This Study in the Book of Psalms is my look into how The Psalms helps me deal with the news and events of the day (Local, State, National and World wide) How it gives me perspective and understanding in this complex and confusing world.

I am not a Bible Scholar giving a commentary on the scriptures. There are many of those and I encourage you to look up and study any scriptures God lays on your heart. My purpose is to develop perspective and help with discerning the world’s wisdom and how it compares and contrasts against God’s.

Please read through Psalm 1 a few times and really think about what it is saying…

 

Psalm 1 NLT version

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1 AMP version

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

4 Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor [b]sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].

6 For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to naught).

 

This first Psalm gives us an Intro into the book of Psalms.  It sets the stage clearly on which path we should follow. Who we should believe has the truth and what will happen to you because of your choices.

It is so easy today to listen to the “wise” people in government and on TV. The information from the internet and from all the experts; like doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, counselors etc. Someone will always know better and will be only too happy to tell you about it.

Sometimes they may even have good advice but; I think, most times not so much.

This will be one of my big areas of concern, what the Experts have to say and how it compares to God’s Words here in the Psalms.

So to start things off in the Book of Psalms, let’s be clear. There are two paths to choose, one is God’s way and the other is not God’s way. Today in this world everything is upside down and backwards. Good is bad and evil is good. Many of the rich, wealthy and successful famous people use the wisdom of the world to succeed, and they will have their rewards here in this world. I also feel that almost all of them are not really happy, true happiness eludes them. A very sad example would be Robin Williams suicide.

There is no guaranty of wealth, success and fame under God’s way, as a matter of fact; I think God’s way will be harder and more difficult; but in the end well worth it. Looking closely at vs. 3 we can see what can happen for us.

This analogy of the fruitful tree in due season will come up many times in these studies.

It takes time, we must be patience as we learn and grow to becoming more “Christ like”. In this way we become well grounded, like the tree by the river. Deep roots into the Living Water will help us produce the fruit God desires for us at the right time. It all takes time.

We need to have a LONG range view, we are collecting rewards in Heaven, where there will be no wicked who are worthless. Please check your salvation, make sure you know Jesus as your personal savior and like it says in vs.2 Desire/delight in the Word, Study and Ponder/meditating on it daily…

This is a very good start – Bro Bo