1 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.
2 But his delight is in the law [Torah - teaching] of the Lord; and in his law [Torah] doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he 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.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Explanation
Long ago, the students at Gettysburg Seminary (now United in name only) learned Greek, Hebrew, and German to graduate. Lutheran seminary students now learn only a little Greek. As Ben Johnson said about Shakespeare, "Small Latin and less Greek."
Not only are seminary students throttled by activist fads but also deceived by Bad Bible Boosters (NIV, ESV, RSV, NRSV) plus the Beck Bible. They graduate without knowing much of anything except intersectionality and the glory of cell groups. Like trained seals, they quack their disapproval of the King James Bible.
Psalm 1 could be called an introduction to the Book of Psalms. How it is read makes all the difference. The first verse is Trinitarian in structure, not a surprise for those who know the Holy Trinity in Genesis 1 and John 1.
The next verse is a model for all people to follow.
2 But his delight is in the law [Torah - teaching] of the Lord; and in his law [Torah] doth he meditate day and night.
When most people hear the word Torah, they think only about the Law. One scholar pointed out that the Hebrew word is not confined to the concept of law and punishment. The root of the Hebrew word has always meant "teaching," which encompasses all of God's Word.
The Torah scrolls, another name for the Five Books of Moses, are both Law and Gospel. Our adult class already discussed Exodus 3 (not to mention Genesis 1 and John 1) about the Son of God. The Exodus itself is packed with references to the Messiah.
Verse 2 is the model for the believer. We delight to read, hear, and think about the Law and Gospel night and day.
The Holy Spirit teaches the lessons of the Father and the Son (Gospel of John) and guides us in the truth. Throughout of the Bible, this means the Word is acting upon us - contrition, forgiveness, fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc).
The blessing is this always-effective Word having a powerful influence on believers. The efficacy also happens when people mock the Word, offer false explanations, and replace the truth with their imaginary world.
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| They know what they are doing - taking the easy route, enjoying the big bucks. After dancing with the devil in this age, they will find themselves widowers in the Age to Come. |
All of us have been subjected to these falsehoods, as the Apostle Paul and Luther were. If we test the false doctrine with the Word of God, we see the errors fading away and the Gospel shining in the glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Neglect of the Word makes us more lethargic about the Scriptures, more indifferent, more prone to substitute something else for the revelation of God, which is so clear in the Teaching of Jesus Christ.
I have mentioned before that I know two WELS pastors who got caught up in the dubious Church Growth Movement. They deeply resented anyone who questioned that toxic fad. Their infatuation led to obnoxious atheism, as if their Father Below wanted them to make up for insulting a devil's dictionary of assaults on the Bible. The spiritual guides in their sect are especially at fault for jettisoning their ordination vows and embracing their Whore of Babylon, for leading others into falsehood.
