Psalm 1, by way of introducing the Psalter, describes the person who enjoys the protective favour, the blessing of Yahweh, as one whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (v2). As many have recognised the Hebrew word torah is inadequately rendered by “law,” Words such as “guidance”, “revelation”, “instruction”, “counsel” help us to capture the nuance. In short, the blessed person is one who takes delight in knowing and applying God’s will and to this end constantly meditates on Torah, God’s Word. The fact that he does so “day and night” implies that Torah pertains to everything that happens in my life, at all times of day or night.
It is highly fitting that Psalm 1 should serve to introduce the Book of Psalms. Every psalm is concerned with understanding and appropriately responding to the will of God. The very form of this Book, majoring on poetic expression and involving songs to be sung indicates that God’s people are to express their delight in seeking, knowing and applying God’s will as they lift their voices in praise and thanksgiving. However, there are many psalms which begin with honest outpourings of grief and confusion, yet typically culminate in a joyful embrace of God’s will and purpose.
Posted November 15, 2010
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