Salmos 1
Arthur Pink · Citado em PreceptAustin
Salmos 1:2
Pink summarizes Psalm 1:1-3 with three words that speak of the godly man or woman's… Separation (Ps 1:1) Occupation (Ps 1:2) Fertilization (Ps 1:3) Ray Pritchard notes that "Now we come to the positive side of the ledger. Having refused to walk in the way of evildoers, we instead focus on knowing God’s Word. We do this because the true way to float rubbish out is to pour water in. You can’t get rid of the garbage in your life simply by mental effort. You must replace the negative with something positive. (Ed: Compare "the washing of water with the word" Ep 5:26-note, cp Php 4:8-note, Php 4:9-note = think upon truth & then obey truth! = God of peace will be with you. Compare also "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" -- ) (Trees Planted by the Water) Play this beautiful song...then, enabled by the Holy Spirit, put the blessed truth of Psalm 1 into practice...you will never regret it beloved! Planted By the Waters Note: In this song the words "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD..." are from the parallel passage in Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." (HALLELUJAH!) But - A small word that opens a big door! Whenever you encounter this term of contrast, pause and ponder the text, asking questions like what is being contrasted, etc, which will usually force you to re-read the preceding passages (context = "king" in accurate interpretation), which is always a good "exercise." Think of "BUT" as a hinge on a door, that opens into another room different from the attached room. Here the psalmist "changes direction" from the broad way leading to destruction (Mt 7:13+), to the narrow way that leads to eternal life (Mt 7:14+, cp the highway of holiness, Isa 35:8+, the ancient paths Jer 6:16, 18:15!). Now he presents the marked contrast that accrues to those who choose to avoid the ways of the wicked, sinners and scoffers. As we have made a conscious, volitional, choice to (Spirit enabled - Php 2:13+, see Php 2:12+) "flee" from the evil, now we are by the same means called to "pursue" the good. This spiritual dynamic is similar to Paul's charge to young Timothy regarding being a vessel of honor (cp "tree firmly planted...")… if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor (cp "like a tree planted… "), sanctified (set apart), useful to the Master, prepared for every good work (cp "bear fruit in season… "). Now flee (present imperative = command to make it your habit to do so - flee the 3 "P's" = pleasure, power, possessions) from youthful lusts, and (note that true Biblical separation is balanced - if not we become "isolated" not "separated") pursue (present imperative = command to make it your habit to do so) righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2Ti 2:21, 22+) (cp a similar injunction to all followers of Christ in 1Ti 6:11, cp the same spiritual dynamic = avoid then discipline yourself in 1Ti 4:7+; the "reward" in 1Ti 4:8+) Comment: Why must we as believers continually flee? Because our fallen flesh is intractably wicked and evil [[ = our fallen flesh nature {Jas 1:14-note} inherited from Adam {Ro 5:12-note, Ro 5:14, 15-note, Ro 5:16, 17-note, Ro 5:18, 19-note} although made ineffective in believers by the Cross {Ro 6:6-note "done away with"} still inhabits our mortal bodies, ever crouching at the door of our heart {cp Pr 4:23-note} ready to spring into action {cp Ge 4:5, 6, 7} if by the enabling power of the Spirit {Ro 8:13-note, Gal 5:16-note; Gal 5:17, 18-note, Gal 5:25-note} we do not mortify it's strong desires {Col 3:5KJV - note}]], the devil (diabolos) is a continually roaming and roaring lion (1Pe 5:8-note, 1Pet 5:9-note), and the world system (1Jn 2:15-note, 1Jn 2:16-note, 1Jn 2:17-note, Jas 4:4-note, contrast Gal 6:14) cries out to satisfy your desire (witness the Nike commercial "Just Do It!") with the passing pleasures of sin (Heb 11:25-note). Compare 1Pe 2:11-note. His delight is in the law of the LORD - The Hebrew noun for delight (Hepes/chepes/chephets) pictures that which is bent toward and thus is a beautiful figure of the godly man or woman who is ever leaning toward the law of Jehovah, not referring to the the "ten commandments" but to the law as representative of God's Word. And given that God's word is His "love letter" to fallen, rebellious mankind, the blessed man seeks this letter as a young man or woman would devour a love letter from they one they are courting or being courted by. Sentence by sentence. Phrase by phrase. Word by word. Reading through the letter without interruption, even unaware of surrounding distractions. Reading and re-reading. Such a picture is one of sheer delight of the beloved at having received a love letter from God Who is the essence of love. And so the blessed man or woman inclines toward the word. