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#Post#: 33433--------------------------------------------------
A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: TrevorL Date: April 1, 2023, 6:01 am
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A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
This is an impressive Psalm and is an introduction to the Book
of Psalms. Two sets of people and two ways are revealed, summed
up in the last verse, the way of the ungodly and the way of the
righteous. The righteous class are introduced in the first
phrase, but it is in the singular: �Blessed is the man�.
Ultimately this one man is the Lord Jesus Christ.
At first his qualities are described by what he is not. The
Psalmist gives us three poetic parallels, and when these are
lined up, each of the three phrases seem to be a progressive
decline in the character and position of the ungodly:
Psalm 1:1 (KJV): Blessed 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.
Thus the Psalmist by this method also introduces to us the
ungodly, sinners and the scornful.
And this is contrasted with what the blessed man is:
Psalm 1:2 (KJV): But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Two key words are introduced, �delight� and �meditate�. Both of
these qualities are not natural to man, but there needs to be an
initial choice or persuasion that this course is worth
embracing, then these qualities need to be cultivated and
allowed to grow. The whole purpose of the Book of Psalms could
be summarised in these two words. This Book of Psalms and the
whole counsel of God is designed to develop this �delight� and a
mind that �meditates� upon the word.
The ultimate destiny of these two classes of people are clearly
depicted. The wicked or ungodly will become like chaff that the
wind drives away, while the righteous will become like trees
planted by rivers or streams of water bringing forth fruit.
The parallelism of verse 6 is condensed, and the following
underlined phrases and words are required to complete the
parallelism:
For the LORD knoweth (or regards) the way of the righteous and
they shall live:
but God does not give regard to the way of the ungodly and they
shall perish
Parallelism is a major feature of the OT Hebrew poetry. An
advantage of this unique form is that the meaning of the poetry
is not lost when translated into other languages. Modern
translations usually show these parallel statements in verse
form, while it is obscured in the KJV. The RV/KJV Interlinear
Bible shows the KJV in verse form.
It appears that Jeremiah meditated upon this Psalm, and applied
it to his own circumstances. He expands this Psalm and gives
more detail to the difficult times and trials using the figure
of drought:
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (KJV): 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in
the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a
tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by
the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf
shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought,
neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah also gives the contrast as revealed in Psalm 1:
Jeremiah 17:5-6 (KJV): 5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man
that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the
desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit
the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not
inhabited.
Jeremiah under Spirit guidance is very searching in his
application of Psalm 1. We need to be humbled by the Word of God
and the Gospel of Christ and allow the influence of the Word to
awaken a delight in the Word and a desire to meditate therein.
By this means our hearts and minds will direct us in the Way.
Jeremiah adds another searching comment in v9 and Yahweh then
speaks directly by means of a summary in v10, giving the final
outcome, similar to the outcome of the two ways of Psalm 1:
Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV): 9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search
the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to
his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Many of the Psalms are written by David, the man after God�s own
heart. They reveal his thoughts, prayers and praises. Some are
written by his close associates such as Asaph who became the
chief musician. Some are anonymous, and some of these seem to be
by Hezekiah. A unique feature of the Psalms is that in some
instances they reveal the thoughts of Jesus more than the
thoughts and circumstances of David, for example Psalms 16 and
22 that are quoted in the NT. Thus the partial revelation of God
by the prophets anticipates the complete revelation of God in
His Son Hebrews 1:1-2.
Kind regards
Trevor
#Post#: 33437--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: paralambano Date: April 1, 2023, 11:24 am
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Trevor - ^
Jesus and the Gospel writers, especially John the Revelator knew
the OT and other material like the Targums like the back of
their hands. So too Paul. Experts all.
para . . . .
#Post#: 33439--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: meshak Date: April 1, 2023, 1:33 pm
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Hello Trevor,
Welcome to the site. :D
#Post#: 33440--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: TrevorL Date: April 1, 2023, 3:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Greetings paralambano,[quote author=paralambano
link=topic=1534.msg33437#msg33437 date=1680366258] Jesus and the
Gospel writers, especially John the Revelator knew the OT and
other material like the Targums like the back of their hands. So
too Paul. Experts all. [/quote]Yes, they knew and understood the
OT, but I am not sure that the Apostles were educated in the
Targums. I consider Jesus' teaching to be comprehensive and in a
sense new and refreshing by comparison to many aspects of the
Targums. If we consider Matthew 5-7 and the many Parables and
other teaching there is a comprehensive substantial clarity and
persuasive teaching that can guide us in the way of life,
fulfilling what is required of the "man" of Psalm 1. Jesus'
teaching is expanded in the rest of the NT by these Apostles
including Paul who were thus guided by Jesus and his teaching
and we do well to absorb all of this to bring us to the maturity
and stability of the tree planted by the rivers of water of
Psalm 1. I doubt that we need to study the Targums.
