Psalms 1:2

2 but his ¹delight is in the law^[a] of the LORD, and on his ²law he meditates day and night.

Psalms 1:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 1:2

But his delight [is] in the law of the Lord
Not the law of nature, which was inscribed on Adam's heart in innocence, but now greatly impaired by sin, and become very imperfect and very insufficient to make men happy, or to lead them to true felicity; nor the law of Moses, which is a fiery law, and works wrath, accuses of sin, pronounces guilty, curses and condemns to death; and therefore cannot be delighted in by a sensible sinner, unless as it is in the hands of Christ, and as fulfilled by him, who is the end of it; and as it is written on the heart of a regenerate man, who, so far as it is, delights in it after the inward man, and serves it with his spirit: but rather the Scriptures, as much and as many parts of them as were written in David's time; particularly the five books of Moses, which are called the Law and the Testimony of the Lord; which being inspired by God, were profitable and delightful to read, and to hear explained; and as they were David's delight, and the men of his council, ( Psalms 119:24 ) ; so they were the delight of every good man, there being many things in them concerning the Messiah, his grace and kingdom; see ( Luke 24:44 ) ( Acts 26:22 Acts 26:23 ) . Moreover the word (hrwt) , here used, signifies "doctrine", and may intend the evangelic doctrine, as it does in ( Psalms 19:7 ) ; which is a psalm concerning the doctrine of the apostles that went into all the world; and in like sense is the word used in ( Isaiah 2:3 ) ( 42:4 ) ; of the doctrine of the Messiah, that is, the Gospel; and is the same with the law, or doctrine of faith, in ( Romans 3:27 ) . And this may be called the doctrine of the Lord, because he is the author of it; it came by him, he revealed it; and because he is the subject of it; it is concerning him, his person, office, grace, and righteousness; and so far as it was published in the times of David, it was a joyful sound, good news and glad tidings, and the delight of good men;

and in his law doth he meditate day and night;
as Joshua was directed to do, and David did, ( Joshua 1:8 ) ( Psalms 119:97 ) . This is to be understood of a diligent reading and serious consideration of it; and of the employment of the thoughts, and of deep study upon it, in order to find out the sense and meaning of it; and which is to be done constantly, every day, as often as there is leisure and opportunity for it; or, as Kimchi on the place observes, whenever a man is free from the business of life; unless this should be taken figuratively, of the day of prosperity and night of adversity, whether in things temporal or spiritual, which are each of them proper seasons to meditate in, upon the word of God and Gospel of Christ.

Psalms 1:2 In-Context

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

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

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 112:1; Psalms 119:35, 47, 92
• 2. Psalms 119:1, 97; Joshua 1:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Or instruction