Thinking about Psalms 1, 19, and 119

How many of us are sincere enough to say “I want to be happy”? Is there someone who would say “I don’t want to be happy, I want to be sad. Every day, I desire nothing but sadness”? Of course not! Everyone wants to be happy, and we even wish it on others: “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year”!

These psalms are not talking about hoping for temporary happiness. It is not like the Peruvian Cusqueños, who could say “Cienciano (their team) won the cup”. We are searching for a deeper and more lasting happiness. 

Many times we lie to ourselves when we say things like “I can be happy, or I can follow God”, or  “It really is a sacrifice, but I must follow God”. We often convince ourselves that a good Christian isn’t really happy, but is merely trudging through life. I believe that the reason is this: We look for happiness in the wrong places. Psalm One teaches us this amazing principle: If I want to be happy, there are things I must seek, and things I have to reject.

To be happy, there are certain things you have to reject. What must I reject? Firstly, reject the advice of bad people. i.e. “Just listen to your heart”, “do what you want”, “you have to love yourself before you can love others”, “You don’t have to be so radical, always talking about God and the Bible”. 

Secondly, reject the influence of sinners. For instance: a man who works in a factory, and everyone else goes for a beer. He tells them “I am not going” and they answer “Oh, you are a Christian, you cannot have any fun”. He may reply “I am not avoiding the bar because of some set of rules, but because the Bible says to be happy I should avoid certain influences.”

    Thirdly, reject a wicked lifestyle. Why? The mocker not only rejects God but mocks God. Does this mean I should separate myself from every sinner? Biblically speaking, do I have to get away from the world? No! but I must not be influenced by the world.

But this is not all. There’s something I have to actively do. I not only reject worldly influences. To be happy, there are certain things I have to choose. I must choose to feast on God’s Word. 

How do I do that? I meditate on the Word of God. This is not like an Eastern meditation, emptying of the mind. Meditate here means “to murmur or whisper”. 

The phrase “day and night” could be understood as “all day” but it is certainly not less than twice a day. You might say “Do you sit reading the Bible all day?” No, but if I want to be happy, I will read and meditate on the Word of God. Many might see this as rather extreme. Perhaps some wonder if it is actually worth all the effort. What is the result? If you choose these things (according to verse three) you will not be shaken. This is not talking about the prosperity gospel. Let us not imagine that being a believer your wife will always be faithful, you will never pop your tire, and you will be able to easily pay all your bills. 

    Difficulties will come, but when one obeys these verses, he will remain happy and prosperous. The phrase “Streams of water” (verse 4) can be translated as “irrigation canal”. This means that you, like that tree, will always have access to life-giving water. 

You say “But what about worldly people? They have so much money, seem happy, and apparently, they get along fine while rejecting God?”

If you think about Tiger Woods, you see that he had all the money in the world, but his personal life was a mess (which was only later revealed) and it often is so for the rich. Even if the world is happy, it is only for a short time. “Why is that?” you might ask. The Bible teaches: He who does not follow God’s advice will not be happy. How do we know that? The wicked man will disappear according to verse four. Additionally, when God’s people assemble, the unrighteous will be excluded (verse five)

Why is this? Because God knows who are his, and who are the worldly. 

How can we make an application of these truths? Many have no plan for Biblical reading. If I fail to plan, I plan to fail. You and I must have a plan for searching the Scriptures

I will pray before reading the Bible: Lord I want to understand and delight myself in your Word. When I finish reading the Bible or listening to a sermon, I will pray: Lord, help me meditate. Drive this truth deep into my heart. I will comment about my prayer in my Bible journal in order to keep me accountable. 

I will move on very quickly since I used so much space to talk about Psalm 1. The verbs in Psalm 19 that stood out to me the most are those that describe the “law of the LORD”. The law of the LORD is perfect, revives, me, is sure, makes me wise, rejoices my heart, enlightens my eyes, etc. Perhaps some would divide this Psalm into two parts: general revelation and special revelation. I believe that the main point is summarized at the end: let my words and thoughts please the Lord. 

According to my count, the word “delight” appears 10 times in the ESV version of Psalm 119. Most of these occasions are speaking of the delight that a believer has in the Word and ways of the Lord. Too many times I act as if reading the Word were a drudgery or a duty. Too often I think of God’s commands as monotonous, boring, or grievous. Unfortunately, I cannot simply flip a switch and cause that to change. There are several things that I can do. I will pray that God allows me to see wondrous things out of His law (119:18). I will examine myself for any sin that is keeping me from delighting in the Lord (verse 22). I will keep my way pure by guarding His Word in my heart (verses 9-11). I will meditate on his precepts (verse 15). I will remember that his affliction keeps me from going astray (verse 67). I will praise the Lord as He grows my delight in Him (verse 108).