Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Psalm 1:1-3
The joys of those is the phrase that not only begins this psalm, but in it lies the essence of what is promised to those who read and meditate on all the psalms. In the Hebrew it is plural (blessings) and is equivalent to the Greek word for “blessed” or “happy” (Matthew 5:3). The influence one allows others to have determines to a large extent one’s spiritual destiny. The follow-stand-join seems to suggest a progression of influence that results from initially turning one’s attention in this wrong direction.*
If the child of God can “never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and “never stop thanking God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13), then it is also possible to meditate day and night on God’s truths. This suggests a constant state of communion and fellowship with God.*
Meditating – hagah (hah-gah); Strong’s #1897: To reflect, to moan, to mutter; to ponder; to make a quiet sound such as sighing; to meditate or contemplate something as one repeats the words. Hagah represents something quite unlike the English “meditation,” which may be a mental exercise only. In Hebrew thought, to meditate upon the Scriptures is to quietly repeat them in a soft, droning sound, while utterly abandoning outside distractions. From this tradition comes a specialized type of Jewish prayer called “davening,” that is reciting texts, praying intense prayers, or getting lost in communion with God while bowing or rocking back and forth. Evidently, this dynamic form of meditation-prayer goes back to David’s time.*
*Notes taken from Thomas Nelson New Spirit Filled Life Bible
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