Psalm Reflections - Week 2

Last week as you prayed with Psalm 23, you might have been taken by the description of all that the Lord does for his favored one. He guides, refreshes, shelters, ennobles, anoints, prepares a feast and showers life with goodness. There seems little for us to do but to gratefully receive such abundance and to trust the reliability of our God from our own experience. In this we gradually come to know God.

This week, let us begin at the beginning and consider Psalm 1. This Psalm seems to make demands on us and not leave us, as Psalm 23 suggests, a passive recipient of God's grace. Remember something we said last week: that it is important to see the psalms in relation to one other. Keep in mind your thoughts from Psalm 23 as you turn to Psalm 1.

Recall the simple guidelines we set forth last week:

1) To read the psalm slowly

2) Re-read it taking note of key words, repeated

words, words that strike you

3) Recall other moments from the Bible that are

brought to mind

4) flesh out the psalm by reading the footnotes,

cross references

5) re-read the psalm and relate it to your own

life. Then listen to how God speaks through his word to you.

Here you may find it helpful to formulate your own thoughts, reflections and prayer to God. Pray it 2 times each day!

Psalm 1 is an example of a wisdom psalm (imparts wisdom or understanding). As such, it may lack some references to other parts of the familiar story of Israel (#3) but it will be rich in words to study (#2). Remember, this outline is a guide and as such, it is rather fluid in its application.

Note that the very first word that begins the entire psalter is "Happy", sometimes translated "blessed". The entire psalm seems like a simple prescription for happiness or blessedness. One who takes delight and ponders "the law of the Lord" (TORAH) is the one who will be so blessed. TORAH/law implies direction and guidance, pointing out the way, instruction for living. How different a concept from our understanding of "law"! The word that also appears in this psalm is "way". This connotes the direction that life takes. Another word that is important to our understanding is "ponder" or "meditates". This word literally means to "mutter", to constantly turn over and keep present on the lips and in the mind, like a mantra. Israel is to do this with TORAH. What meaning does this have for you? What is the WORD that you ponder (mutter) over night and day?

The image of the tree planted near running water in contrast with the dry chaff that blows off into the wind is the comparison the psalmist sets up between the one who establishes their whole life around this word of God and those who set their own course. There is much to ponder (mutter) about in this psalm! The psalmist is not so much judging the wicked but setting up a contrast between 2 ways of living life. The way to blessing, final blessing and happiness is found in the way and the will and the word of God. "I am the way, the truth and the life".

Life, reflected in this psalm, offers each of us a choice. It is about setting the course of life and what is it that guides and points out this way? There is some personal responsibility for life that each one takes. We will see in other psalms that life is not always so clear cut. The promise is not a life free of frustration, pain and loss, but the assurance that God (the God we encountered in Psalm 23) will bless those who seek him. "The Lord guards the way of the Just".