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates Hepes/chepes/chephets in Ps 1:2 with with the noun thelema which is "generally, as the result of what one has decided will; (1) objectively will, design, purpose, what is willed." (Friberg) Thelema is what one wishes to happen or the act of desiring. Delight in English - a high degree of gratification or satisfaction of mind; extreme satisfaction; something that gives great pleasure. Webster's 1828 says in English "delight is a more permanent pleasure than joy, and not dependent on sudden excitement." Delightful - Highly pleasing. Affording great pleasure and satisfaction. This soul delight is beautifully captured in one of the first vocals by Fernando Ortega in a Maranatha song entitled "Blessed"… Blessed I will delight in the law of the LORD I will meditate day and night Delight - What is it? What does delight look like? How does one obtain "delight" or begin to delight? How is delight maintained, nursed and nourished? His delight - Not his obligation. Not his job. Not his duty. (Although there is some truth in each of these descriptions). Not his drudgery. But his delight! His great pleasure. His emotional delight. Delight reflects one's attitude, an attitude that precedes an action (meditates day and night). Men understand the emotion of delight for the Bible uses it to describe Shechem's "delight" in Jacob's daughter Dinah (Ge 34:19), a delight that indeed led to an action but not a God honoring action as in Psalm 1:2! We see a similar picture of delight in the Persian court of King Ahasuerus where young ladies from his harem would be paraded before the king… She would not again go in to the king unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name. (Esther 2:12b) You can mark it down - Whatever delights your heart will end up directing your heart. If you delight in the Word, you will eat it (memorize) and chew it (meditate). Note also that delight in the Word of God leads to eating of it and eating leads to increasing delight in the Word, and so the circle continues. Adam
Salmos 1:2
Pink asks: What is meant by "ate them"? Appropriation, assimilation. Meditation stands to reading—as digestion does to eating. It is as God's Word is pondered by the mind, turned over and over in the thoughts, and mixed with faith—that we assimilate it (ED: ENABLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT). That which most occupies the mind and most constantly engages our thoughts—is what we most "delight" in. When we are truly eating God's Word we find it stimulates even greater delight for His Word. Jesus gives a parallel thought in Matthew 5 in His Sermon on the Mount… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (see note Matthew 5:6) Taking in the Word not only satisfies but stimulates a delight and desire for more of the pure milk of God's Word of Truth and Life. There is one additional condition that needs to be fulfilled in order for these principles to be "energized" for Jesus also said… Blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe (present tense = as your habitual practice, your lifestyle) it. (Luke 11:28+) If you know these things, you are blessed if you do (present tense = as your habitual practice, your lifestyle) them. (John 13:17 ) GOD'S WORD: DELIGHTING DEVOURING DOING Clearly delighting and devouring must be followed up with doing. Obedience does not save us but it is the key to the blessed life. If you are not experiencing the good hand of the Lord upon you (see Ezra 7:9, 10) as described in Psalm 1:3, perhaps you have deluded yourself that by simply reading God's Word (eg, reading through the Bible in a year) you are growing in grace and Christlikeness. Wrong! You must apply the Word in order to experience blessing… But prove (present imperative = commands habitual practice or lifestyle - see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22+) Comment: Don't misinterpret James' charge to be a "doer" as if he is commanding legalistic obedience ("Obey or else!"). The truth is that without God's indwelling, enabling Spirit, we cannot truly obey (at least in a God pleasing way -- see Php 2:13NLT+ for "how" believers now are given the supernatural desire and power to obey God's Word.) It is not enough to read the Bible as a duty--we must come to it with delight. If you are having trouble with delight (and have separated from the world as instructed in Psalm 1:1), I would suggest requesting the Lord to give you such an appetite. F B
Salmos 1:3
