Psalm 1: The Happy Song

The Psalms are a collection of God inspired songs; beautiful, poetic reflections of the whole range of human emotions coupled with deep, theological truths. Prayers to God, praises about God, expressions of grief, sorrow, doubt, joy, and happiness. It's like they were written for you, to say for us what we feel in words we could not express ourselves. They are like a mirror to help us see and understand what is really going on in our hearts. They are like medicine for the soul living in a sin cursed world, giving healing to our emotions, helping us to lament, to praise, or repent. David Murray wrote "We sing to Jesus in the Psalms, we sing of Jesus in the Psalms, and we sing with Jesus in the Psalms.

The Psalter begins with something everyone wants -- happiness. The Hebrew word translated "blessed" means happiness, and Psalm 1:1 begins "Blessed is the man..." In a book designed to worship the true and living God, the inspired songbook begins, "happy is the man." God's word and God's commands are not contrary to human happiness. In fact, true joy and happiness is only found with God. This Psalm makes the case that loving and worshiping God is not only man's chief purpose (Deuteronomy 6:4-5); but it is also man's chief joy.

The happy man is the one who doesn't follow the ways of an ungodly society. He doesn't stand with the sinner or sit with the scornful (Psalm 1:1).  The happy man doesn't find direction inwardly, or by following the crowd. He doesn't find delight in the same things the world does, but the happy man finds his pleasure in God's word. The meditation of God's word brings joy, as opposed to the ways of the sinner (Psalm 1:2). When you live by faith and your heart is full of God's word, the fruit that produces in your life is stability, joy, and godly living (Psalm 1:3).  

Why avoid the way of the sinner? Because, even though the house of the sinner may seem to bring happiness in the "seat of the scornful", the way of the sinner is death (Psalm 1:6). The path of the ungodly is not the established life, like the tree planted by the water, but is like the dead, light, temporary wheat chaff that blows away with the wind. Whereas a strongly planted tree won't be moved, the sinner is blown about by his own nature and the course of this world (Psalm 1:4). Where the happy man refuses to sit with the scorners and stand with sinners, the ungodly man will not stand in the day of righteousness judgment or sit in the congregation of the righteous. The happy man will walk alone with God; the ungodly man will walk with the majority now, and die alone without God. This psalm instructs us on how to live, encourages us in pursuing godliness, warns of the dangers of wickedness, and confirms the way to happiness is with God.

Intro to Psalm 1: The Happy Man

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  (Psa 1:1-6)

What a glorious way for the book of Psalms to start, BLESSED!  HAPPINESS! What a wonderful God we serve, blessedness and happiness are His ways for us. How truly great and merciful is our Lord, not only does He save us, but desires and provides ways for our happiness. Isn't that what the world is looking for? Isn't that what most people are looking for in a President, one that would bring them happiness? People want to be happy, but don't know where to find happiness. Don't believe me? Look at how many results come up when you Click here. This is clearly something people are looking for something people THINK they have the answer to. 

God tells all people how they will be happy, yet His ways are forsaken. Are you looking for happiness? If you have not found this gladness of heart, where are you looking for it? There are two paths, two roads in the Psalm. The happy man doesn't walk with the ungodly, he does not stand in the way of sinners, he does not sit with the scornful. Are you looking for happiness with the wind driven chaff?

Happiness and gladness of heart comes from the Lord and contentment in His ways and His Word. There is delight in the scriptures. There is happiness in thinking about them, meditating on them, learning more of Christ. The Holy Spirit takes that Word and grounds us in that blessed truth, then produces fruit in us, which only brings about more happiness. 

I exhort you to take this Psalm to heart, to memorize it, to keep it with you all the days of your life, that you will never forget the way of peace and joy.

“This Psalm carries blessedness in the frontispiece [the decorative engraving on the first page of a book] ; it begins where we all hope to end; it may well be called a Christians’ Guide, for it discovers the quicksand where the wicked sink down in perdition, and the firm ground on which the saints tread to glory” Thomas Watson’s Saints’ Spiritual  Delight

Grace & Peace,

Doug

A Psalm for the Lord's Day

PSALM 92 PART 1 (L. M.)

A Psalm for the Lord's day.
Isaac Watts

Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks and sing,
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truth at night.

Sweet is the day of sacred rest,
No mortal cares shall seize my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound!

My heart shall triumph in my Lord,
And bless his works, and bless his word;
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine!
How deep thy counsels! how divine!

Fools never raise their thoughts so high;
Like brutes they live, like brutes they die;
Like grass they flourish, till thy breath
Blast them in everlasting death.

But I shall share a glorious part
When grace hath well refined my heart;
And fresh supplies of joy are shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.

Sin (my worst enemy before)
Shall vex my eyes and ears no more;
My inward foes shall all be slain,
Nor Satan break my peace again.

Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desired or wished below;
And every power find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.


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Douglas Newell IV