9.2.23
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
The Constitution is the most important document in American history in that it is the supreme law in the United States. All enacted law is the application of the Constitution to the various circumstances of life. In like manner, Psalms 1 and 2 stand at the head of all the Psalms and all the rest of the Psalms are commentary on the first two Psalms.
Psalm 1 begins like this: How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 2 begins like this: Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”
Psalm 1 introduces the man of the Word and Psalm 2 introduces the man of the world.
• The man of Psalm 1 loves God and the Word of God while the man of Psalm 2 hates God and the Word of God.
• The man of Psalm 1 seeks to submit to the authority of God whereas the man of Psalm 2 seeks to throw off the authority of God.
• Psalm 1 introduces the godly and their blessedness whereas Psalm 2 introduces the wicked and their punishment.
• These two worldviews have defined the ages. All other worldviews are riffs off these two.
The 148 Psalms following Psalms 1 and 2 continue the narrative of the clash between the kingdoms of the righteous and the unrighteous – between those who love God and those who hate God. When the wicked of Psalm 2 are prevailing, the righteous of Psalm 1 cry out to God for help in time of need. Most of the Psalms ring with the sounds of battle and display the flash of the sword. They are filled with the cries of the wounded and weary warrior and the shouts of the conquering crusader.
The Psalms are considered poetry. When I think of poetry, I think of flowery language and romantic abstractions. Yet make no mistake – though the Psalms are considered poetry, they are battle hymns full of warfare and the clash of swords. Think of them as letters from the front in a war that has been waged ever since the serpent enticed Eve to take a bite out of the apple.
You and I are caught up in that same battle between righteousness and unrighteousness. The cultural elites of today are of the same spirit as those described in Psalm 2. They are seeking to throw off the fetters of God in that they have rejected His authority and resist the righteous. May the Psalms provide you with inspiration and guidance as you walk not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, not sit in the seat of scoffers.
Again, Psalms 1 and 2 set the pace for all the Psalms and describe kingdoms in conflict. Read them as dispatches from the front, from warriors who have gone before us.
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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