psalm 1

Pondering Psalm 1

The Psalms give us a unique understanding of the ministry of the Messiah, we can see this as both Yeshua and the disciples used them extensively. Luke 24:44 tells us of Yeshua saying to his disciples after the resurrection:
“This is what I told you when I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Yeshua knew what was in them about him and the ministry he did, is doing and will be doing, for within them we have the complete ministry of Messiah; Prophet, Priest and King.

Like many other cultures, Israel had a vibrant singing culture; in the Bible alone there are 185 songs, most of these are found in the five books of Psalms, though we must remember that the book of Psalms is more than a songbook. We might recall two other Biblical songbooks; Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) the love song between Solomon and Shulamite and the almost directly opposite literature the Book of Lamentations with its five dirges (mournful / funeral songs), which we will read in August on Tisha B’av. Some of the songs scattered throughout the Bible are very short and some are very long, ranging from 5 to 7 words in Hebrew slightly longer in English, in (2 Chronicles 5:13 & 20:21). As compared to the very verbose 947 words in Hebrew (or some 2,400 words in English) in Psalm 119.

Like me, you may be surprised to learn how great a number of the Psalms are quoted and alluded to in the New Testament. It seems that over 100 separate passages from at least 60 different Psalms are referenced in the New Covenant. And in many of these the subject deals with the sufferings, resurrection, and the ascension of Messiah. Others are about the priesthood and future kingship of Messiah.

The Hebrew word for “psalms”, is תְּהִלִּים (Tehillim), at times translated as “hymns” or “songs of praise”. However, the Psalms are much more than this, for they contain prayers and songs, prophecies and warnings. They form the basis of much of the liturgy and worship for 1000’s of years and we too should sing these more often, they are after all God’s inspired songbook.

According to Jewish tradition (Bavli Berachot, 9b) Psalm 1 and 2 are one Psalm attributed to David, who is described as the Prophet and King. Indeed many of the psalms were written by David, who according to tradition wrote 73 in total, but others are by Asaph, Korah, Solomon, Moses and others.

This Psalm is one of the more well-known ones. It summarizes the two paths of life open to people, first the portrait of the righteous (Psalm 1:1-3), second the ruin of the wicked (Psalm 1:4-6).

The same warning is found in Jeremiah 17:5-7 “Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. (6) He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. (7) “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.” (see also Deuteronomy 30:11-20).

Some commentators have seen all of history built around this concept of the ‘two ways’.

For the Two ways are the two destinies.

1. We too must, therefore, make a choice, are we in the first Adam and in the Last Adam (Romans 5; 1 Corinthians 15:45)?
2. Are we walking in the way of Cain or Abel? (Genesis 4)
3. Do we follow ungodly or Godly advice like Ishmael or Isaac? (Genesis 16-28)
4. Do we despise our birthright and the covenant like Esau (Genesis 25:32; Hebrews 12:16) or pursue it like Jacob? (Genesis 25:32).
5. Do we build our own kingdom like Saul (1 Samuel 13:11-16) or are we men and women after God’s heart, building the Kingdom of the LORD? (1 Kings 8:17).
6. Do we walk like Orpah or Ruth, wanting to be part of the covenant people despite the hardship or do we turn back to comfortable surroundings?

More examples are in scripture, and so it makes me wonder what about us; do we walk in the Light of the Word of the Lord or sit with the scoffers?

Finally, there is an interesting phrase in verse two, his meditation this is curious  as the Hebrew has יֶהְגֶּ֗ה (yeh’geh) which is something a bird does ‘coo’ or a lion ‘growl’, as such perhaps an alternative translation might read “to murmur” or to “mumble” as if to “speak to oneself” this is not a negative as in English but indicating that His word is on our lips continually, i.e. repeating the words softly to ourselves, so that we might think about the words and study and review them throughout the day and night as it is written in Psalm 4:4 “ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah”.

Friends over the next months I hope to ponder some of the Psalms with you.

For now let me leave you with the Robert Alter a fresh translation of Psalm 1
1 Happy the man who has not walked in the wicked’s council,
nor in the way of offenders has stood,
nor in the session of scoffers has sat.
2 But the LORD’s teaching is his desire,
and His teaching he murmurs day and night            
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water,
that bears its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither-
and in all that he does he prospers.
4 Not so the wicked,
but like chaff that the wind drives away,
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in judgement,
nor offenders in the band of the righteous,
6 For the LORD embraces the way of the righteous,
and the way of the wicked is lost.

© The Book of Psalms by Robert Alter


May we be murmuring what the Lord has said and what He has done in our lives day and night.
Shalom in Messiah

Paul & Sue Cohen