Week of May 26 (Psalm 1)
Psalm 1
〰️
Psalm 1
〰️
Psalm 1 〰️ Psalm 1 〰️
In the spirit of slowing down for the summer, I want us to start by patiently reading Psalm 1. Take a minute to read it, absorb it, and pray through it. As you read this and prepare to lead your people, really soak in the words and open your heart to what the Lord has for us in this psalm. Psalm 1 is only six verses long, but it is still packed with knowledge and instruction. Last week, we dove into Psalm 119, which has a lot of overlapping themes with Psalm 1, so we'll cover some of the same topics and have similar questions, but our key focus this week will be meditating on and adoring God's Word.
This poem begins with v1-2, contrasting the experience of those who take advice from the wicked versus God's instruction (CSB). The CSB translation writes "instruction," while the ESV translation states "law." What's important to note here is that the "law" or "instruction" of God is not just the rules in Scripture like the Ten Commandments but the overall characterization of God's nature. Throughout Scripture, God's character is slowly revealed in how He initiates and responds toward creation and humanity, which is what the psalmist refers to. The first verse in this passage "signifies a progression from a casual influence of ungodly people to collusion with them in their scorn against the righteous. One who is not characterized by this evil influence is "blessed," that is, he is right with God and enjoys the spiritual peace and joy that results from that relationship." [1]
Next, there's an important distinction to make with how we read and interpret part of v2.
-
When we read a portion of Scripture, we always bring our own interpretive lens and bias. We're over two thousand years removed from the original context of the New Testament and significantly further from the earliest Old Testament writings. Because of this, we have gaps in a variety of contexts and in our understanding of God. Whether we're aware or not, we can bring our own interpretive lens and read Scripture with presuppositions that warp how we understand the meaning of a text. With this, there are two approaches to interpreting God's Word: exegesis and eisegesis. Exegesis is the "explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means 'to lead out of.'" [2] The reader is led to conclusions entirely by the text rather than presuppositions or preferential bias. Eisegesis is the "interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means "to lead into," which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants." [3] With these definitions back-to-back, we can discern that exegesis is the only method by which we can receive the full truth of God and is the only lens by which we should read and interpret Scripture. This has some bearing on our passage this week, particularly in v2, as we read about meditating on God's instruction. Now, back to the passage...
In our cultural moment, we interpret "mediation" in the Eastern, secular sense. We think of Buddhist monks or west-coast yoga instructors who talk about "opening ourselves to the universe and emptying our minds of all thought" to achieve a heightened level of relaxation. This is almost the opposite of the Hebrew biblical meditation written about in Psalm 1 (and 119). While the Eastern philosophy is to empty our minds of all thought, the biblical intent is to fill our minds with God's Word and truth, repeating them and internalizing them.
The best way to think about this is in regard to eating. Meditating on God's Word is like eating a whole, healthy, filling meal that leaves us satisfied. We can live very fast lives, which impacts the way we read and meditate on God's Word. For most of us, daily time in Scripture and prayer is more like a granola bar on the way out the door in the morning than a continental breakfast that's meant to be savored and enjoyed.[4]
Next, in v3-4, we have another contrasting set of statements. The psalmist writes that,
"He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers" (v3).
We're presented with this beautiful picture of God's nature and how abundant life can be when we dedicate ourselves to following Him and meditating on His instructions. This isn't a promise of wealth, health, and prosperity, but that a life and eternity with God is flourishing and joyful. There never has been and never will be a promise of a life without suffering or pain in this world. God never promises a life absent of chaos and struggle, but we can experience peace in Him through chaos and struggle.
Verse 4 then contrasts v3, where the psalmist likens the wicked to chaff taken away by the wind. Chaff is the protective, husk-like shell that comes off of grain. When farmers harvest the grain, they grab bundles and beat them against the threshing floor (a stone platform), loosening the chaff from the grain and allowing the wind to carry it away. The psalmists compare the wicked to the chaff, "the worthless husks of the grain blown away by the wind." [5] This psalm closes with v5 and 6, writing that the wicked will not be able to stand or compare to the righteous, whom the Lord is watching over.
In our discussion, we'll go down the route of avoiding the counsel of the wicked and facing temptation. God's Word can provide comfort, and His nature can be a source of hope. We know that God is good and that those who seek refuge in Him will be "like a tree planted beside flowing streams" and whose "leaf does not wither" (v3).
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
What is the psalmist warning us of in v1?
How is God's nature described in v3?
What does it mean to "meditate" on God's instruction?
Why do you think the psalmist makes such an effort to contrast the wicked and righteous? What is he trying to teach us?
What are some ways sin can lead to ruin? Is that something that crosses your mind when facing temptation?
How can v6 provide comfort when facing temptation like this?
1. Allen P. Ross, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scri"tures (W"eatoGod's: Victor Books, 1985), 790.
2. https://www.gotquestions.orgGod'sesis-eisegesis.html
3. Ibid.
4. John Mark Comer, Eat It (Portland, OR: Bridgetown Church), February 7, 2016. https://bridgetown.church/teachings/it-is-written/eat-it.
5. Allen P. Ross, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 791.