[I’m so excited to begin a “verse by verse” walk through the book of Psalms! On this journey, my intentions will be to take one verse at time and journal my thoughts here in a series I’ve entitled “A Walk Through the Book of Psalms” So please check back every Tuesday and Wednesday and walk with me on this journey.]
Psalms 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate, day and night.
Any good Jew, or maybe I should say, any “living Jew” at the time of this writing, knew that the phrase, “the law of the Lord,” referred to God’s law, given to Moses in Exodus and Leviticus. God gave this law to the children of Israel, as a means to “set them apart” and make them different from the pagan nations around them. And so a good Jew tried their best to adhere to every jot and tittle of a long list of “do’s” and “don’ts.” Of course this was an impossible task for anyone to achieve and so the law became an effective mirror revealing their sin and inability to save themselves.
Fast forward some 1500 years, and we are witness to Jesus giving his life on the cross, for the purpose of delivering mankind out from under the bondage of the law. Paul puts it like this, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree…” (Galatians 3:13) And then later in the book of Hebrews he adds, “He [Jesus] takes away the first [law of Moses] that He may establish the second [Grace]. By [God’s] will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (I love the word “all” because it include me and you too, whoever you are!)
Therefore, as a result of Jesus’s sacrifice upon the cross, when I read Psalms 1:2, where it says my “delight is in the law of the Lord,” I interpret it to mean that I should delight myself in the Grace, God, has so freely given to me. When I think about it that way, I really become excited, because the focus is not on what “I” can or cannot do, but rather on what Jesus has already done! Meditate on that for a while and it’ll make you want to get up and run around the house praising God for his love. I don’t claim to be Pentecostal, as was my dad, but when I ponder the depths of God’s love, I sure wish to goodness I were! And I mean that with utmost respect for all my Pentecostal brothers and sisters. I believe they, just may, know how to express their joy, better than the rest of us. Perhaps, the rest of us should take notes.
While Writing this article I felt compelled to look for scripture in which I could meditate upon this week. Here’s what I chose:
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) (AMP) (These are the words of Jesus)
…But I am not ashamed, because I know the one I have put my trust in. And I am sure that he is able to protect what I have put into his care (my heart) until that Day. (II Timothy 1:12)(ERV)
My Prayer: Lord, I can’t thank you enough for the Grace you have given me in my life. Thank you that I can continue to count upon your Grace until the time it ushers me into your Kingdom. May I, be as the Psalmist, and delight myself in your promises. Thank you, Lord, that you loved me so much, you gave me Jesus, to deliver me from the bondage of my sin. May I love you more as each day passes. Amen.