Kind regards
Trevor
#Post#: 33459--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: paralambano Date: April 2, 2023, 1:18 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Trevor - ^
Of course, you're right about having plenty of info by our
Bibles as to righteousness, etc.. I just think that the Targums,
Jewish Apocrypha, Talmud, Jewish Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea
Scrolls, Septuagint, and Tannaic annotations can give a richer
understanding of the times and how people thought about things.
For example, Jesus used the Aramaic Targum of Isaiah 58:6 and
61:1 (paraphrased combination) when he read in the synagogue.
There appears to be some confusion by some who read our Bibles
and see what Jesus says isn't exactly what's in the OT and so
they doubt the word-for-word accuracy of scripture when the
praxis was much looser even under inspiration. It all fell
within certain reasonable parameters as long as the meaning was
so.
para . . . .
#Post#: 33475--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: TrevorL Date: April 3, 2023, 12:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Greetings again paralambano,[quote author=paralambano
link=topic=1534.msg33459#msg33459 date=1680459512] Of course,
you're right about having plenty of info by our Bibles as to
righteousness, etc.. I just think that the Targums, Jewish
Apocrypha, Talmud, Jewish Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls,
Septuagint, and Tannaic annotations can give a richer
understanding of the times and how people thought about things.
[/quote]Yes, there would be some additional information in all
these resources, but to be honest I have accumulated many
resources both personal and for our meeting as I am the
librarian for our meeting, but have not accumulated or referred
to what you have recommended. My main interests have been in the
Bible, and have given attention to many parts as our meeting
considers these when we have different speakers. I have had a
special interest in the Psalms, Isaiah and Galatians, but more
recently have been looking at Daniel and also the Last Six Days
of Jesus. I consider that what resources are available for even
my few studies exceeds my ability to consider and absorb
completely and to me these studies have been more beneficial
than seeking for a few facts or gems in the resources that you
mention.
[quote]For example, Jesus used the Aramaic Targum of Isaiah 58:6
and 61:1 (paraphrased combination) when he read in the
synagogue. There appears to be some confusion by some who read
our Bibles and see what Jesus says isn't exactly what's in the
OT and so they doubt the word-for-word accuracy of scripture
when the praxis was much looser even under inspiration. It all
fell within certain reasonable parameters as long as the meaning
was so. [/quote]Interesting observation. I have been interested
in the subject of NT quotation of the OT and have especially
concentrated on the numerous quotations of the Psalms and
Isaiah. Nevertheless I have not particularly concentrated on
some of the differences. There is a beneficial list of OT
quotations in the NT in the Isaiah Introduction in Barnes'
Notes. He gives a list of whether they are from the Hebrew, the
LXX or other. A few that have interested me are Psalm 8, Psalm
110 and Isaiah 6:9-10 and these are extensively quoted and
expounded in the NT. I also have a reference book on the NT use
of the OT, but have only used this a few times.
Kind regards
Trevor
#Post#: 33486--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: paralambano Date: April 3, 2023, 6:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Trevor - ^
Thanks for your reply.
I mention these resources as a suggestion, if one gets "stuck"
on something.
I was "stuck" for a while on the OT "eye for an eye" in Torah
wondering how blinding the guilty for blinding another helps
anyone but that there are two stumbling about now. The priests
were there to interpret the Law:
MISHNA: One who injures another is liable to pay compensation
for that injury due to five types of indemnity: He must pay for
damage, for pain, for medical costs, for loss of livelihood, and
for humiliation.
How is payment for damage assessed? If one blinded another�s
eye, severed his hand, broke his leg, or caused any other
injury, the court views the injured party as though he were a
slave being sold in the slave market, and the court appraises
how much he was worth before the injury and how much he is worth
after the injury. The difference between these two sums is the
amount that one must pay for causing damage. . . . .
(Bab Talmud Bava Kamma 83b)
So there are those who would deride the so-called "cruelties" of
the Law to Christians by "what aboutisms" with some of the
latter stumped as how to answer.
Some Ravs use the PaRDeS form of exegesis which has 4 levels of
gleaning meaning from scriptures (surface, symbolic,
comparative, esoteric).
para . . . .
