What I love about Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who does not walk

in the counsel of the wicked,

Or stand in the way of sinners,

Or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on His law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season,

And whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous,

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous

But the way of the wicked will perish.

I wonder -- who arranged the Psalms? Who decided this one should be first? Originally the Psalms were individual songs, or hymns, that were eventually collected into 5 books. All five of these Hebrew books make up our Book of Psalms today.

Most of the 150 psalms have titles from the Hebrew -- all but 34. Psalm 1 is one of these "orphan psalms."

Which Psalm came first? Probably Psalm 90, written by Moses.

But who arranged the collected Psalms in the order we read them today? Who numbered them?

I don't know. Maybe we will find out someday.

Anyway, it appears to me that Psalm 1 is the perfect way to begin to reading of the Book of Psalms. It is like a forward or a preface, or an introductory paragraph that leads right into the rest of the Book.

What I like about Psalm 1:

1. It is short and easy to memorize.

2. It is practical, reminding us that that should be our own mind-set as we read the rest of the Book so that God will achieve His purpose for our reading and studying His Word.

3. It reminds us that we have choices to make in this life. There are paths we should choose to follow God's plan. In this way it reminds me of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. At the closing He talked about contrasting ways to live: two gates and two roads, two trees and their two types of fruit, two houses and their foundations. All of these are about choices. A good thing to remember each day! Whose side are we on anyway?

4. About blessed... It means supremely happy or fulfilled. This is what James Montgomery Boice says:

In Hebrew the word is actually a plural, which denotes either a multiplicity of blessings or an intensification of them. The verse might correctly be translated, O the blessednesses of the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.

5. I love the way the contrast between God's people and Satan's is pointed out right at the beginning of the first verse -- exactly where we start out on our Christian journey. We know right at the beginning that there are two roads to choose from, and they lead to distinctly different destinations. The signs are clearly marked. There are no detours. There are no shortcuts.

6. I like the way the words are chosen -- I know the main characteristic of Hebrew poetry is its parallelism and the repetition of thoughts in various ways --and these verses illustrate it perfectly -- but I also think that the words are chosen deliberately -- (1) walk, stand, sit, (2) counsel, way, seat, (3) wicked, sinners, mockers.

If I am walking with someone I am likely talking about casual things, or in a casual way. If I am talking earnestly I am probably sitting. There is a progression here that helps me understand how I get off track so often! It is a downhill progression -- from walking and having conversation with ungodly people to actually sitting down, or settling down, with those who reject God.

7. Another thing I like is this: the ungodly people hang out with their ungodly friends and associates....and what do the godly people hang out with? God's Word! We don't just hang out with God and His Word -- we delight in it! We meditate on it and we prosper. God's Word tells us about God -- what pleases Him and how He provides for us and directs our paths -- how He loves us and calls us to join His family! God's Word makes us supremely happy -- blessed!

8. And I love the phrase He is like a tree planted by streams of water. The tree has been planted -- it did not just spring up. It was planted in a certain place so its roots could reach deeply into the soil and find moisture and nourishment -- so that it could thrive and yield its good fruit.

The Hebrews knew of many dry areas, many deserts, where plants could not thrive. Only some brush and certain seasonal plants could survive.

But this tree is not planted there -- it is planted by streams!

9. And the chaff! Chaff was useless and chaff was burned! This pictures the life of the ungodly -- it is futile and empty and unrewarding. And then there is the judgment!

And the wicked will not be able to stand -- they will fall down before God.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it
leads to death.
-- Proverbs 14:12

What Makes America Great?

What has made America so great?

A question that has tormented the world for over 200 years.

In the 1830's the French government sent their acclaimed political thinker and historian, Alexis de Tocqueville, to examine the progress Americans had made in the 50 years since their revolution. 

France's revolution had deteriorated into a blood bath, a nightmare of executions and suffering,  political anarchy, and had lost all pretense of freedom and democracy for the people.

But the US had flourished and enjoyed unprecedented success, growing in wealth and democratic advances each year.

