{"id":640,"date":"2025-03-23T05:59:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T05:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/?p=640"},"modified":"2025-03-23T05:59:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T05:59:11","slug":"the-book-of-psalms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/23\/the-book-of-psalms\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BOOK OF PSALMS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Psalms chapter 1: 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1:2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His Law Day and night.&nbsp;&nbsp; For the Lord watches over the way of the righteousness, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1:3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>That person is like a tree planted by water streams, which yields its fruits in season and whose leaf does not wither\u2014whatever they do prospers.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1:4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1:5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Psalm chapter 1<\/strong> captures a fundamental teaching in the <strong>Old<\/strong> and <strong>the New Testaments<\/strong>.&nbsp; In the <strong>Old Testament<\/strong> <strong>God teaches His people that one\u2019s choice will determine both the direction and the outcome of your life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: Therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Deuteronomy 30:19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In the New Testament, Jesus\u2019s message to the crowds is to choose the right way in life:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-pink-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Enter through the narrow gate.&nbsp; For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Matthew 7: 13-14<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><u>CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Psalm 1:1 we learn that happiness comes from walking on a righteous path.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This determination is directly connected to other people.&nbsp;&nbsp; Each line in <strong>this verse tells us to avoid the wrong interpersonal relationships.&nbsp;&nbsp; Your friends make all the difference in your life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notice what this verse says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<strong><em>Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> <strong>Choosing the righteous path includes refusing advice from those who hold godless values and whose moral choices violate the laws of God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second line goes a step further:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<strong><em>Nor stand in the way of sinners.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It is one thing to listen to wicked counsel.&nbsp; It is another to decisively side with that viewpoint.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead<strong>, the happy person refuses to follow the worldly crowd.&nbsp;&nbsp; You don\u2019t see him\u201d hanging out\u201d with those who pursue sin as a lifestyle.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, <strong>he refuses to sit and associate with those whose conversations mock and curse God:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>\u201cNor sit in the company of mockers.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you want to be miserable, make your best friends those who are scornful, critical and disrespectful.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three verbs\u2014<strong>walk, stand and sit&#8212;<\/strong> <strong>show the slippery slope of evil.&nbsp;&nbsp; Evil is not passive.&nbsp; It is ever descending.&nbsp;&nbsp; The longer you go, the worse you get.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A pattern of evil choices causes a downward spiral in character that leads to destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><u>HUNGERING FOR GOD\u2019S WORD<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Psalms 1:2<\/strong> declares that happiness comes by developing a strong appetite for <strong>God\u2019s Word<\/strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Welearn to enjoy the Bible by nurturing the disciplined habit of meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meditation involves a <strong>24\/7 \u2013 \u201cDAY AND NIGHT\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 focus on the Scripture.&nbsp; This means seeking to understand the Bible\u2019s meaning as well as its application to us personally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Spirit of God makes the Word of God satisfying to the soul of a man.&nbsp; The scriptures are \u201c<strong>sweeter than honey<\/strong>\u201d <strong>[Psalm 119: 103] and \u201cmore to be desired [desirable] are they than gold.\u201d (Psalm 19: 10<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some contexts, the <strong>word meditate can be translated as growl groan or moan.<\/strong>&nbsp; <strong>It conveys the idea of muttering.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps you know someone who walks around mumbling to himself.&nbsp; We tend to view such behaviour as socially odd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the reality is that all of us talk to ourselves inside our heads all the time.&nbsp; There is a mental discussion going on continuously.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some people simply express parts of their dialogue audibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This mental conversation is meditation.&nbsp; <strong>God blesses us as we mull over His word day and night.<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>The reason this way of life makes one so happy is that it fulfils the purpose for which we were created.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God\u2019s first command to man was to\u201d <strong>Be fruitful\u201d (Genesis 1:28)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Psalm 1<\/strong> describes the happy man as being <strong>\u201clike 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 shall prosper.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Psalm 1:3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fruit bearing is the result of \u201cdeep roots\u2019 finding an abundant supply of nourishment from underground streams of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God\u2019s Word is an all-sufficient, eternal supply of empowering grace for all of life.&nbsp;&nbsp; Even during difficult, seemingly barren times, The Word will sustain life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">A fruitful life is a blessed life.&nbsp; So, David states that <strong>God\u2019s way to happiness is being separated from the World, saturated with the Word, and fruitful and successful in doing God\u2019s will.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><u>THE WRONG WAY<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Psalm 1: 4-6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.&nbsp;&nbsp; Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.&nbsp; For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Psalm 1:5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ungodliness will never, never prosper! Ultimately, ungodly people\u2019s lives aredeemed as \u201cchaff,\u201d In other words, they are worthlessness, lifeless and useless.&nbsp; They will be driven away by the wind of God\u2019s judgement.&nbsp; They will not dwell with the people of God in the congregation of the righteous.<strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the passage, the psalmist sets forth two directions\u2014<strong><u>the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly; two decisions \u2013 to meditate on God\u2019s word or to listen to ungodly counsel; and two destinies \u2013 the righteous will enjoy God\u2019s presence forever, but the ungodly will perish.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>PRAY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Lord, I confess that I often seek my ways instead of yours.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Thank you for your gentle reminders that direct me back to you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>As I make my way through life,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Teach me to turn to you in all things,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>To meditate on your word and seek your mind.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Give me a measure of your wisdom each day,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>So that I may walk accordingly to your ways.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>In Jesus\u2019s name<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>I pray<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Amen.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Psalms chapter 1: 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-psalms"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","covernews-featured":"","covernews-medium":"","web-stories-poster-portrait":"","web-stories-publisher-logo":"","web-stories-thumbnail":""},"author_info":{"info":["Holy Bible"]},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/category\/psalms\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Book of Psalms<\/a>","tag_info":"Book of Psalms","comment_count":"1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":641,"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions\/641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bibleholyghost.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}