Happy New Year, friends and followers of www.HeartofaShepherd.com!
I invite you to join me this New Year as I begin a new daily Bible Reading Schedulethat will take us through God’s Word in one year. You will find the Bible Reading Schedule at the previous link and by going to www.HillsdaleBaptist.org. Please notice the daily readings include three categories: Old Testament, Poetry, and New Testament.
I plan to post regular devotionals on a portion of each day’s reading assignment. Rather than a comprehensive commentary, my goal is a practical application of a portion of the daily reading. For example, the Bible reading for January 1, 2019 is Genesis 1-2, Psalm 1, and Matthew 1. The focus of today’s devotional is Psalm 1.
Psalm 1 is the first recorded Beatitude in the Bible and offers a contrast of two manner of men; the “blessed” who walk in the way of God’s Law and the “ungodly” who oppose God. King David writes,
Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed [happy and content] is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his [the blessed man] delight isin the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he [the blessed man whose delight and meditations on the Word of God are night and day]shall be like 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 doeth shall prosper.”
David begins Psalm 1 advising us where happiness is not found. Happiness is not found “in the counsel of the ungodly…in the way of sinners, [or]…in the seat of the scornful”(1:1).
1) A blessed man does not seek the“counsel of the ungodly”whose philosophy is “eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19).
2) The blessed man does not abide in the“way of sinners” whose spiritual GPS is set on a destination of wickedness and “shall perish” (Psalm 1:6).
3) The blessed man does notlift up his voice in chorus with“the scornful”, for they disdain God and His Law (Psalm 14:1).
What is the source of the blessed man’s happiness and contentment? His joy and “delight isin the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
Two observations regarding the blessed man’s life: 1) His “delight”, passion, and desire is the Word of God. 2) His discipline is to “meditate”upon the principles and precepts of God’s Law. “Day and night” he saturates his heart and thoughts with the eternal, immutable truths of God’s Word.
Here’s a thought for the day:
“A Bible that’s falling apart probably belongs to someone who isn’t.” —Christian Johnson. Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 1.; Today’s Best Illustrations.
Copyright 2019 – Travis D. Smith
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