January 2, 2017

A SONG YOU WANT STUCK IN YOUR HEAD

Psalm 1

Todd Wagner
Monday's Devo

January 2, 2017

Monday's Devo

January 2, 2017

Central Truth

The kind of music (and men) you listen to matters.

Key Verse | Psalm 1:2

[B]ut his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
(Psalm 1:2)

Psalm 1

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

Blessed is the man 1 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law 2 1:2 Or instruction of the LORD,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

Footnotes

[1] 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
[2] 1:2 Or instruction

Dive Deeper | Psalm 1

We all have had moments when a jingle or a song makes its way into our head to the point where we can't "shake it off, shake it off." People who study and write about such things call it an "earworm." http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20030227/songs-stick-in-everyones-head

Well, I am pleased to tell you for the next time this happens, www.unhearit.com is "hear" for you. (You're welcome!)

Your good friends at unhearit.com promise that by "using the latest in reverse-auditory-melodic-unstickification technology" (I'm not kidding), they can free you from the prison of constantly obsessing over baby back ribs, lions sleeping in jungles, or realizing it really is a small world after all. (Sorry about that.)

Where did this new website get its idea to deal with your first world problem? It appears to me they got it from an old testament in the ancient near middle eastern world. A simple reading of Psalm 1 shows that 3,000 years ago, David offered similar advice to anyone with an achy breaky heart.

So . . . are you bummed and not blessed by the songs in your head? If so, then I recommend you listen to unheardit.com and take Psalm 1's advice to forget your old songs by purposefully replacing them with another one.

This should all sound familiar to you. For instance, people who desire to help you in recovery circles will often tell you that one of the keys to transformation and blessing is to change your playmates and playgrounds. In updated Psalm 1 lingo, I recommend changing your playlist.

So what song is stuck in your head? What melodies are you humming? Which musicians are you listening to, and to whom are you lending your ears?

There is good reason God's song book starts with this song at the top of the charts. If you can memorize these lyrics and let their truth constantly run through your heart, you will be a tree firmly planted by streams of water—ready to bear fruit and keep your life in tune with blessing through the entire 2017 season. Who doesn't want to have a year like that?

Discussion Questions

1. I'm praying this year the Scriptures worm their way into your heart like never before. Why not take a minute and shoot someone in your community/life a song of encouragement so they are not "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin"? (Hebrews 3:13)

2. It is typical for every generation to have its own unique musicians and artists they most identify with and whose songs capture the "spirit of the age." What can you do this year to be a relevant artist who sings songs that bless others?

3. Who are some of the artists in your life (on the radio and on the road of life) that you need to stop listening to, walking with, standing near, or sitting with?

4. Make a realistic commitment to tune into God's Word every day, and email your commitment to others who will encourage you in your pursuit of blessing.

5. Make a commitment to sing verse 2 to yourself at least ten times today. Write it on a card. Share it with a friend. Let it earworm its way into your heart.