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Posts Tagged ‘Psalm 1’

D21E, The Result

Posted in Blessing, Faith, God's Law, God's Word, Grace, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , on January 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I will have to practice by repeating Psalm 1 in order to retain it, but I have memorized it in the process of these 21 days. Reading and reflecting for 21 days has deepened my resolve to focus more on God and His Word. In context, the Scripture says, “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”” (1) (Galatians 3:18) A desire for God’s law and the totality of His Word is not the way of salvation but a result of it. The righteous are and will be known by these things, but salvation is by grace through faith. This grace separates the saved from the unbelieving lost, resulting in righteousness or wickedness.

I hope that you have benefited even a fraction of the amount that I have from doing this 21-day Psalm 1 Challenge. In some respects, I did it twice, because I read and journaled last month and clarified and deepened it to present to you this month.

  1. Habakkuk 2:4

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D20E, In and Through

Posted in Blessing, Psalm 1, Work of Jesus, tagged , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

It is in and through Jesus Christ that men and women are made righteous and blessed. We love and pursue Him because He first loved and pursued us.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter 1:2-4

  1. 1 John 4:19, Romans 5:6-11

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D20M, Similar?

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Judgment, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How are the righteous and wicked similar? Both are created by and accountable to their Creator (1). Being made in their Creator’s image with a spirit, they will exist for eternity (2). Both of them have fallen, sin natures, and are therefore under God’s wrath (3). They can hear the Word of God and are responsible for what they hear (4). They both have knowledge of God’s existence, nature, and power through what is created (5). Both have sinned and deserve hell (6). The sun and rain fall on both (5), an indication of common grace.

  1. Ephesians 3:9, Romans 3:19
  2. Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 25:46
  3. Ephesians 2:3
  4. Romans 10:18
  5. Romans 1:20
  6. Romans 3:23, 6:23
  7. Mathew 5:45

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D19E, Where are you standing?

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Influence, Psalm 1, Witness, tagged , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“…nor does not stand in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1)

“Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) What level of association with unbelievers is corrupting? Does it have to do with the intentions for Gospel witness or the watchfulness or the agreement on the part of the unbeliever to avoid crude action and speech? Marriage and business covenants are precluded by 2 Corinthians 6:14, but are friendships and shared recreational, education, or political pursuits also disallowed?

“They themselves are in the world” and “I also have sent them into the world.” (John 17:11,18) “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-11) So, we associate with the worldly ones because Jesus sent us for the purpose of witnessing to them by our lives and words. We are not to associate with those claiming to be believers whose life denies it- hypocrites. But out associations must be measured and careful because “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Believers, check your intentions and any changes that may creep in and hear the counsel of fellow believers if they perceive you bending to the ways of the world.

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D19M, Re-evaluate

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Re-evaluate what counsel you walk in. Does it claim to be wise only to really be worldly wise? Does it claim to be biblical when in reality it is tainted by cultural thinking and tradition? Does it claim to be Christian though wrapped in secular theory, education, or psychology? Does it claim to be healthy and profitable but turns out to only be the schemes of man? It is not enough to stand still and be a spectator with regards to counsel. Walk in God’s counsel found in God’s Word, meditating on it and praying for good application of it for your circumstances. May God help us to hear the “voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.” (Revelation18:4)

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D18M, Two Options

Posted in Faith, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

There are no more than two options, two types of people, righteous and wicked. There are no disinterested or OK or “good people” or as yet undecided or ignorant. And even if you fancied yourself in one of these categories, you are no longer. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

God saves all of those who come to Him, who trust Him to save them from their sin.

