Notes On Psalm 1 1964

by John Miller | Category: Voices From The Past | Sept 1994

The word "blessed" (Hebrew, Esher), rendered "happy" by some, is a plural interjection in the Hebrew - "Happinesses". The Hebrew word is first used by Leah the wife of Jacob when Zilpah her handmaid bore Asher (Happy): "Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: and she called his name Asher" (Gen. 30:13). Women in ancient times were happy in the birth of children. There are quite a number of causes of happiness in the Scriptures, such as "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven (Ps. 32:1). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" (33:12). "Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust" (40:4).

We should distinguish between Esher, which we are told is only found in plural construction, and Barak (to kneel down), the latter being used of God blessing man, and of men blessing God, and also of men blessing one another. The first use is that of God blessing man, male or female: "God blessed them" (Gen. 1:22,28). Of man blessing God, David says, "Let us kneel (Barak) before the LORD our Maker: for He is our God" (Ps. 95:6,7). Solomon in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple kneeled (Barak) upon his knees (2 Chron. 6:13).

The man of Psalm 1 who is blessed is one that eschews the counsel, that is, the advice, of the ungodly and will not wall: therein. Walk (Halak) has a number of applications in the Scriptures both literal and figurative. The figurative is used in Psalm 1. It describes the man's conduct or behaviour, for ungodly counsel leads to ungodly behaviour. Practice follows on the heels of preaching.

Walk and Way are correlatives. God has a way for His saints to walk in and sinners have their way. These have existed from the earliest times. As the saint contemplates the path of life, his inmost thought should be, "Where is the good way?" that he might walk therein and so find rest to his soul (Jer. 6:16). It is sad when the saint has come to a halt and is found standing in the way of sinners.

The last of the three evils is the seat of the scornful. The scornful (Hebrew Luwts) is a despicable character; he is an impudent and frivolous person. A saint who sits in the seat of such a mocker has a conscience which is unresponsive and callous. Peter prophesied of the last days, in which mockers would come with mockery (2 Pet. 3:3).

John Miller | Sept 1994
Voices From The Past