Ever get a song “stuck in your head”!? Anthropically speaking, this is a universal phenomenon. Music is universal. Humans were designed for worship, and every culture bears witness to this fact. Every culture in the world has its own “liturgies” (beliefs that are repeated and codified in song and poem). As humans scattered from Babel in Genesis 11, each new language and people codified their rebellion against their Creator. And as God in His redemptive plan entered history in the promise of Abraham, His “truth” has been spoken to and through His covenant people as that progress of redemption unfolded. Beginning with Moses (Exodus 15 and Psalm 90), we can observe how God replaced the liturgy of the world (Egypt), with the liturgy of the kingdom of Heaven.

Psalms were written to be memorized. God inspired His writers with this sacred ability to arrange the values of Heaven in the hearts of men. The Psalms literally teach us how to “pray,” how to interact verbally with the God of the universe. Psalms powerfully unite both thought and emotion through song and rhythm, and have the power to transform a people perverted by false worship, into a united, truth-filled assembly of praise. Once memorized, they begin their work of transforming “sinners” into children of the Most High God by replacing the liturgies of the world with the realities of God and His eternal kingdom. NEVER are they to be approached either consumeristically or therapeutically. To do such is to worship “feelings” instead of God. No, the Psalms are truth, true truth, which must be swallowed whole. If we dose them to our feelings and use them simply to make ourselves “feel” good, we’ve perverted their intent.

How then, should we approach the “songbook of God”? Psalms 1 and 2 give us the answer. They are the foyer of this great sanctuary of praise. Let’s invite the Psalms to tell us how they are to be approached!

‍

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

     or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

     and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

     which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

     whatever they do prospers.

‍

Not 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.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

     but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

‍

Notice, first, that the memorized Psalm contains the law of God, designed to be mediated on day and night. And this replaces other forms of available information whose sources are questionable — the wicked, sinners and mockers — people who are clearly out of fellowship with God and spue wicked liturgies that blind their hearers to the life of God. Once the thoughts of the child of God are firmly fixed on who God is, a promise begins to unfold! “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.” LIFE, STABILITY, PEACE, FRUITFULNESS. The Psalms are how we root into our personal relationship with God. Psalm 1 is God’s promise specifically to you, that if you make His Word your heart’s focus, you will be transformed by His presence in every aspect of your life.

Then, Psalm 2 zooms out, looking at the whole world. In dizzying fashion, we see in one great, prophetic glimpse, what God’s purpose is for the WHOLE WORLD!

‍

Why do the nations conspire

     and the peoples plot in vain?

The 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.”

‍

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

     the Lord scoffs at them.

He rebukes them in his anger

     and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

“I have installed my king

     on Zion, my holy mountain.”

‍

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

‍

He said to me, “You are my son;

     today I have become your father.

Ask me,

     and I will make the nations your inheritance,

     the ends of the earth your possession.

You will break them with a rod of iron;

     you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

‍

Therefore, you kings, be wise;

     be warned, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear

     and celebrate his rule with trembling.

Kiss his son, or he will be angry

     and your way will lead to your destruction,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

     Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

‍

The entire world is raging against God. All the nations are in rebellion to His ways. By combining prophesy with song, God speaks to His people about a coming day where “His Son” will be installed as “King.” Furthermore, the subjects of the King are given a role to play in this kingdom among the raging nations. “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Imagine that you’ve just studied this passage, and you happened to be on the mount of Olives just before Jesus left the Earth (Matthew 28:18-20): “All authority in Heaven and earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations ... teaching them to obey everything I’ve commanded them.” “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

In the first Psalm, we personally find God. In the second Psalm, we understand God’s plan for the whole world, and our role in His kingdom. One minute we are peering through a microscope, and the next we are gazing through a telescope. God has given us the culture of Heaven in the Psalter. His Spirit is teaching us to live, day and night, in a transcendent state of fellowship with Him; mind, emotion, song, dance and posture all wrapped up in a 150-page song book. Soak in them, that they may get “stuck in your head” to “lead you into life everlasting.”

‍