This collection of Hebrew poetry contains the longest and the shortest chapters in the Bible. Jesus quoted more from this ‘hymn book’ than any other Old Testament writing. Out of the 66 books, it is the longest. It remains the most beloved book in the Scriptures and the most read. These distinctions belong to the Book of Psalms. Readers easily identify with its messages because Psalms captures the range of possible human emotions as fears, anger, longings, doubts, hopes, joys, and sorrows. Grief—My eye has wasted away with grief (6:7). Joy—We will sing for joy over your victory (20:5). Lonely—I am lonely and afflicted (25:16). Glad—I will be glad and exult in you (9:2). Emotions toward God—Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble (10:1)? The Book doesn’t exclude the negative feelings we face. The writers invite us to come to God even with the raw emotions we experience. Psalms are like a mirror for those struggling in life showing that other Godly individuals, e.g. David, have gone before us who have felt the same emotions. A vivid example is the Imprecatory Psalms, in which the writer prays for judgment, calamity, or curses upon their enemies. Pour out Your indignation on them, And may Your burning anger overtake them (69:24). The Psalms addresses the reality of our human experiences.
Psalms is written in Hebrew poetry. But you say, “I’ve never read a single line of rhyme in Psalms.” English poetry manipulates sound and emphasizes rhyme and meter. In contrast, Hebrew poetry repeats, contrasts, and rearranges thoughts rather than sounds. This is known as parallelism. Space doesn’t allow us to explore each type of parallel arrangement. But note the two most common. Synonymous—the same thought of the first line is basically repeated in different words in the second line (2:4). Antithetical—the thought of the first line is emphasized by a contrasting thought in the second line often identified with ‘but’. Also note Hebrew thinking views the world in concrete thought that expresses concepts and ideas in ways that can be seen, touched, smelled, tasted, or heard. Every word or phrase is meant to bring a picture into your mind. In contrast, English views the world through logical and abstract thinking in ways that cannot be seen, touched, smelled, tasted, or heard.
Psalms chapter one stands out from the remaining 149 chapters serving as an introduction. Some even say it provides an overview of the Bible. It addresses the two paths of life that people can take, the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. We could even summarize world history as the struggle between the righteous and wicked or the battle between light and darkness. An early 20th century writer, G. K. Chesterton, said on his deathbed in 1936, “The issue is now quite clear. It is between light and darkness and everyone must choose his side.” Every man and woman must make the choice which they will follow.
This Psalms lays out the blessedness the righteous receive and the misery and future the wicked can expect. The writer list three activities which the righteous must avoid. This is set forth by a contrast of what the wicked do. How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers (Ps 1:1 NET). The writer uses a regressive parallelism moving step by step away from God’s way—walk, stand, and sit. In verse two, he contrasts the actions of the righteous. Instead [but] he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night (v2 NET).
The first phrase, How blessed is the man, declares the state of those who follow in the way of the Lord. Blessed is better translated ‘happy’. To express all the grammar emphasis, we can paraphrase it, “Oh how very, very happy”. But note, happiness in the Bible differs from the English definition, which originates from hap, meaning “good luck.” Today, people see it as a feeling of joy and pleasure brought on by external circumstances. Biblical happiness can’t be derived from external circumstances but only through a relationship with God. This brings about well-being and we will flourish.
The tense of the verbs not walk nor stand, nor sit, indicate decisive actions. It is the person who has chosen not to follow the path of the wicked, but rather to walk in the way of the Lord. This believer will be like a tree planted by streams of water (v3). He/she will always have nourishment. They will never wither, they will bear fruit, and will prosper. The word planted literally means to transplant. A tree cannot transplant itself. This happens only by the work of God’s grace.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Do you want Biblical happiness not controlled by external circumstances? It begins with a decisive choice by you.