Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
in my memory Lee categorically rejected Psalm 1 simply because it had the word "law", and we post-Reformation Christians all know that salvation is of grace, not law! So the whole chapter, like much of the book, was simply dismissed out of hand. No attempt was made to discern any deeper, spiritual meaning. No consideration of whether Christ to some degree fulfilled the psalmist's vision. Nope; the text was "fallen", and nothing but "natural concepts".
|
We can say that Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 are a related pair, introducing the whole book that follows. Psalm 1 shows the two paths: the path of the wicked leads to destruction, and the path of the righteous leads to life everlasting. Then Psalm 2 shows us "My king, whom I have installed on My holy mountain." In unveiling God's obedient, reigning Son, Psalm 2 is the full expression of Psalm 1. God's ordained path of righteousness in Psalm 1 is not vain to us, but rather we see it fulfilled in the reigning Son of God in Psalm 2. We fail, but we are told to "kiss the Son", who does not fail. Marvelous! What a blessing!
But Witness Lee shaved Psalm 1 off from Psalm 2, and in so doing he exposed himself. We Christians believe that we know the reigning Son in Psalm 2; likewise we can surmise something of the "blessed man" in Psalm 1. And this man, who meditates on the word both day and night, and is utterly obedient, even to the death of the cross, is perhaps none other than the Word of God Himself. And we are told in scripture that when we believe into him, and obey his commands, we ourselves become heirs of the promised blessing.
It is probably not coincidental that John 14-17 repeatedly has Jesus speaking about the word, his commands, our obedience, and the coming Spirit. To me these are all of apace. The story in John 21 on shepherding is the coda; the speaking on the final night is the complete ministry.
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."
The angel Gabriel told Mary, "No word from God will ever fail." Psalm 1 is a word spoken from God through a prophet, who is borne by the Holy Spirit. Yes we failed; I have read Romans 2 and 3. I understand. But Jesus did not fail, but overcame. On this victory arguably rests our hope, and our faith. No human, earthly ministry should cause us to turn our attention away from Jesus Christ.