Psalms 1–72: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition (NBBC)

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“Finally, these two pieces introduce the two most important themes of the Psalter: the blessing of life centered in Yahweh’s Torah, and the reign of Yahweh and the relationship of the king in Jerusalem to that reign.” (Page 68)

“Carrying on life (walk), positioning oneself (stand), and continuing association with mockers (sit in the company of …) all present significant traffic with the values and behaviors of persons at odds with the God of Israel. The truly glad person of Ps 1 is known first of all by the persons, attitudes, and behaviors with which this one does not identify.” (Page 70)

“But, strangely, Yahweh has ordained that his strength will best be seen in children and infants. These are totally dependent upon others for their life and care. Through these little ones Yahweh chooses actually to halt the mighty (v 2 [3 HB]). We are not told how this works except that Yahweh ordains it. Luther sees here the proclamation of Christ’s kingdom by ‘plain, simple, unsophisticated people, who are like infant children in that they set aside all reason, grasp and accept the Word with simple faith, and let themselves be led and directed by God like children’ (Pelikan 1955, 108).” (Page 95)

“The word blessed in Hebrew is a passive verb. Blessed assumes God has acted, bestowing some good upon a person. Recipients of these benevolent acts then are blessed. Such a translation is acceptable here, because the Psalter and this psalm explicitly assume the persons are profoundly happy because God has acted to save and to bless them. Their gladness is itself the gift of God. But, though this is assumed, the statement actually refers to the astounding happiness of persons known at least in part by their significant separation from the ungodly in Israel.” (Page 70)