The progression of the first verse of Psalm 1 is insightful. It is almost as if the psalmist is telling us that getting near (walking) wickedness will eventually lead us to pause and examine (stand) longer than we should in the ideas of sin, which then will lead us to fully invest (sit) in sinful ways.
What is the anecdote to avoid getting near, examining, and ultimately investing in this sinful world?
It is found in verse 2—We delight in the Word of God…not just occasionally, we see just like yesterday’s reading showed us the way to be strong and courageous in Joshua 1:8 is by meditating on scripture day and night, this is also the way to delight in the Word of God. I know me and I’m pretty sure I know a thing or two about most of humanity. If we are not reading the Bible every day then we are not thinking about the Bible every day, especially not day and night—which is basically a way of saying, “all the time.”
If we do meditate (think on) the scriptures day and night this will help us to be firmly planted in Jesus (v. 3). You may say I don’t see that in verse 3…I see it indirectly in this verse through the eyes of Paul, Colossians 2:6, 7:
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”
When the Bible speaks of being rooted it is speaking of being grounded in Jesus.
Speaking of Jesus, He is all over Psalm 2. It is a Psalm of David and we can see David addressing the things He is going through as King of Israel, but woven throughout are subtle or maybe not so subtle references to Jesus and prophecies regarding His time on this earth.
Did you see them? Verses 2, 7, 12 these all have reference to Jesus.
In closing though I want to look at verse 3 of Psalm 2,
“Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”
This is the cry of the wicked they believe the bondage they feel is due to God and His ways. When really the bondage they are under is because they don’t really know His Son.
Psalm 2:1, 2 are a people plotting against Jesus. Why? Verse 3 because they feel like His ways are slavery.
If we are not rooted in Jesus, Psalm 1:3 we will feel like Jesus is slavery; the devil will convince us of this, just as he convinced 1/3 of the angels in heaven. Just as he convinced Eve. The devil is a liar though!
Can I testify that the freest I ever felt was the day I said “yes” to Jesus and His ways.
If you tear away the fetters of God and the cords of His Son and the Holy Spirit, you’ll find what it truly means to be in bondage, because sin is a terrible master!
Tomorrow’s Reading: (Poetry) Job 1 & 2