
John Joseph Fox.
In this life, you and I will encounter many periods of insecurity be they minor inconveniences, life changing accidents, financial or, health issues. Knowing that a person has no control over certain conditions in their life can be devastating to them. However, for one who has a relationship with The Almighty, such circumstances can be a time of spiritual growth. Psalm One speaks of righteous living and the blessings of walking with The Lord. The Psalm gives wise spiritual instructions for us all in this time of crisis that we constantly find ourselves in:
“1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
This the first of the psalms, contains Godly Wisdom and was written as an encouragement to live righteous, with the promise that the one who lives this way is blessed. To be blessed is to be in the happy state of those who revere The Lord, who put their trust in Him, and do His will. In Psalm 119:1-3 it is stated this way: "1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!"
Verse 3 of Psalm one describes such a person like a tree planted by the water yielding it's fruit in season. This is a simile which is a figure of speech comparing one thing to another of a different kind. It is used to make a description more vivid - e g, brave as a lion. A tree withstands the storms of life and in flourishing blesses men, birds, and animals. So it is with a righteous person who reaches out in order to bless others as they themselves have been blessed by God.
Verse 4 describes the wicked as chaff, which is another simile. At that time a farmer would use a winnowing fork to separate the chaff from the wheat by tossing the full heads of wheat into the air, allowing the wind to blow away the now useless chaff, leaving the valuable wheat. So it will be at the judgment when sinners will be separated from the righteous. (Verse 5)
Verse 6 states: "for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." This is the second part of the message in Psalm one, a warning to everyone that there will be a day of judgement when God will separate the righteous from the wicket. The righteous are the ones who honour God, and order their lives in all things according to His will. Paul describes Christian righteousness as that of faith in Jesus when he wrote: "not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith." - Philippians 3:9. Born again believers do not fear judgment or pestilence because: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 1:1.
Today, let us praise The Lord for the assurance in His Word.
John Joseph Fox.