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Dear brothers and sisters, Today we revisit the opening strophe (/ˈstrōfē/ noun: a structural division of a poem containing stanzas of varying line-length) of Psalm 2. Psalm 2:2-3 NIVThe kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” P.T. Forsythe, a British preacher, once said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master.” This truth is well illustrated in Psalm 2. When you find your true Master, you will discover true and lasting freedom….

Psalm 2:1-3 NIVWhy do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band togetheragainst the LORD and against his anointed, saying,“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” This song begins with a perplexing question. Why do nations conspire against the Lord? The simple answer is sin. We seek our own will and freedom. We imagine that God’s commands are a burden we wish not to bear. However, His commands give us true and lasting freedom and joy. Any and all nations are in a dangerous place when…

Dear Brothers and Sisters, This month of February, we will be memorizing Psalm 2. It is a fitting compliment to Psalm 1.  Both songs, which open this book of worship, call us to trust in the Lord. Psalm 1 pronounces blessings on all who trust in the Lord. Trusting in the Lord reveals true prosperity. Psalm 2 ends with a call to take refuge in the Lord. When we seek God’s love and protection, we are trusting in His power and care for us. He does not just protect us but He, Himself, is our refuge! As you read Psalm…

Psalm 1:6 NIVFor the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Certainly, God sees the way of the wicked but he watches over the way of the righteous. He protects and guides. The righteous are eager to follow His instructions and He is pleased to guide them. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIVTrust in the LORD with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight. As we close our simple study of Psalm 1, it is my prayer that it will…

Psalm 1:4-5 NIVNot so the wicked!They are like chaff that the wind blows away.Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. The greatest contrast in Psalm 1 is revealed in these verses. The wicked were introduced back in verse 1. Choosing to disobey the Law of the Lord, they will face His judgment. This pattern of rebellion will not see blessedness. The picture used is one of instability and fruitlessness. It is chaff blowing in the wind! There is no security no matter what fame or fortune they experience on the earth….

Beloved friends and family— Psalm 1:1-3 NIVThat person is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. The process of living a blessed life began in the heart of delight, continues in the mind of meditation, and results in a transformed will to obey. God gives us a promise of true success! The prosperity here is a spiritual reality which God will honor here on earth and in eternity. It cannot be measured by earthly fame or fortune alone. Joshua makes a similar observation in Joshua 1:8-9…