Psalm 1

If you are looking for some summer reading material, you might consider the biblical book of Psalms. This book contains some of the songs from ancient Israel that can also serve as a soundtrack for our lives in faith.

One Bible scholar described the Psalms like this:

“The Psalms are the poetry of the reign of the Lord. They are the praise and proclamation and prayer of those who believe that the confession ‘The LORD reigns’ states the basic truth about the world and life lived in it. The Lord’s rule is first of all the double work of creation and salvation.”

The biblical songs that follow this trend make God the focus of our life. And in the Psalms we can find our life set to music. There are variety of styles included here: Prayer for help of an individual; Thanksgiving song of an individual; Corporate prayer for help; Hymns; Psalms of Instruction; Laments; Songs of Ascension; Enthronement Psalms.

The first Psalm sets the stage, inviting us into a life-giving relationship with God.

Psalm 1

¹ Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
² but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
³ They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
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 watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Let’s spend some time this summer focusing on the God who created and saves us.

Prayer

Help me, dear God, to be nourished by Your word in such a way that I will continue to produce good fruit in my life, as I accept my place as Your child. Amen.