Project 119: Psalm 1 & 2
| Project 119 | Amy Hirsch
Morning: 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.
Father,
I praise You because You are a Good Father who has revealed Yourself to me through Your Word and through Your Son, Jesus Christ. You are the Good Shepherd who faithfully leads His sheep, and just like sheep, Your children hear Your voice and follow You.
I want to be like the believer in verses 1-2 of the Psalm, the one whose delight is not in sin, but is in the law of the Lord, who is quick to listen and to follow You. Yet so often, I confess that I am easily distracted by the ways of the world. I linger in the counsel of the wicked. I am tempted to follow others in their sinful ways. It is easy to find myself sitting in the seat of scoffers. Would you forgive me, God, for my fallen ways, for living as though I am not a believer?
God, I know that I don’t receive salvation through obeying Your word - that salvation is only by grace through faith in Christ! Yet I also know that You call me to live like I am one of Your children, because I am: Your child who is quick to heed Your law and who chooses to hide Your word in my heart. Help me to be more like You. Help me to find delight in the pages of Scripture, trusting that You have revealed yourself to me through the Bible. Lord, would transform my heart, so that I might be one who is continually pondering, savoring, and trusting in Your Word - in times of joy and sorrow, and in times of peace and strife?
And I pray that, as I grow in love for Your word, I would grow like the tree imagined in verse 3 - that Your Word would sustain me as water sustains a tree’s growth, and that the Holy Spirit would cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in my life - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - fruit that isn’t primarily for my benefit but for the blessing of others! Would You use me to bless others and to point them to You - in my workplace, in my friendships, in my home, in my neighborhood?
I pray for those who don’t know You, who do walk in the counsel of the wicked. Lord, would You reveal yourself to them, so that they might come to faith and stand, with me, in the congregation of the righteous? I pray that You might give me opportunities to be Your faithful witness to those who do not believe, that they might come to trust in You and count themselves among the children of God - not because of their good works, but because of their relationship with You.
Lord, I am grateful to be Your child. Help me to live faithfully and to walk in step with my Father, trusting that You know my ways. You are intimately acquainted with me. You promise that the grace that has brought me safe thus far is the same grace that will bring me home. Amen.
Evening: Psalm 2
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.