Gold for the heart

Psalm 1

1Oh! The happiness of the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scorners; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Counsel of the ungodly is any advice that leaves out God and what He says about things.
It is eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God’s word is all we need.

2 Timothy 3:15, 16 all scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be mature thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’

3 He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf does not fade; and whatever he does will prosper.

God has given man the only true secret to lasting fruitfulness and prosperity—meditating much in His word.

Galatians 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

1 Samuel 2:30 …for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me will be lightly esteemed.

4 The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not rise in the judgment, or sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

God knows our way

6 For the LORD knows the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

God knows the paths of our feet. He knows the paths of our heart.
The righteous are those who walk by faith— ‘For without faith it is impossible to please Him.’ Hebrews 11:6
God is life. He sent His Son to die so that He might give us life.
If we refuse that and rely on our own goodness, there is no hope.

John 17:3 To know you is life eternal.

2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance.

Psalm 2

1Why do the heathen/nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed saying, 3 Let us break their chains, and cast away their ropes from us.

The ‘heathen’ are nations that have turned their backs on God, their Maker.

Psalm 103:19 The LORD has prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all.

4 He that sits in the heavens will laugh: the Lord will mock them. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury.

God spoke creation into being and sustains all things.
The pride of these nations and peoples is so colossal as to think they can fight against God and win when they can’t even support their own breathing or cause their heart to beat.
Ezekiel gives a glimpse of God sitting in the heavens.
Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, appearing like a sapphire stone: and on throne was the likeness of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins upward, and from the appearance of his loins downward, I saw the appearance of fire, and it had brightness around it. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain was the appearance of the brightness around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

God declares His chosen ruler

6 Yet I have anointed my king on Zion, the hill of my holiness.

Zion is a symbol of victory over the last enemy.
The Jebusites, or tramplers, were conquered in Jerusalem by David.
David took the fortress and made it his home. It was on Mount Zion.
For us this symbolizes the conquering of the last enemy of our thoughts—the noisome pestilence of Psalm 91:3.
This enemy is conquered by keeping the eyes of our soul on Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord Jehovah for in the Lord is everlasting strength.

Matthew16:27 For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he will reward every man according to his works.

7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day I have fathered you. 8 Ask of me, and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash/strike them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom that which will not be destroyed.

Luke 1:31-33 And, behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest:

10 Be wise now, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, for his anger is quickly kindled. Blessed are all seeking refuge in him.

The word fear also means reverence, awe.

We all fear something; we all trust something or someone.
Blessed or divinely, supernaturally happy, are those who trust the Lord.
All the things we know, love, and trust originated in Him.
He is infinitely and wondrously better than any of the things He has made.
And He loves us each with an infinite, personal, and everlasting love. To miss this love is to miss life.

Romans 11:36 Of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things.

Psalm 3

The Lord is our shield; He guards us as we sleep

1 O LORD, how my enemies have multiplied! Many are rising up against me.

2 Many say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But you, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory and He who lifts up my head.

Psalm 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man will do to me.

4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

The word ‘Selah’ is a musical rest. It says to us that these are truths to rest upon.

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for you have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; you have broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Deliverance belongs to the LORD: your blessing is on your people. Selah.

1 Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly will know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S…

Psalm 91:7 A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.

Psalm 4

1Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: you enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 2 O sons of men, how long will you turn my glory into shame/disgrace? How long will you love empty things, and seek after lies? Selah.

God enlarges us, increases our capacity for Him when we are in distress.
When we greatly love things that are less than God we make them an idol and have sought after lies and turned God’s glory into shame.

The Lord has set the godly apart for Himself

3 But know that the LORD has set the godly apart for himself: the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 Stand in awe, and do not sin: commune within your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.

God always defines Himself in His word. Verse 4 defines the godly of verse 3.
It is those who stand in awe of God. Is He not awesome who made the universe, the world and all things in it, and us.
It is those who rule over their sinful nature as He implored Cain to do in Gen 4:7.
It is those who commune with God in their own hearts. These He has set apart for Himself.

Deuteronomy 32:9 For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

He makes us dwell in safety

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 Many are saying, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift up the light of your face on us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their grain and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay down in peace and sleep: for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he gives his beloved sleep.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and do not lean unto your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

Psalm 5

1Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: I will pray to you. 3 You will hear my voice in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct my prayer to you, and will look up.

When we pray to the LORD, we are praying to the one who has all the power and controls everything in the universe. That is what the name LORD means.

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, who does not regard persons, or takes bribes:

4 For you are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness: evil will not dwell with you. 5 The foolish will not stand in your sight: you hate all workers of iniquity. 6 You will destroy them that speak lies: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into your house in the abundance of your love: and in your fear I will worship toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies/those that observe me; make your way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

Flattery is insincere and excessive praise to gain advantage.
God leads wonderfully.

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God defends and He crowns with favor like a shield

10 Hold them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all those that put their trust in you rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them: also let those that love your name/person be joyful in you. 12 For you LORD, will bless the righteous; you will crown him with your favor as a shield.

Psalm 6

The LORD corrects us in His love

1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or chasten me in your fury. 2 Have mercy on me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is greatly troubled: but you, O LORD, how long? 4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for your mercies' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you: in the grave who will give you thanks?