De Tocqueville marveled at what he saw happening here. He couldn't find enough ways to express his words of praise for what Americans had accomplished, producing on his return to France, his now-classic two-volume work, "Democracy in America."

Documents about the US are replete with de Tocqueville quotes. Here is one often quoted by leaders like Eisenhower, Reagan and Clinton. It sums up what de Tocqueville found in the US and spoke of often:

"Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great."

There is also the obvious historical conclusion: The French revolution was started and supported by atheists and agnostics who did not believe in God nor recognize His sovereignty and their accountability to Him.

 The American revolution was the product of believers in the Judeo-Christian worldview that recognized the importance of righteousness pleasing to God and His sovereign rule, the establishment of His kingdom on earth, and our accountability to Him. God created mankind to reflect His image. The exact opposite of the founders of the French revolution!

PS Remember FDR's D-Day prayer? "We know that by Thy grace, and the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph..."

And our national anthem..."Then conquer we must when our cause it is just...and this be our motto, 'In God is our trust'....

We were not (and are not) perfect, but striving to be better stewards of what God has blessed us with...

 

The Wisest Decision

What was the message the LORD gave His prophet Zechariah to announce to His people?  

The LORD told him: "You must say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of Hosts: Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you'" (Zechariah 1:2-3).

There is an astonishing truth here. God's people, after pledging themselves to follow Him, to honor and glorify Him, to love Him above all else, rejected and scorned Him!

But instead of punishing them and destroying them, He graciously offers to restore them to a loving relationship with Him -- forgiving forever their sin!

It's an incredible and gracious offer!

In verse 6 we see that the people accepted this offer -- a very wise decision.

Our God is the same today...AND THE OFFER STILL STANDS!

Focus on 1 John 1:9 -- "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

That brings us back into a full relationship with Him....no walls between us, no barriers to keep us away. Forgiven of ALL unrighteousness!

Have you accepted the offer?

It would be a very wise decision...it's for forever...

You can begin right now!

As they used to say, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

And it can be the first day of your forever life...

How Do We Display Love?

 How do we show our love? There is a lot of practical advice in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. He tells them: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking" (read the whole list in 1 Corinthians 13).

He reminds them that when we love each other, we don't discount them, we give them the benefit of the doubt. We put them in a favorable position. We make sure they are seen in the best light.

I remember once when we were looking for a special painting for our living room -- we needed something perfect to be a focal point for a grand entry.

We found what we thought would be the ideal piece for the space. And we eagerly brought it home.

We considered several possible positions on the main wall so that it would be seen immediately by guests entering the room. We adjusted the lighting, angling spotlights to capture the magnificent colors in the landscape. We added a couple  more tract lights and tried different slants to make certain our expensive painting would be seen in its best light. We had to accommodate the natural light in the room and also the added artificial illumination.

Yes, we were showing it off!

I think that is what Paul is talking about here. We don't seek to make ourselves look good -- we seek to make others look good. To display them in the best light. To make allowances for them. To enhance their special gifts. Even if  it diminishes our importance!

We seek their good, not our own!

Isn't that what Jesus did for us? He humbled Himself so that we could be  exalted. He took our place so that we could could share His...forever!

Is that the picture of love we are to follow?

What did Simeon Do the First Time He Saw Jesus?

Luke tells us in chapter 1:

Simeon was a righteous and devout man. He was eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messiah, the 'consolation of Israel.'

The Holy Spirit of God revealed to him that he would be able to see the Messiah before he died. And he got even more! 

"Moved by the Holy Spirit, he went into the temple courts." When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple, the Spirit told Simeon who the Child was and Simeon took Him in his arms." He not only got to see Jesus, he was able to touch Him and bless Mary and Joseph!

Luke tells us, "Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God saying, 'Sovereign Lord, as You promised, You may now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people, Israel.'''

Simeon understood what Jesus' birth meant -- Probably better than anyone else around. And so he proclaimed it!

We should be like Simeon -- tell people loudly and joyously what really happened when Jesus came!

Because most of them don't know!

(Every night is Christmas -- every morning is Easter -- and every day is Thanksgiving!)