Exploring the complexity of Psalms while in seminary has been enlightening, and a little difficult! It’s pretty good stuff though and I wanted to share a small example of one technique.

Take a look at a verse in Psalm 1:3

The lines each have parts that go together, like a poetic matching game. In this one, the words “delight” and “meditates” match up. And the law (or instruction) of the Lord match up in both lines.

Now the fun part is to puzzle how the two descriptors create a more nuanced picture than either of the lines on their own!

In this verse, both the mind and the emotions are caught up in the Lord’s instruction, creating a sort of self-propelled cycle. People engage mentally with things that are delightful to them. Then they find more delight, and then they engage more. The psalmist is saying that the one who participates in God’s instructions with thoughtful intentionality and allows the content of those instructions to excite them, will be happy.

 Cool stuff, right? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Personal follow up questions:

1. Am I finding the instructions of the Lord delightful? If not, I’m probably reading it wrong.

2. Am I thinking about and puzzling over the instructions of the Lord as I go about my day? If not, I probably don’t find them very delightful. Which means I’m probably reading it wrong.

3. Do I feel blessed? Happy? If not, … well, you know.

(Hint about reading the instructions of the Lord: they always reveal God’s character. Turns out He’s merciful and gracious and just and actively restores everything He gets His hands on. It’s downright delightful.)