#Post#: 33491--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: TrevorL Date: April 3, 2023, 7:20 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Greetings again paralambano,[quote author=paralambano
link=topic=1534.msg33486#msg33486 date=1680523027]I mention
these resources as a suggestion, if one gets "stuck" on
something. [/quote]Fair enough, but possibly I would look at a
Commentary or two first. In my fellowship we have a wide range
of people with different specialties, and we benefit from their
special interests. My present position is that I like studying
certain portions of Scripture and I have mentioned some of
these. I have so many books and resources that I will never read
and study much of this material as I am slowing down in my old
age.
Kind regards
Trevor
#Post#: 33492--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: paralambano Date: April 3, 2023, 7:25 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Trevor - ^
Excellent. Commentaries are a great place to start. Some have
actually done the background work.
You don't need me to tell you to do your thing.
👍.
para . . . .
#Post#: 33616--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
By: comingfrom Date: April 13, 2023, 6:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=TrevorL link=topic=1534.msg33433#msg33433
date=1680346919]
A Few Thoughts on Psalm 1
This is an impressive Psalm and is an introduction to the Book
of Psalms. Two sets of people and two ways are revealed, summed
up in the last verse, the way of the ungodly and the way of the
righteous. The righteous class are introduced in the first
phrase, but it is in the singular: �Blessed is the man�.
Ultimately this one man is the Lord Jesus Christ.
At first his qualities are described by what he is not. The
Psalmist gives us three poetic parallels, and when these are
lined up, each of the three phrases seem to be a progressive
decline in the character and position of the ungodly:
Psalm 1:1 (KJV): Blessed 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.
Thus the Psalmist by this method also introduces to us the
ungodly, sinners and the scornful.
And this is contrasted with what the blessed man is:
Psalm 1:2 (KJV): But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Two key words are introduced, �delight� and �meditate�. Both of
these qualities are not natural to man, but there needs to be an
initial choice or persuasion that this course is worth
embracing, then these qualities need to be cultivated and
allowed to grow. The whole purpose of the Book of Psalms could
be summarised in these two words. This Book of Psalms and the
whole counsel of God is designed to develop this �delight� and a
mind that �meditates� upon the word.
The ultimate destiny of these two classes of people are clearly
depicted. The wicked or ungodly will become like chaff that the
wind drives away, while the righteous will become like trees
planted by rivers or streams of water bringing forth fruit.
The parallelism of verse 6 is condensed, and the following
underlined phrases and words are required to complete the
parallelism:
For the LORD knoweth (or regards) the way of the righteous and
they shall live:
but God does not give regard to the way of the ungodly and they
shall perish
Parallelism is a major feature of the OT Hebrew poetry. An
advantage of this unique form is that the meaning of the poetry
is not lost when translated into other languages. Modern
translations usually show these parallel statements in verse
form, while it is obscured in the KJV. The RV/KJV Interlinear
Bible shows the KJV in verse form.
It appears that Jeremiah meditated upon this Psalm, and applied
it to his own circumstances. He expands this Psalm and gives
more detail to the difficult times and trials using the figure
of drought:
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (KJV): 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in
the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a
tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by
the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf
shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought,
neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah also gives the contrast as revealed in Psalm 1:
Jeremiah 17:5-6 (KJV): 5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man
that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the
desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit
the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not
inhabited.
Jeremiah under Spirit guidance is very searching in his
application of Psalm 1. We need to be humbled by the Word of God
and the Gospel of Christ and allow the influence of the Word to
awaken a delight in the Word and a desire to meditate therein.
By this means our hearts and minds will direct us in the Way.
Jeremiah adds another searching comment in v9 and Yahweh then
speaks directly by means of a summary in v10, giving the final
outcome, similar to the outcome of the two ways of Psalm 1:
Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV): 9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search
the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to
his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Many of the Psalms are written by David, the man after God�s own
heart. They reveal his thoughts, prayers and praises. Some are
written by his close associates such as Asaph who became the
chief musician. Some are anonymous, and some of these seem to be
by Hezekiah. A unique feature of the Psalms is that in some
instances they reveal the thoughts of Jesus more than the
thoughts and circumstances of David, for example Psalms 16 and
22 that are quoted in the NT. Thus the partial revelation of God
by the prophets anticipates the complete revelation of God in
His Son Hebrews 1:1-2.
Kind regards
Trevor
[/quote]Thank you for that, Trevor.
I see Psalm 1 is God's word summed up concisely in 6 verses,
and is like God's foundation lesson, to me.
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