Before diving into Psalm 1 it should be observed that Psalms
is different from any of the books I’ve blogged on so far. It is different in two very important
respects: (1) it is poetry and (2) much
of it is prayer. Now the poetry is different
than the rhyming and rhythmic poetry we English speakers are used to. Hebrew poetry is distinguished in parallelism
– that is the repetition of concepts.
However, if the poetry is a bit foreign, the prayers are not. They are the cries of human hearts dealing
with real joys and pains in the midst of life.
The psalter is an important book for us today. It is the message of faith in Christ and
waiting on His salvation that rings throughout this book. It is a book that teaches us to wait on that
salvation when we’re surrounded by enemies, despondent, doubtful, fearful, sick
and dying. It is a book that teaches us
to wait on that salvation when we’re overjoyed, thankful, at peace and secure
as well; which actually might be more difficult.
Psalm 1 begins, “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; but his delight is in the law of the
Lord, an on His law he meditates day and night.”
There are many people who are drawn to a message that tells
them how to have a good life. Psalm 1
goes right to that desire and basically says, “I don’t want to have a good
life, or a comfortable life, or a happy life.
How do I get a blessed life? Because
a blessed life will have all those other things and so much more!”
Being blessed is being in a right relationship with God. Those who are wicked, those who stand in sin,
and those who scoff at God’s ways, are certainly not among the blessed. But those are all things that we have
done! Therefore it is only in the
forgiveness and new life that Jesus gives us by faith that we can truly be
blessed.
This new life moves us away from sinful living and draws us
to delight in God’s law and to meditate on his teachings all throughout our
lives. God’s Spirit changes us through
God’s Word. He pours life into us like a
tree planted by water. We are constantly
absorbing living water as we remain in Jesus, trusting in His promises, and, as
Jesus Himself says, as we abide in Him we bear fruit.
Luther sees this psalm in relationship to the Third
Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.” As we gather for worship God waters us in the
Word and Sacraments. He keeps us alive
and gives us the life we need in order to be fruitful trees.
This is also why a time like now, reading God’s Word,
praying about His will is so important for us.
We are not trees that water ourselves.
We are watered by streams of eternal life given to us through Jesus’
death and resurrection. Without Jesus we
whither and decay, and we know it. So we
cling to His promises and drink deeply from His Word.
Father, thank you for
giving us your Word to water us and give us life. Help us to live in your Word every day, to
meditate on it and rejoice in it. Help
us to share the joy of your salvation for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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