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Matthew 12:15 … and he healed them all;

6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 My eye is consumed because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies. _

Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

He hears and receives our prayers

8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled: they will turn back and suddenly be ashamed.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 7

1 O LORD, my God, I put my trust in you: save me from all those that persecute me, and deliver me: 2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there is iniquity in my hands; 4 If I have repaid evil to my friend or plundered my enemy without cause, 5 Let the enemy pursue my soul and take it; yes, let him trample down my life to the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. Selah. 6 Arise, O LORD, be lifted up in your anger because of the rage of my enemies: and wake for me to the judgment that you have commanded. 7 So shall the congregation of the people surround you: for their sakes return on high. 8 The LORD will judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity that is in me.

The Lord, Maker, controller, and sustainer of the universe is the one David is praying to in this psalm. There is no one higher or more powerful.

I Kings 22:19 I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

The Lord tests our hearts and emotions

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God tests the hearts and reins. 10 My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I will not be moved.

11 God is a righteous judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If he does not turn, he will whet his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready. 13 He has also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordained his arrows against the pursuers. 14 Behold, he is bound with iniquity, and has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He dug a pit, and bored it, and has fallen into the ditch that he made.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap.

16 His misery will return on his own head, and his violent dealing will come down on his own crown. 17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 47:2 For the LORD Most High is awesome; he is a great King over all the earth.

Psalm 8

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Who has set your glory above the heavens.

Our LORD is infinite, eternal knowledge, power, righteousness, and love.
This is the excellence from which He made all things in the earth.
The earth displays his excellence.
His glory is described in Ezekiel 1 as the fiery amber form of a man flashing forth rainbows.

Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, appearing like a sapphire stone: and on throne was the likeness of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins upward, and from the appearance of his loins downward, I saw the appearance of fire, and it had brightness around it. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain was the appearance of the brightness around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

God is mindful of man

2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have founded strength because of your enemies, that you might stop the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man, that you are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you take care of him?

Psalm 115:12-13 The LORD has been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

5 For you have made him a little lower than the gods and have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him rule over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet: 7 flocks and oxen all of them, yes, and the animals of the field; 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!

The word name means person. God alone is excellent. He made all and sustains all.

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (are held together).

Psalm 9

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all your marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you: I will sing praise to your name, O most High. 3 When my enemies have turned back, they will fall and perish at your presence. 4 For you have maintained my right and my cause; you sit in the throne judging right. 5 You have rebuked the heathen, you have destroyed the wicked, you have put out their name forever and ever. 6 The desolations of the enemy are finished forever: and you have destroyed cities; their memory has perished with them.

The heathen are those who turn their backs on God.
The wicked are those who follow evil.

The LORD will judge the world rightly

7 But the LORD will endure forever: he has prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he will judge the world in righteousness; he will minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge/high place in times of trouble. 10 They that know your name will put their trust in you: for you, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek you. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion: declare his doings among the people. 12 When he investigates murder, he remembers them: he does not forget the cry of the humble.

Genesis 4 tells of God’s first investigation of murder—when Cain killed Abel.

13 Have mercy on me, O LORD; consider my trouble that I suffer from those that hate me, you that lift me up from the gates of death 14 that I may show forth all your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in your deliverance. 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made: their own foot is taken in the net that they hid. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment he executes: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Think about that. Rest in it.

Jeremiah 2:19 Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts.

17 The wicked will be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy will not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor will not perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD; do not let man prevail: let the nations be judged in your sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

The Bible says that hell is a lake of fire and brimstone inside the earth.
Each time a volcano erupts it proves that hell exists.
People bring God’s judgment on themselves by wrong choices.
They do it to themselves.
Those in hell chose not to know their Creator.
He paid for all their sins.
He bought their passage into heaven.
So the only thing keeping them from God is that they chose not to seek Him.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Psalm 10

1 Why do you stand far away, O LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor: let them be caught in the schemes they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.

Coveteousness is desiring something in excess.
God made all things.
He is the source and sustainer of all things.
It is not right when we focus on some ‘thing’ rather than the source and sustainer of all things.

Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his face will not seek God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; your judgments are far above, out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffs at them. 6 He has said in his heart, I will not be moved: I will never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is toil and emptiness. 8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places he murders the innocent: his eyes are privately set against the poor. 9 He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he catches the poor, drawing him into his net. 10 He crouches, he bows down, and the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 He has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he hides his face; he will never see it. 12 Rise up, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand: do not forget the humble.

Psalm 9:12 When he makes inquisition for blood, he remembers them: he does not forget the cry of the humble.

13 Why do the wicked despise God? He has said in his heart, You will not require it. 14 You have seen; for you take note of perverseness and spite, to repay it with your hand: the poor commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness until you find none.

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us will give account of himself to God.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

The Lord is King forever and ever

16 The LORD is King forever and ever: the heathen have perished out of his land. 17. LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble: you will prepare their heart, you will cause your ear to hear: 18 To avenge the orphan and the oppressed, the man of earth will no longer cause dread.

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SUMMARY: Psalms 1-10

Many happinesses are to those who follow God's way
God knows our way
He declares His chosen ruler
He is our shield
He sustains us while we sleep
He has set the godly apart for Himself
He defends those that put their trust in Him
He corrects us in love
He hears and receives our prayers
He tests our hearts and emotions
He is mindful of man
His person is infinitely majestic
He will judge the world rightly
The Lord is king forever and ever