Psalms: Delight and Meditate

Introduction

Open to Psalm 1 this evening Psalm 1. We will read the entire Psalm and then focus in on verse 2.

The reality that we often accept worldly advise because we think, this sounds good.

How devastating that choice has been

Are we really a people apart, not in location or attitude but in action and deed?

No walking in the counsel of the wicked

No standing in the way of sinners

No arrogant scoffers allowed to rest among and and we do not rest with them.

I don't think that a lot of Christian get how radically different from the world they are supposed to be.

We will see that radical difference displayed in the Christians relation to the Word of God this evening on verse two.

So, if you are able, Please Stand for the Reading of God’s Word

Psalm 1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy, Infallible and All Sufficient Word.

Transition

There are three words that we must clearly understand this evening Law, Delight, and Mediate. Lets read verse 1

Body

The Law of God

Psalm 1:2 ESV

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

We start with the Word Law this evening because it is the object of this couplet. Its used twice.

“In the second verse, the Psalmist does not simply pronounce those happy who fear God, as in other places, but designates godliness by the study of the law, teaching us that God is only rightly served when his law is obeyed. It is not left to every man to frame a system of religion according to his own judgment, but the standard of godliness is to be taken from the Word of God.” [1]

We are not talking about specifically any part of even all of the Bible.

Notice how this thought flows from the previous

The Christian is not take with worldly ideas, wordly relationships, that lead to arrogance, but rather the Christian is taking and completely by the standard of godliness found in the Word of God.

This is what I take the author of Psalm 1 to mean here. The author is not telling the reader to delight and mediate on any specific section of the Bible, but to delight and meditate continually on the charterer of God found in his Word.

It is to say,

Don’t walk not in the counsel of the wicked, walk in God’s counsel.

Don’t Stand int he way of Sinners, Stand in God’s Way.

Don’t rest with the Scoffer, be humble before God.

The application come from later in delighting and meditating, however a point of warning here about those that dissect the scripture into old and new, law and gospel.

The former, unhitch from that old testament.

The later, the law is death and the Gospel is life.

Transition

These ideas are not for us, we wise to delight in the whole counsel of God. Delight, what does that mean. Read verse 2 again.

Delight in the Law

Psalm 1:2 ESV

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Did you know its not enough to read your bible because you are supposed to?

“From his characterizing the godly as delighting in the law of the Lord, we may learn that forced or servile obedience is not at all acceptable to God, and that those only are worthy students of the law who come to it with a cheerful mind, and are so delighted with its instructions, as to account nothing more desirable or delicious than to make progress therein” [2]

David put it this way in Psalm 19

Psalm 19:7–11 ESV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Some times the dictionary definition of a word helps.

“a high degree of gratification or pleasure or joy” [3]

“extreme satisfaction” [3]

“something that gives great pleasure” [3]

Many here will know the first question of our church catechism

Of if I asked the question, what is the chief End of Man?

I would get the answer,

Chief, highest, most important, most valuable thing.

This is exactly what the author of this Psalm is communicating

Nothing would be more delightful then God, knowing God, enjoying God.

A lot of times we think of that Catechism as a and not yet.

This is not the case, right now believe your chief goal your chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him.

This of the disservice I do myself and other when the word is not my delight.

What do I say about the value of God what communing with him, learning of him, growing in grace is a duty begrudgingly done?

What if I showed my devotion to my wife this way.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold

All the money in the world turned down

“sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”

Honey was the standard of sweetness in Davids day

It is a sin to read the word without delight.

but don't wait for delight, it is the word through the Spirit the teaches up to delight. Is your delight low, read more.

It is moire valuable then all the gold in the world and it is sweeter than any thing we can get.

Imagine a jar of honey and I tell myself, I am not going to eat this honey until I know how sweet it is.... how silly is that. No! I eat the honey and that how I find out how sweet it is.

The same goes for the word eat it, feed on it, if you are having trouble delighting in it read it more, pray it more, talk about it with your fellow believers more and soon you will glimpse how good it is.

Transition

This is why the psalmist does not leave us without delighting and meditating. Delight breeds meditation and meditation breeds more delight until joy unspeakable forever is found and maintained as the knowledge of God grows ever deeper in the heart and mind of the righteous/blessed man. See verse two again this evening.

Meditating on the Law

Psalm 1:2 ESV

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The word of God is amazing giving us all kinds of application

Right here is the word meditate we have practice in not walking in the counsel of the wicked.

Empty mind meditation

Blood pressure and the way the seems right

The worldly wisdom say mediate by clearing your mind, think about nothing.

The lord says Meditate on my word, fill your mind up with my work until there is no room for anything else.

That is what the word here (יֶהְגֶּ֗ה) haa Gaah to muter, growl or mumble.

The picture here is someone who’s mind is so full of the word of God it just comes out of his mouth almost without thinking about it.

when you open your mouth what comes out.

When someone asks you for advice where does that advice come from?

What is your first thought when resounding to a situation.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Conclusion

You can practice this

I am not saying I have got it all figured out

Benediction

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

References

[1] John Calvin and James Anderson, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 4.

[2] Ibid, 4–5.

[3] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delight

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and James Anderson. Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.