Series: Songs of Worship—Getting Real With God
Sermon: A Choice
Speaker and Writer: Elia King

Refresh: Open with prayer. Ask God for understanding through the Holy Spirit.

Read: Psalm 1 (The Message). Note 1–3 insights or questions that arise from the paraphrase.

Reflect: Imagine that you were a child at the time the Psalms began circulating in Jerusalem, and that the most popular song at the time was one about how choosing to walk with God affected the way you live your whole life (sounds a lot like Psalm 1, doesn’t it?). I can’t help but wonder if this might have been an early version of, “Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes What You See,” a song that I grew up singing with my own friends in church.

Every time I read one of Peterson’s paraphrases, I am grateful that the God who heard the “real” language of the writers of the Bible still cares about the ins and outs of my everyday life. This seems true of this week’s passage, especially when read in The Message paraphrase:

How well God must like you—you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon,
you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.
Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.

You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.

You’re not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,unfit company for innocent people.
God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row.

I have always appreciated Eugene Peterson’s ability to rephrase scripture in a contemporary way. His reworking of Psalm 1 is no exception. His use of phrases like “Sin Saloon” and “Smart-Mouth College” almost makes this passage seem like it could have been written by one of my friends. I don’t mean to suggest that it takes away from the authority of Scripture in any way. In fact I would argue that for some, recognizing familiar feelings and language in these texts actually makes them seem more accessible as part of everyday life. It’s part of the reason that I believe this collection of songs was put together: to give the people of God some familiar language to express themselves to God. By the way, that is my working definition of what it means to lead worship—to give people the vocabulary to express their hearts to God.

Recalibrate: How would you paraphrase Psalm 1 in your own words?

Respond: Pray for opportunities to “chew on Scripture day and night” during the next 24 hours.

Research: Look up the words to U2’s song, “Where the Streets Have No Name.” What is the author describing? How would you put those emotions into your own words?