Pink - This figure is found in numerous passages, for there are many resemblances between a tree and a saint. He is not a "reed" moved about by every wind which blows, nor a creeper, trailing along the ground. A tree is upright, and grows heavenward. This tree is "planted"—many are not—but grow wild. A "planted" tree is under the care and cultivation of its owner. Thus, this metaphor assures us that those who delight in God's Law are owned by God, cared for and pruned by Him! (The Blessed Man) Guy King - A tree must have water, and it is fascinating to see how some kinds - the alder, for instance - If planted away from it, will instinctively push out their roots in the direction of the water, however far off, seeming, with their tendrils, to be feeling for it, till they find it. (TO MY SON An Expositional Study of II Timothy by Guy King) David Caldwell expounds on "The tree similitude"…A beautiful illustration of the perpetual verdure and fruitfulness of the piety deriving its origin and sustenance from the Word of God. It is compared to a tree whose roots are refreshed by never-failing streams of living water, and whose every part is instinct with the life flowing from its roots. It is the same with the piety nourished by the Word of God. As the sap of the tree imparts life not only to its roots, and trunk, and larger branches, but also to the remotest twig and leaf, and to the very down upon the leaf, so the truly godly man’s piety pervades his whole life, imparting its spirit and character and beauty to everything he does he is not a religious man in one or two departments of life, but he is a religious man everywhere. His religion is a mental habit--a habit of thought, of feeling, of purpose, of action, of which he never for a moment divests himself. He aims that not so much as a leaf on his tree of righteous living shall show signs of decay. The same spirit that actuates him in the largest, actuates him also in the least transaction of his life. His religion is not a thing that is put on (cp James 1:27-note),--it is the man himself--the man in the man. Consequently the storm that bows mock trees of righteousness to the earth, leaves him still standing; the drought that dries up their streams of life, leaves his life still full, fresh, and flowing. Vigor, verdure, and fruitfulness are his evermore. His source of strength can never fail. It is the river of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, reaching his soul through the law of the LORD, wherein is his delight and unceasing meditation. (Biblical Illustrator - - scroll down page) Frank S. Rowland - A tree sermon to children Six characteristics of trees. 1. Contentment. I never heard of a tree complaining. They are perfectly contented with their lot. Did you ever hear of a maple wishing it were an oak? They have not so much to make them contented as we have. The Christ-Spirit in us will make us happy and contented. 2. Health. How many of you have seen an unhealthy tree? The perfect boy or girl is the one who, like the tree, is healthy. We should attend to these bodies of ours. We should be careful to eat and drink those things which will give us sound bodies. We need to keep our minds, bodies, and souls healthy. 3. Roots. A great part of a tree is underground. Two reasons for this--to hold the tree in its place, and to nourish the tree. A perfect man, a perfect woman, boy, or girl is one who is well-rooted. Among the roots which hold us stable and keep us from falling are-- (1) Good habits formed early in life; (2) good companions; (3) good books. 4. Importance. Trees are used in building, furniture, ships, and as medicine. Their fruit is important. The perfect man is important to society, to home, to national life. What should we do without the ideal man and woman? 5. Symmetry. The word means “perfectly balanced in all its parts.” Some trees have perfect proportions. There are men who have only attended to physical development; others only to intellectual development. The symmetrical man is one who has attended to the development of the mind, body, and spirit. 6. Trial. A mighty oak is perfect, because it has been tried. Tempests have swept over it, but still it stands. The perfect man, woman, boy, or girl is the one who, when tempted and tried, comes off the victor. Tried, weighed, and not found wanting, Tried and found to be sound. (Biblical Illustrator - scroll down page) All God's children should… be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, (Why?) that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3). Of Time And Trees -People who don’t want to wait 4 decades for a globe Norway maple to grow in their front yard can buy a 30-foot specimen from a New York nursery for $42,000. A 50-foot European beech is a “bargain” for only $20,000. In spite of the prices, the country’s leading nurseries report soaring sales of mature trees. As one customer put it: “I can’t wait for a banana to ripen. I only buy them bright yellow. There’s no patience for watching a tree grow.” We humans are