Whenever we consider a Psalm we have the opportunity to read it in multiple ways. There is the reading of unbelief. We read the Psalm merely for academic purposes, but it doesn’t touch or change our lives. There is also the way of the casual read: we read it rather quickly, thank the Lord, and move on with our day. Then there is the way of deep reflection. We go to the Lord first in prayer, then read it slowly, and finally begin to identify all kinds of things in the context of examining our lives. As we reflect, we might get so enthusiastic about the Psalm itself that we identify its structure, look up its key words (the Psalms are in Hebrew), memorize it, and maybe even look up its history of interpretation. The possibilities for study seem endless.
I do not point out the study possibilities to overwhelm you. I point them out to inspire you to read, learn, and grow. Consider Psalm 1 again. As has already been said, the Psalm is about the basics. In other words, every individual who has ever been born has to decide whether he or she wants to live God’s way or his/her own way. Psalm 1 says, “Hey! Over here! Live God’s way. Know His instruction (Torah), and God will make your life fruitful.” Yet in contrast, the enticement to live a person’s own way is always close by.
Some Wisdom from Augustine
Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, in reading the Psalm from the LXX (called the Septuagint – the Greek version of the Old Testament), commented on the end of verse 1 first by quoting the last line this way:
And has not sat in the seat of pestilence. (The ESV uses the Hebrew and says, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.)
Augustine goes on to say in reference to Jesus, “he did not want an earthly kingdom and the pride that goes with it.” In other words, Jesus did not fight for His own way. He went to the cross for us.
The Bishop then says, “Such pride is rightly understood as the seat of pestilence because there is hardly anyone who is free of the love of wielding power or does not long for human glory. For a pestilence is a disease which has spread widely and overwhelms all.”
Pestilence
What is the pestilence then? It is the human disease of living one’s own way. It is that which leads us into cynicism, effects our behavior, and causes us to listen to the way of the world.
Let’s stop there for a moment. Let’s reflect on it. Do you want power? Our Lord came in humility. He gave up His divine prerogatives in order to take on human flesh (see Philippians 2:5-11). Do you want human glory? Our Lord did not come to attract people through their own eyes (see Isaiah 53:2). Our Lord came so that people would see Him with their hearts.
I hope you are beginning to see how important it is for us to slow down in reading the Psalms. There is so much to learn, and the insights seem endless. May God grant you the grace of deep reflection, and may you know that the Lord is good at every midday meal.