Showing posts with label Psalm 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 1. Show all posts
Monday, February 10, 2025
Psalm Meditation 1287 (1)
¶Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
¶February 16, 2025
¶Psalm 1
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%201&version=NRSVUE
(NRSVUE)
¶I am not sure how important it is, however it seems worth mentioning, that in other translations the first three verses are singular and the last three are plural. I imagine it was done in the interest of non-sexist, non-gendered language which I support wholeheartedly. I know that the singular could have been preserved without too many grammatical gymnastics, so I wonder why it was not done. If the singular is important it is likely because so many of us see good people as rare while the wicked are plentiful.
¶I think we notice wicked folks more often because they are so willing to put themselves in a position to be seen. The narcissists, the power hungry, the fearmongers etc., want to be seen so that everyone knows that they deserve all the attention they get. The folks who are good, kind, helpful, etc., are much more likely to work quietly, blending in with the folks who are struggling under the various weights loaded on to those who suffer oppression in its many expressions.
¶The test of good vs evil is not in the visibility of either one; it is in the lasting impact left on the people around them. Are they viewed kindly, or rarely mentioned? Are they honored, or feared? Do they stand tall in the memory of those they have touched, or are they objects of derision and disdain? Are they remembered for their quiet strength, or for their weakness masquerading as power? “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
¶February 10, 2025
¶LCM
Monday, February 21, 2022
Psalm Meditation 1132
¶Transfiguration Sunday
¶February 27, 2022
¶Psalm 1
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
(NRSV)
¶Many of us can get one hundred compliments in a day along with one disparaging comment, and the one we remember is the discount. That one remark can ruin a day and stick with us far longer than any number of compliments. Those disparaging remarks burn themselves into our psyches and leave us wounded and gasping. Our thoughts are of revenge, to hurt that person as deeply as they have hurt us. Whether the critique is true or not, we want to find a way to get back at them for their brutality.
¶The psalmist tells us that God is not like us. God can and does hear our thanks and praise and soaks it all in. The remark that is meant to insult God is received, processed, and acted on appropriately by God. None of the evil intent is kept to fester. God has taken what is helpful and is ready to move on in steadfast love.
¶The psalm does invite us to be counted among the righteous so that we can continue to move in the ways that lead to God. That way is a fulfilling and sustaining way, as wholesome as a tree growing near a constant source of water and other nutrients. We are not left to wonder if we will ever experience steadfast love, we are held in an ever-flowing stream of it. As we live into the presence of God we may find that the insults of others, intended or not, are opportunities for growth and change.
¶February 21, 2022
¶LCM
Monday, April 1, 2019
Psalm Meditation 981
Fifth Sunday in Lent
April 7, 2019
Psalm 1
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
(NRSV)
I am a fan and proponent of including as many people as possible in conversation and activity. One of the ways to do that is to use language that includes, at the very least doesn’t exclude, people. One of the simplest ways is to change singular references to plural. Most of the time that works and doesn’t make any difference Sometimes attempts at inclusion end up changing the emphasis of a text. I use the New Revised Standard Version as my reference point since it was the best available at the time I began writing these meditations. I also use the Revised Standard Version in preparing meditations.
In the RSV the first three verses, those referring to those who turn away from wickedness are singular, and those referring to the wicked are plural. The NRSV uses an inclusive plural throughout. It doesn’t make a lot of difference in the full meaning of the psalm, however it does make the point that the righteous option is one that fewer people choose. Righteousness takes a singular focus as opposed to going along with the crowd of the wicked.
That is a long introduction to the psalmist’s encouragement to those who make the choice to ignore the easy way, the crowded way, the way that always seems to have resources, the way that leads toward ease and comfort. The psalmist encourages those who delight in the law of the LORD. Each one may feel left out and excluded from the herd mentality of those seeking the easy way. The psalmist encourages each one to stand firm knowing that each one is nourished and sustained in the life-giving stream of the presence of God. God supports and sustains the one who stands firm in the way of God.
April 1, 2019
LCM
Fifth Sunday in Lent
April 7, 2019
Psalm 1
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
(NRSV)
I am a fan and proponent of including as many people as possible in conversation and activity. One of the ways to do that is to use language that includes, at the very least doesn’t exclude, people. One of the simplest ways is to change singular references to plural. Most of the time that works and doesn’t make any difference Sometimes attempts at inclusion end up changing the emphasis of a text. I use the New Revised Standard Version as my reference point since it was the best available at the time I began writing these meditations. I also use the Revised Standard Version in preparing meditations.
In the RSV the first three verses, those referring to those who turn away from wickedness are singular, and those referring to the wicked are plural. The NRSV uses an inclusive plural throughout. It doesn’t make a lot of difference in the full meaning of the psalm, however it does make the point that the righteous option is one that fewer people choose. Righteousness takes a singular focus as opposed to going along with the crowd of the wicked.
That is a long introduction to the psalmist’s encouragement to those who make the choice to ignore the easy way, the crowded way, the way that always seems to have resources, the way that leads toward ease and comfort. The psalmist encourages those who delight in the law of the LORD. Each one may feel left out and excluded from the herd mentality of those seeking the easy way. The psalmist encourages each one to stand firm knowing that each one is nourished and sustained in the life-giving stream of the presence of God. God supports and sustains the one who stands firm in the way of God.
April 1, 2019
LCM
Monday, July 8, 2013
Psalm Meditation 682
Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 14, 2013
Psalm 1
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
(NRSV)
What is the advice of the wicked? It would be interesting if it changed from time to time and situation to situation, however it is almost always the same, ‘Take the easy way, the thoughtless way, the selfish way; that’s the way for us to go.’ The way that takes no real effort and reaps instant, high rewards is the wicked way. The risks are usually pretty high, and pretty well hidden, at least at the beginning.
Those the psalmist calls ‘the righteous’ make the effort to discover the will of God, give thought to how best to live that out and put in the time and energy to see that through. The rewards come more slowly and are the kinds of rewards that are held in the heart rather than in the hands or the bank. It takes more effort to get started on the way of righteousness, and in some sense in gets easier as time goes by, as lives are touched and hearts are warmed on a regular basis.
The way of the wicked looks attractive at first and gets uglier as time passes. The way of the righteous looks difficult at first and while some parts get easier as time passes, the continuing challenges to become deeper and broader have a way of keeping things interesting.
July 8, 2013
Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 14, 2013
Psalm 1
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
(NRSV)
What is the advice of the wicked? It would be interesting if it changed from time to time and situation to situation, however it is almost always the same, ‘Take the easy way, the thoughtless way, the selfish way; that’s the way for us to go.’ The way that takes no real effort and reaps instant, high rewards is the wicked way. The risks are usually pretty high, and pretty well hidden, at least at the beginning.
Those the psalmist calls ‘the righteous’ make the effort to discover the will of God, give thought to how best to live that out and put in the time and energy to see that through. The rewards come more slowly and are the kinds of rewards that are held in the heart rather than in the hands or the bank. It takes more effort to get started on the way of righteousness, and in some sense in gets easier as time goes by, as lives are touched and hearts are warmed on a regular basis.
The way of the wicked looks attractive at first and gets uglier as time passes. The way of the righteous looks difficult at first and while some parts get easier as time passes, the continuing challenges to become deeper and broader have a way of keeping things interesting.
July 8, 2013
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