always in a hurry, looking for shortcuts to skirt the process and grasp the product. And sometimes we expect instant maturity in our Christian walk and growth in faith. What a contrast to the enormous leisure of God in His dealings with us! The psalmist affirmed God’s promise that the person who delights in His Word will “be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season” (Ps. 1:2-3). A growing Christian, whether a new believer or a seasoned saint, is like a healthy tree—planted, nourished, and fruitful. If our roots are in God’s Word and our hearts are drawing sustenance from Him, we will flourish. And growth toward maturity brings joy to the God of patience. Our fruitfulness and growth in Christ Won't happen instantly, But meditating on God's Word Will bring maturity. —Sper It takes a moment to be saved. It takes a lifetime to grow in godliness. Spiritual Trees - Godly men and women are compared in Scripture to sturdy, healthy trees, planted by the rivers of water, laden with fruit, and full of leaves (Ps. 1:3; 104:16). In order for us to be fruitful trees, we must: 1. Stand straight for God. Lives that reveal Christlike character are lovely to behold, for they are not gnarled by sin or rotted by hypocrisy. 2. Be strong. Those who are well-rooted in God’s Word will be unmovable in times of trial and temptation. 3. Keep growing. As healthy trees add a new ring of growth each year, we too should constantly grow in grace (2 Pet. 3:18). 4. Bring blessing to others. Some trees provide food, others give shade, and others are made into lumber. So too, Christians should provide spiritual food and comfort to their neighbors, as well as use their time and talents to build people up in the Lord. 5. Be ready to be transplanted when God so wills. Christians are not here to stay; they are waiting to be transplanted in the garden of heaven where their fruit will never wither and their leaf will never fade. How good a tree are you? Is there any fruit, any beauty, any growth worth talking about? Or are you wilted and unproductive? Get growing! —Henry G. Bosch (ODB Editor 1956-1981) The just are nourished like a tree Set by the riverside; Their leaf is green, their fruit is sure, And thus their works abide. —Anon. When growth stops, decay begins. Planted (08362) (shathal/satal) is a verb which means to plant or to transplant. The idea is to plant and cultivate a seed or seedling in the ground so it may grow. Almost all the uses are figurative, speaking of the godly man or of Israel The Septuagint (Lxx) uses phuteuo which means literally to plant (Mt 21:33) or figuratively to introduce the Gospel others (1Cor 3:6). The picture in Psalm 1 is of the godly man being transplanted, which is a fitting image of the New Testament truth of the born-again person. We were dead in our trespasses and sins in IN ADAM and when we were born again by the sanctifying work of the Spirit we were transferred from ("transplanted" if you will from) the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light and placed IN CHRIST, rooted and grounded in Him. Shathal - 11v - Ps 1:3; Ps 92:13; Jer 17:8; Ezek 17:8, 10, 22, 23; 19:10, 13; Hos 9:13 Usage: plant(2), planted(8). Psalms 92:13 Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. Joni Eareckson Tada - The branches of growing trees not only reach higher, but their roots grow deeper. It’s impossible for a strong tree to have high branches without having deep roots. It would become top-heavy and topple over in the wind… The same is true with Christians. It’s impossible for us to grow in the Lord without entwining our roots around His Word and deepening our life in His commands.” (Diamonds in the Dust) Joseph Alexander - He is not, however, like a tree growing wild, but like a tree planted, in the most favorable situation, on or over, i.e., overhanging, streams of water. The original words properly denote canals or channels, as customary means of artificial irrigation. hence the single tree is said to overhang more than one, because surrounded by them. The image presented is that of a highly cultivated spot, and implies security and care, such as could not be enjoyed in the most luxuriant wilderness or forest. (Psalm 1 Commentary) Planted speaks of stability in the storms of life. Ray Pritchard elaborates on this picture asking… How do you know when a tree has good roots? Answer: When the storms come. All the trees look pretty much alike when the sun is shining or a gentle rain is falling, but let a mighty storm with fierce rain and howling winds pass through. Then the true difference is apparent. The trees with few roots are blown over, but the trees with deep roots are still standing when the storm has passed. So it is for the child of God. You won’t know how good your root system is until the storms