It’s really important to take Psalm 1 and 2 together. Some ancient scholars have suggested that they are really just one song. Psalm 1 begins with the phrase “Happy is the one” who delights in God’s instructions and attempts to live his life by them. The last verse of Psalm 2 says, “Happy are all those who take refuge in Him.” Boice quotes Rabbi Johanan who says, “Every chapter that was particularly dear to David he commenced with ‘Happy’ and terminated with ‘Happy.” This connects Psalm 1 with Psalm 2.

Notice that Psalm 1 is about the person who lives for God and avoids evil. They are Happy! But what about those of us haven’t lived for God and/or avoided evil? Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm about Jesus, God’s Son. It begins, “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’” Then verse 12 concludes, “Kiss the Son…Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Those that run to him are Happy!

There’s a great connection between these two Psalms. We all have all stepped out of the way God wants us to go. We’ve had times when we’ve followed the advice of the wicked, or stood around with sinners, and even joined with mockers. The refuge for us all is Jesus. Toplady wrote the most beautiful hymn using a biblical metaphor referring to Jesus as our refuge in the time of storm. He calls him the “Rock of Ages” and that’s what he named the song. You probably know it well: “Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure. Could my tears forever flow, could my zeal no languor know, these for sin could not atone—Thou must save and Thou alone: In my hand no price I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling. While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyes shall close in death, when I rise to worlds unknown and behold Thee on Thy throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.”

Chuck
Memory Verse: Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. (Psalm 1:1)