Songs for the Journey of Life
The Psalms: Songs for the Journey of Life
Music is a powerful medium. It is not without significance then that one of the most loved section of the Bible are the Psalms. The Psalms are music, hymns, words set to music that seek to convey the rich spectrum of the ways that we respond to God in worship. The Hebrew literally carries the idea of songs of praise. They reflect the genuine and authentic worship of the heart.
Among the first selections in the collection are Psalms about the journey we are on. One of these is the first, Psalm 1, which along with Psalm 2, are placed there as the introduction to the collection. Psalm 1 speaks to the individual, Psalm 2 to the community of believers. We travel as individuals, but also as a community. The first two Psalms speak to both. Take a few moments to read and reflect on the lyrics to these first two Psalms. Notice the foundation they lay for our Journey, individually, and as a community. Enjoy the imagery. Allow the message to seep in deeply.
This morning, Pastor Jon uses these first two Psalms to introduce us to the journey we will be on together for the weeks and months ahead as we engage the spectrum of the music of the Psalms. We hope you will enjoy the journey as we take it together.
If you would like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library here. Or, if you prefer, you can watch the livestream version here.
Psalm 1
NIV
1 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,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 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.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.