Psalms 1:2

2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.

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Psalms 1:2 in Other Translations

KJV
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
ESV
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
NLT
2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.
MSG
2 Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
CSB
2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.

Psalms 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 1:2

But his delight [is] in the law of the Lord
Not the law of nature, which was inscribed on Adam's heart in innocence, but now greatly impaired by sin, and become very imperfect and very insufficient to make men happy, or to lead them to true felicity; nor the law of Moses, which is a fiery law, and works wrath, accuses of sin, pronounces guilty, curses and condemns to death; and therefore cannot be delighted in by a sensible sinner, unless as it is in the hands of Christ, and as fulfilled by him, who is the end of it; and as it is written on the heart of a regenerate man, who, so far as it is, delights in it after the inward man, and serves it with his spirit: but rather the Scriptures, as much and as many parts of them as were written in David's time; particularly the five books of Moses, which are called the Law and the Testimony of the Lord; which being inspired by God, were profitable and delightful to read, and to hear explained; and as they were David's delight, and the men of his council, ( Psalms 119:24 ) ; so they were the delight of every good man, there being many things in them concerning the Messiah, his grace and kingdom; see ( Luke 24:44 ) ( Acts 26:22 Acts 26:23 ) . Moreover the word (hrwt) , here used, signifies "doctrine", and may intend the evangelic doctrine, as it does in ( Psalms 19:7 ) ; which is a psalm concerning the doctrine of the apostles that went into all the world; and in like sense is the word used in ( Isaiah 2:3 ) ( 42:4 ) ; of the doctrine of the Messiah, that is, the Gospel; and is the same with the law, or doctrine of faith, in ( Romans 3:27 ) . And this may be called the doctrine of the Lord, because he is the author of it; it came by him, he revealed it; and because he is the subject of it; it is concerning him, his person, office, grace, and righteousness; and so far as it was published in the times of David, it was a joyful sound, good news and glad tidings, and the delight of good men;

and in his law doth he meditate day and night;
as Joshua was directed to do, and David did, ( Joshua 1:8 ) ( Psalms 119:97 ) . This is to be understood of a diligent reading and serious consideration of it; and of the employment of the thoughts, and of deep study upon it, in order to find out the sense and meaning of it; and which is to be done constantly, every day, as often as there is leisure and opportunity for it; or, as Kimchi on the place observes, whenever a man is free from the business of life; unless this should be taken figuratively, of the day of prosperity and night of adversity, whether in things temporal or spiritual, which are each of them proper seasons to meditate in, upon the word of God and Gospel of Christ.

Psalms 1:2 In-Context

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.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 112:1; Psalms 119:16,35; Romans 7:22
  • 2. Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:1; Ezekiel 11:20; Ezekiel 18:17
  • 3. S Genesis 24:63; Joshua 1:8
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