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D18E, “Therefore”

Posted in Consequences, General, God's Law, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Therefore” Psalm 1:5

Not because “they are like chaff” (v.4). That is a metaphor the result of their conduct and belief, not the cause. They shall not “stand in the judgment…” (v.5), because they do not delight in God’s law (v.2), and therefore not in Him or His salvation. God said, “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, a people who continually provoke Me to My face.” (Isaiah 65:2-3a) “…They refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.” (Jeremiah 5:3) “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.” (Zechariah 7:11) God’s wrath upon them is fully justified and justice demands it, because of their refusal to listen or believe in God and their participation in evil. (v.1)

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D17M, “Delight”

Posted in Blessing, Delights, God Thoughts, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 1:2)

It is not enough to not “walk…stand…[or]sit” (v.1) in wickedness. We need God and His Word daily. And because it is a relationship, apathy or lack of passion cools or destroys the relationship. Where is your delight? Perhaps a better question, which delight(s) are you developing?

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D16E, Contrasting Ways

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , , on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The whole of Psalm 1 is about contrasting ways. One establishes, blesses, makes righteous and eternal the traveler. The other brings death, that is, separation from God, the righteous, life, and blessing. The starkness of the contrast is meant to warn the sinner and saint away from the one and toward the other, for their good.

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D15E, “Scoffing”

Posted in God's Law, God's Word, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , on January 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

What is scoffing but saying with derisive passion that it is not so? (1) And about what are they scoffing? Is it not about the truth of God’s Word, the veracity of His promises, the wonder of His grace, the miracles of His workings, the condition of man, the hope of salvation, and the wisdom of living a godly life?

“A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, he will not go to the wise.” (Proverbs 15:12)

“Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and blows for the back of fools.” (Proverbs 19:29)

“Drive out the scoffer and contentions will go out, even strife and dishonor will cease.” (Proverbs 22:10)

  1. Dictionary definition- “contemptuously ridiculing or mocking someone or something”

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D15M, Wicked Counsel

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , on January 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1)

Is wicked counsel limited to those actively pursuing evil, or does it include seemingly benign culture wisdom like “it’s just the way its always been done.”

Jephthah of Judges 11 was desperate and vowed a foolish thing when he tried to buy God off instead of resolving to serve Him all of his life. David could not give up numbering the people even when warned not to (2 Samuel 24), and he had the ark carried on a cart (1 Chronicles 13). These seemed like the thing to do but people were killed because of them. And so, it was with Joshua and the elders who only sent a few thousand men to fight at Ai without inquiring of the Lord (Joshua 7). Had they inquired, God would have showed them Achan’s sin. More people lost their lives. Let us take heed not to walk in the counsel of wicked, be it ever so benign, passive, or non-threatening. Walk in God’s counsel watching, waiting, and inquiring of the Lord.

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D14E, Rooted in the Source

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Metaphor, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“He will be like a tree firmly planted…in whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

The psalmist moves smoothly into and out of the metaphor, transitioning from he to tree and tree to he. It all points to the righteous prospering. Why does he prosper? In the metaphor, the tree prospers because it is rooted in the Source, the Living (flowing) Water of Life. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that the water He gives prevents thirst and springs up to eternal life (John4:14). The righteous man rooted in this Source is in a perpetual state of fruitfulness, undeterred growth, and prosperous activity.

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D14M, “Path”

Posted in General, Judgment, tagged , , on January 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Nor stand in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1)

The path or way of a man speaks of more than habit, procedure, lifestyle, or perspective. It is the very course of his life. Therefore, it will perish with him. The righteous, declared so by God, are under the blood of Christ, a strong umbrella shielding them from the wrath of God. The wicked are out in the open, unprotected from God’s judgment. God cares and He wants us to care, too: “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, oh hold them back.” (Proverbs 24:11)

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D13E, “Not Stand”

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Judgment, tagged , , on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The wicked will not stand in the judgment.” (Psalm 1:5)

“Not stand” is a metaphor perishing, being destroyed, or falling when The Judgment comes. And if you are not in the assembly of the righteous, then you are delegated to the assembly of the wicked with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).

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D13M, “By Streams of Water”

Posted in Blessing, General, Grace, Sustaining, tagged , , , on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water.” (Psalm 1:3)

God fully supplies the needs of His own with an overflowing abundance. Do you suffer, particularly for His cause and as a believer? Yes, but even then He provides comfort, confidence, and purpose. Tap into the Source that never runs dry.