of life crash against you. Only then will you discover the strength of your spiritual foundation. The only way to be ready for the storm is to spend time now delighting in God’s Word day by day, meditating on its truth, and building a foundation deep and strong for whatever may come your way. Parallel Isaiah 61:3b and note how or by whom he is planted and why? So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. The older I get the more I like God's picture of believers as "trees" Psalm 92 testifying that… The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green. Streams of water - The Septuagint translates the phrase by streams of water with the Greek phrase "para tas diexodous ton hudaton". The Greek lexicon BDAG explains that the specific phrase tas diexodous ton hudaton means… the point where a stream of water flowing underground suddenly breaks through and flows out freely, a spring The point is that this is not a stagnant pool but a flowing stream, making the image even more vivid in a land where flowing spring fed streams were sparse. How blessed is this man! Adam Clarke… By the rivers of water - פלגי מים palgey mayim, the streams or divisions of the waters. Alluding to the custom of irrigation in the eastern countries, where streams are conducted from a canal or river to different parts of the ground, and turned off or on at pleasure; the person having no more to do than by his foot to turn a sod from the side of one stream, to cause it to share its waters with the other parts to which he wishes to direct his course. Albert Barnes agrees, adding that streams … does not here quite express the sense of the original. The Hebrew word פלג peleg, from פלג pâlag, to cleave, to split, to divide), properly means divisions; and then, channels, canals, trenches, branching-cuts, brooks. The allusion is to the Oriental method of irrigating their lands by making artificial rivulets to convey the water from a larger stream, or from a lake. In this way, the water was distributed in all directions. The whole land of Egypt was anciently sluiced (channeled) in this manner, and it was in this way that its extraordinary fertility was secured. An illustration of the passage may be derived from the account by Maundrell of the method of watering the gardens and orchards in the vicinity of Damascus. “The gardens are thick set with fruit trees of all kinds, kept fresh and verdant by the waters of the Barady … This river, as soon as it issues out of the cleft of the mountain before mentioned, into the plain, is immediately divided into three streams, of which the middlemost and largest runs directly to Damascus, and is distributed to all the cisterns and fountains of the city. The other two, which I take to be the work of art, are drawn round, the one to the right, and the other to the left, on the borders of the gardens, into which they are let out, as they pass, by little rivulets, and so dispersed over all the vast wood, insomuch that there is not a garden but has a fine, quick stream running through it.” Trav., p. 122… The image is that of a tree abundantly watered, and that was flourishing. Steven
Salmos 1:3
Pink writes that the psalmist's description of a fruitful Christian… is an essential character of a gracious man, for there are no fruitless branches in the true Vine (Jn 15:5). "In season," for all fruits do not appear in the same month, neither are all the graces of the Spirit produced simultaneously. Times of trial—call for faith. Times of suffering—call for patience. Times of disappointment—call for meekness. Times of danger—call for courage. Times of blessings—call for thanksgiving. Times of prosperity—call for joy. John
Salmos 1:3
Pink comments "Where there is no fruit to God's glory—our profession is a mockery." Regarding the phrase one whose leaf does not whither John
Salmos 1:3
Pink adds that… This (prosperity) necessarily follows, though it is not always apparent to the eye of sense. Not even a cup of water given in the name of Christ, shall fail to receive its reward—if not here, certainly in the hereafter (Mt 10:42, Mark 9:41). David Dickson (1834) - Whatsoever duty or service to God this man goes about, shall not want the assistance of God, nor success, nor acceptance at His hands - whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Albert
Salmos 1:3
Pink asks "How far, dear reader, do you and I resemble this "blessed man"? Let us again press the order of these three verses. Just so far as we fall into the sins of verse 1—will our delight in God's Law be dulled. And just so far as we are not in subjection to His will—shall we be fruitless. But a complete separation from the world, and wholehearted occupation with the Lord—will issue in fruit to His praise!" And all God's children cry "Amen! Let it be so Lord!"