Redeemer Church of Waterford

How is a sinner made right with a holy God? The Protestant Reformers reply, “We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone according to the Scriptures alone for the glory of God alone.” The Reformers believed that the place to discover the answer to their question (“How can a sinner be made right with a holy God?”) is found in Scripture alone.

When we mediate in the law of the Lord, we enjoy four soul-enriching results: Planted, Producing, Principled, Prospering.

Psalm 1 shows us what a godly man looks like in three negatives (v. 1), two positives (v. 2), and a picture (v. 3).

What does David have in mind here when he warns against walking in the counsel of the ungodly? Every Psalm has a backstory. The backstory of Psalm 1 (specifically vv. 1 & 2) is 2 Samuel 15:12 – 17:23.

David had a counselor who becomes a conspirator against him, siding with David’s son Absalom in the rebellion against David. His name is Ahithophel

David had a companion who becomes a confident to David against those who rebelled against him. His name is Hushai

From the time he was old enough to speak, David would have begun each morning reciting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” No reason is given – just a command that we love the Lord. Psalm 116 is the Anti-Shema: In the Shema, we are hearing (“Hear, O Israel”); In Psalm 116, God is hearing (“The Lord has heard me”); In the Shema, we are compelled to love God; In Psalm 116, our love for God is not constrained by legalistic duty, but rather is a joyful response to God’s grace and mercy.