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D12E, At Odds

Posted in Blessing, God's Word, Implications, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , on January 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Psalm 1:1- “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, not stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.” “wicked…sinners…scoffers.”

In regard to intention, action, and speech, these people are at odds with and God and man. Their counsel is destructive; their way is away from God; their conversation is demeaning, if not degrading.

It occurs to me after making these statements, that frequently these people seem to be nice, helpful, well educated, and well-spoken, but spiritually their conduct may simultaneously be destructive, away from God, and demeaning.

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D12M, Ways of the Wicked

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , , on January 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

In Psalm 1:1, the psalmist lists three ways of the wicked to be avoided: “counsel…path…seat.”

Counsel is the advice or wisdom of the wicked, and therefore of the world. Walking in their counsel means that you have more than heard it or considered it. It means you are heeding it and have more than your toe dipped in this way. If you are day and night meditating on God’s Word, I cannot see how you would get past the considering and rejecting it phase.

Path or way is the rut or habit that sinners run in. We should not even stand there, let alone walk or run there. Keep your way far from that way, even if you must bushwack across country to avoid it. In reality, however, heed “Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.”” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Seat is a place of repose. In their self-satisfied, self-important perspective, scoffers mock the righteous and anyone who would dare to seek for truth. Do not take up your repose nor linger in their presence, but rather run out of earshot.

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D10E, “Law of the LORD*”

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Law of the LORD has several nuanced meanings referring to the total body of God’s commands and instruction, to the narrower part of that body-the Pentateuch or first five books of the Moses, or simply the Ten Commandments. When God commanded Joshua to meditate on “the book of the law”, it undoubtably meant the five books of Moses. By the time of the psalmist, it would have included the histories of Joshua and Judges and perhaps some part of the Samuels and Chronicles.

Among its many purposes, the law reveals God’s righteousness and our wickedness, God’s will and our resistance to it, the way of life and of death, and points us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25). We have so much more in the canon of God’s completed revelation, and by the Holy Spirit we are enabled to fulfill the works of the law (Romans 8:3-4). We are no longer under the curse of the law, but the law of liberty or law of Christ (James 1:25, Galatians 3:13, 6:2). These direct us. The New Covenant law is not different than the Old Covenant moral law in content, only deeper as it includes matters of the heart- intentions. We may and should meditate on the Law of the LORD both day and night so that “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:6, KJV)

*LORD- YHWH (Yahweh), the I AM (self-existent) covenant keeping God

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D9M, “Blessed”

Posted in Blessing, General, God's Law, God's Word, Joy, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Blessed is the man who does not…does” (Psalm 1:1,3)

Blessed in a biblical sense is to be “granted special favor by God resulting in joy and prosperity.” (1) That it is granted clearly shows that this blessedness results from God’s grace. The Hebrew word is “baruch” meaning “to increase (in joy, in peacefulness)” (2)

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’

So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”

(Numbers 6:22-26) God commanded the priests through Moses to speak this blessing over the Israelites. God has the intention of blessing His people, and more so those who delight in Him.

“It [blessing] bestows on a person the honor of experiencing God’s presence, His care and His favor.” (2)

The word “How” (v.1) emphasizes the overwhelming extent of the blessing. I want Your presence, care, and favor in my life, Lord.

  1. biblestudytools.com/blessing/
  2. firmisrael.org/learn/the-hebrew-meaning-of-blessed/

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D8E, “Day and Night”

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)

How often do I forget You, Lord? How few and how shallow are my thoughts about You? How selfish and self-absorbed are my thoughts and utilitarian and pragmatic requests of You?

I want to be more consumed by thoughts of You and Your Word so that my every reaction and intention pleases You and is guided by You.

Joshua and elders of Israel did not inquire of the Lord concerning Ai. (Joshua 7) So many times I have not inquired of God, or I thought or said that I was when I was interjecting my own desires. Guard me, O Lord, from presumptuous thoughts and actions by giving me a desire and habit of meditating in Your Word day and night and acting accordingly.

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