Doxologist ContentPsalm 1: The Preface
Most good books have a preface or introduction of one sort or another. The first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy begins with a chapter entitled, “Concerning Hobbits”. Star Wars always begins with, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” The Bible begins with Genesis, the book of beginnings, which starts, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” These prefatory statements are essential as they give a foundation for all that follows them. Without them we would not know that hobbits are small agrarian creatures with hairy feet, we might think Luke Skywalker is from Iowa rather than Tatooine and we would not know that God is eternal and the source of all life.
The first Psalm gives context to the whole book…
Psalm 1 (and many commentators believe Ps.2 as well) serves this same purpose as the preface to the book of Psalms. It gives a foundation on which the rest of the book comes to rest. The Psalm is basically divided up into three parts: the qualification (v.1-2), the blessing (v.3) and the curse (v.4-6).
The challenge of Psalm 1…
The psalm begins with a challenge: do not take the counsel of the wicked, be counted with sinners or join in with those who scoff (v1). Rather we must delight ourselves in God’s law, the whole of scripture in our case, and meditate on it day and night (v2). This is a challenge to a very high standard and is the qualification for the blessing that follows. If, and only if, the word of God becomes out delight, we will be blessed. We will be like a fruitful tree, well watered and nourished, we will not wither and all we do will prosper (v3).
However, we we fail to delight in the scripture and meditate on it both day and night, the opposite will be true. We will wither and die and the wind will blow us away (v4). God knows our hearts. We will not stand as righteous in the judgement and all our ways will perish (v5-6).
More coming soon…
Thanks Tim. There also seems to be a progression in sin as found in this Psalm 1. taking their counsel-listening to their views.2.Standing with them-behaving them, then 3. finally sitting with them-belonging with them. Believing-behaving-belonging.
I think this is the danger of the emerging church who are being too influenced by continental philosophers such as Derrida,Caputo etc instead of the Word of God instead of the teachers that God has put in the Church throughout the ages.Many an evangelical preacher has become liberal by the books he has read, by the association he has had, then finally rejected the truth along with old enemies.