Psalms

Hello all... it's been a few days and I have been mulling over some things to write about. But I feel like God keeps putting Psalms in my mind. I have also noticed that the analogy of the mountain and valley comes up in my life so much more these days... or maybe I just notice it more... but I was reminded of it again in church this morning with a beautiful old song that was sung. I can remember hearing this on a Gaither special daddy and I watched once. Here's the video and the lyrics are below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xipq208iNHg

Life is easy when you're up on the mountain

And you've got peace of mind like you've never known.

But then things change and you're down in the valley.

Don't lose faith for you're never alone.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.

When things go wrong, He'll make it right.

And the God of the good times

is still God in the bad times.

The God of the day is still God in the night.

You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain.

Oh but the talk comes easy when life's at its best.

But it's down in the valley of trials and temptation

That's when faith is really put to the test.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.

When things go wrong, He'll make it right.

And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times.

The God of the day is still God in the night.

So back to Psalms. We have been reading through selected Psalms in Sunday School for a while and I always end up coming home with good lessons... so I have decided to reread the entire book and share my thoughts... not necessarily on every Psalm, but just when lessons are made evident to me.

Psalm 1:
David kicks it off pretty strong in Psalm 1 with a verse that is not unfamiliar to most of us. "Blessed is the man who walked not in the counsel of the ungodly..." (verse 1). Basically... he explains that there are two paths in life. The righteous path or the unrighteous (ungodly) path. Along those paths he compares us to trees. The trees on the righteous path are strong and fertile because "he" (the tree) has removed himself from the "path of the sinners" and the "seat of the scornful." Please note that David does not say that this blessed man removed himself from the sinners or the scornful... he may not have taken their path... but they are still present on his journey. For what would our journey as Christians be without temptations, gossip, etc.??? Overall this tree is strong because, as it says in 1:2, "he delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night"

If this isn't a hello review your life moment, I don't know what is... "Day and night" folks... that's all.the.time!! Raise your hand if you do this... (note, my hand is not raised...) because in reality, does every decision we make have a God basis... do our actions exemplify the Word? Obviously according to this verse they should.... why... well, verse 3 give us a good answer for that.

"... And whatever he does shall prosper."

Well, if that ain't motivating... I don't know what is.

So, let's see what happens to the tree on the unrighteous path... they are "like that chaff which the wind blows away. (verse 4)" So basically the unrighteous tree is so unstable that it can be blown about like refuse... let's just see what exactly "refuse" means:

ref·use2 [ref-yoos]
–noun
1. something that is discarded as worthless or useless; rubbish; trash; garbage.

Well, that makes it pretty plain doesn't it??

So here's your choice according to Chapter 1... A strong fertile tree that blooms and does not die ("whose leaf shall not wither;" verse 3) or worthless garbage?? It may not be the easiest choice, and there will be some moments where we hang out with the sinners and the scornful, but we can always get back to the correct path by medidating on the Word... so which do you choose?