THE FIRST SONG IN THE SACRED SONGBOOK (continued)

Introduction: For many years I knew intellectually that this was a sacred song, but I didn’t specifically think of it as a song. My first experience that I remember with Christian songs was when I was in the ranch country in Western Oklahoma the year before I was saved.  Every restaurant or store of any size had a nickelodeon, as we called them then (or juke boxes I think they are called now).  A song that was played almost constantly was “I won’t Go Hunting with You, Jake, but I’ll Go Chasing Women.”  I never put  in a nickel to hear that.  I didn’t like the song, but I did like to hunt.  I went ‘coon hunting with my dogs many of my free nights.  Then I heard a new song, “It Is no Secret what God Can Do.” Though I wasn’t a Christian, I liked the song and played it every chance I got.  One of my friends said, “Don’t you know that the same guy wrote both songs?”  I was shocked!  I began to ask people how that could be.  Then someone explained to me that the first song was one of Stuart Hamlin’s last hits before he became a Christian, and the second was written after he was saved. 

Let us look at the second stanza of the first sacred song in the Bible hymnbook:

II. THE FAITH OF THE GODLY MAN – Psalm 1:2

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (1:2).

In this second stanza of the song, the psalmist is reflecting on three things: delight in the law, deliberation in the law, and dedication to the law of God.

A. His Delight Is in the Law of the lord – Ps. 1:2a

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD” (1:2a).

To delight in the Lord means:

To be attracted to His attributes.

To be hungry for His holiness.

To long to learn about the Lord.

To feast on His spiritual food.

To want to be wise according to His Word.

To be tuned to His teaching.

To delight in His doctrine*

To love His law*

To want to walk in His will.

To have peace in His presence.

To have protection in His presence.

*Let’s look again at what it means to delight in His doctrine and to love His law. 

(Psa 119:10)  "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments."

(Psa 119:47-48)  "And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. {48} My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes."

(Psa 119:97)  "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

(Psa 119:140)  "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it."

(Psa 119:159)  "Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness."

(Psa 119:163)  "I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love."

(Psa 119:165)  "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

(Psa 119:167)  "My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly."

B. His Deliberation Is in the Law of the Lord – Ps. 1:2b

“And in his law doth he meditate” (1:2b).

In the beginning of my Christian life, I was given this definition of  to meditate:  “Meditation is reflective thinking with a view to application.” This definition has been a great help to me. 

Christians need to train their minds to meditate about God and His grace.

 (Josh 1:8)  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

(Psa 119:15)  "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways."

(Psa 119:23)  "Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes."

(Psa 119:48)  "My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”

(Psa 119:97)  "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

(Psa 143:5)  "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands."

 (Psa 19:14)  "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

(Phil 4:8)  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

C. His Dedication Is to the Law of the Lord – Ps. 1:2c

“And in his law doth he meditate day and night” (1:2c).  

The godly man meditates in the Law day and night; that is, he whole heartedly walks with God, watches withGod, and waits for God.  He spends all his time (day and night) in the presence of God.  His dedication is to the Law of the Lord.

Here are some Scriptures that come to mind about being wholeheartedly dedicated to the Lord and to His Law: 

 (Jos. 1:8) “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

(2 Chron.15:15) “And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.

(Col. 3:22–23) “²²Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: ²³And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

(Phil. 4:8) “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”—That is, think on these things day and night!

The Bible Knowledge Commentary on the Old Testament has this statement at the end of the teaching on Psalm 1:2, before going on to verse 3: “This is ‘the announcement of blessings and the centrality of the Law for fulfillment in life’” (page 790).