May 22 - Evening
"Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction."
- Psalms 1:1-6
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction."
- Psalms 1:1-6
Results! Not Rewards or Punishment
The Book of Psalms begins with two Psalms that establish the style and purpose of the book. The first Psalm (Psalm 1) is instructional and in the form of wisdom literature. The second Psalm (Psalm 2) worshipful and in the style of eschatological prophecy.
Two types of people are portrayed in Psalm 1. Both types of people make choices and they both receive the result of those choices. It should be noted that the blessed man is not “rewarded” with blessed happiness and the wicked man is not “punished” with destruction. Instead, both the blessed happiness and the destruction are results of the choices and lifestyle.
The blessed man delights in the “law of the Lord” and he meditates on it. “Law of the Lord” is from the word “Torah” which literally means “instruction, but can be used to refer to the law, the Pentateuch (first five books) and the whole Old Testament. The blessed man focuses on the instruction and revelation given by the Lord concerning truth and reality. They know how the world was put together. They understand what the Lord’s purpose is. They desire to understand his thoughts and values. They conduct their lives in agreement with the Lord’s nature. The result of this is compared to a tree that lives directly by a river of water. This tree cannot wither because it is tapped into the source of life. Every leaf and every blossom is prosperous.
There is an alternative. A man can leave the Word of the Lord and pursue other philosophies, values and purposes. These are identified as the steps, the ways and the company of the wicked, the sinners and those that mock the Lord’s instruction. The result of following the way of the wicked is destruction, just like a tree dries up and dies away from water. Because the wicked are without the source of life they eventually have no substance. They become lightweight chaff in a kingdom of manifested truth and reality, and are simply blown away as inconsequential.
Those who are blessed will avoid spending time learning and imitating the ways of these insignificant mockers.
Dio (Gr) – Therefore (Eng) – The Greek word dio draws the conclusion from the text previously presented in order to summarize the section. (Gal. 4:31)
Am I making choices that will produce the blessed life? Or, am I living to satisfy my own desires and asking God to bless me while I live a life that naturally results in darkness and destruction? I will make choices that agree with righteousness and seek desires that are pleasing to the Lord.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Marriage
Church
Avoid immorality
Nation
National Debt
World
Fiji
Someone to Quote
“Faith is not a sense, nor a sight, nor reason, but taking God at His Word."
- Arthur Benoni Evans
Something to Ponder
When Jesus continued to fall while carrying his cross, the Romans made Simon of Cyrene carry the cross the rest of the way to Calvary. (Matthew 27:32; Luke 23:26) Simon was from the North African country of Cyrene which is Libya today. Mark seems to assume that the original readers of his gospel would know Simon’s two sons since Mark writes their names in Mark 15:21: Alexander and Rufus. Mark was in Rome when he wrote his Gospel so it is interesting that Paul also greets Rufus when Paul writes his letter to the Roman believers from Corinth in the spring of 57 AD. (Romans 16:13) Mark would have written his Gospel sometime after 64 AD, but before 70 AD.
Here’s a Fact
About 30 miles from where Balaam tried to curse Israel on the plains of Moab (now Jordan) in Numbers 22-24 a fifty line inscription written in faded red and black ink was discovered in an ancient building excavated in Deir ‘Alla (Jordan). The house was destroyed in an earthquake around 760 BC, but the inscription is much older dating back to at least 800 BC, and likely before.
The text includes: “Warnings (or, sayings) from the Book of Ballam the son of Beor. He was a seer of the gods.”
This is similar to the Numbers 22:5. This is an authentic text from 800 BC which shows a high regard for the historical figure of Balaam son of Beor which means he was likely had lived centuries before the text was used to decorate the wall of a residence.
The text includes: “Warnings (or, sayings) from the Book of Ballam the son of Beor. He was a seer of the gods.”
This is similar to the Numbers 22:5. This is an authentic text from 800 BC which shows a high regard for the historical figure of Balaam son of Beor which means he was likely had lived centuries before the text was used to decorate the wall of a residence.
Proverb
"Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended."
- Proverbs 22:10
quarrels and insults are ended."
- Proverbs 22:10
Coach’s Corner
Spend your time, emotions, stories, excitement and inner self with those you love and who are committed to you. Don’t waste your time and emotions on casual acquaintances who disappear from your life with a mere change in career, church, café or cause.
Psalm 1
New International Version (NIV)
BOOK I
Psalms 1–41
Psalm 1
1
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
4
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
New International Version (NIV)
BOOK I
Psalms 1–41
Psalm 1
1
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
4
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Psalm 2
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 2
1
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
2
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3
“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
4
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5
He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6
“I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
8
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
9
You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11
Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12
Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 2
1
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
2
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3
“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
4
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5
He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6
“I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
8
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
9
You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11
Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12
Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Amos 4
New International Version (NIV)
Israel Has Not Returned to God
4
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”
2
The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: “The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.
3
You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon,” declares the Lord.
4
“Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.
5
Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings— boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
6
“I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
7
“I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.
8
People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
9
“Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
10
“I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
11
“I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
12
“Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.”
13
He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord God Almighty is his name.
New International Version (NIV)
Israel Has Not Returned to God
4
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”
2
The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: “The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.
3
You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon,” declares the Lord.
4
“Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.
5
Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings— boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
6
“I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
7
“I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.
8
People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
9
“Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
10
“I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
11
“I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
12
“Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.”
13
He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord God Almighty is his name.
Psalm 98
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 98
A psalm.
1
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2
The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3
He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
5
make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
6
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
7
Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
8
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
9
let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
____
Psalm 99
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 99
1
The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.
2
Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.
3
Let them praise your great and awesome name— he is holy.
4
The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.
5
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.
6
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them.
7
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.
8
Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.
9
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 98
A psalm.
1
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2
The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3
He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
5
make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
6
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
7
Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
8
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
9
let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
____
Psalm 99
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 99
1
The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake.
2
Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.
3
Let them praise your great and awesome name— he is holy.
4
The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.
5
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.
6
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them.
7
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.
8
Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.
9
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.