Psalm 1:1-6 (DB of June 5th)

INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS

In Psalms we see men of flesh and blood who are like us, who confront situations akin to ours, and who find in God a sufficient rescue. David is mentioned as author 73 times, Kore's children 11 times, Asaph 12 times. The head of the choir is mentioned as publisher 55 times. The musical liturgical annotation "Chela" appears 71 times. 150 psalms are distributed in 5 "books" (maybe like the five books of the law), and each transition is marked by the doxology of the publisher (41 :14 ; 72 : 18,19 ; 89 : 53 ; 106 : 48).

The way to read Psalms:

Sometimes, the imprecations shock us; the desire that a sudden ruin reaches the enemies, that death startles them, etc. Does it conform with Christian faith ? There are three reasons:

1) The moral indignation of the pious men

2) The zeal to defend God's name

3) The search to be realistic 

But the Psalms are more than only the imprecations. The psalmist is committed to 4 great truths:

1) Recognizing their guilt, the men anticipate that their lives include some difficulties.

2) Remembering often God's kindness to Israel produces the assurance that God will never fully abandon his people. 

3) The precious privilege to have the Lord as our God overcomes provisional tribulation on earth. 

4) The blessed hope of having a glorious life from God in the other world

So let us study Psalms with this way of interpretation:

Each psalm appears in a unity of redaction and deals with only one theme (except certain psalms like PS 119). We must read and read again until discovering this theme. We must give particular attention to the expressions "because" and "therefore" which articulate the subdivisions. Thanks to it the modern reader can understand what were the circumtances which had inspired the meditations of the writer, what were his sufferings and what consolations and comfort he found in God.

Psalm 1:1-6

key verse: 2

HAPPY IS THE MAN

It's a psalm which introduces the whole collection. It seems that prosperity is guaranteed for the righteous man. But at the beginning of the second book we will see that the righteous man also is subject to insurmountable sufferings (Ps 41).

1. Two alternatives in front of man (1-2)

In life there are two ways: the way of justice and the way of wickedness. Man constantly confronts this reality. He is faced with the alternative. To man, the quality of the company is determinant and predominates (1 Co 15:33). We must depart from the bad company to be happy. Then, we must absorb ourselves in God's word. Happy is the man who loves God's word, and who meditates, searching its deep meaning hidden in it. 

2. The consequences of the choices (3-6)

The result of the choice is very eloquent. The absorption in God's word makes the practicer be prosperous in all things. He enjoys success in material life and also he enjoys perfect health. Not only that, above all, he has a very fruitful spiritual life like the abundant foliage of a tree. He is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which constantly receives the lifeblood through his root. This food constantly strengthens him and constantly feeds his soul. In contrast, the man who chooses the way of the wicked experiences a great calamity. Even if his life seems abundant, it's empty, like the straw which flies away in the wind, his life evaporates like steam, not resisting Last Judgment. He disappears without leaving any trace.  Finally his soul burns out in the fire. In this world he suffers as a sinner from guilt with the premonition of the judgment, and he can't bear the presence of the community of the saints. 

Prayer: Lord, make me not choose the way of the wicked but the way of the righteous men. Make me constantly meditate your word and bear abundant fruit pleasant to you.

Bottom line: Choose God's word, not worldly friends