Psalm 1:2

Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

But - I have to admit, sometimes I don't pause and really consider these little words.  This one has two definitions.

H3588 - A primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjugation or adverb; often largely modified by other particles annexed.

and

H518 - A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogitive, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence as a negative, not.

But what?  Its a comparative, the blessed man doesn't do this, this or this, but does do THIS.  What does he (or rather, we should be doing?)

Delight - H2656 - From H2654; pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind).

• H2654 - A primitive root; properly to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively to be pleased with, desire.

Delight - run that over mentally, savoring the flavor of the word.  What do I delight in?  Quite a lot of 'stuff' - is this necessarily wrong, sometimes yes, sometimes no - is the height of my delight in HIM and HIS word?

This Hebrew word is used 39x in 38 verses - the first usage is in 1st Samuel where the challenge is laid down regarding what God has delight in...is it in sacrifices? No.  Rather in obeying the voice of the Lord. (1 Samuel 15:22)

Skimming through the 'hits' one that 'jumped' out was:

Pro 3:15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 

The she here is wisdom.  More precious than rubies.  Nothing else compares to 'her.' This is also repeated in Proverbs 8:11.

Here's another she:

Pro 31:13  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

This speaks of the 'proverbial' Proverbs 31 woman - she desires work.

Law - H8451 - From H3384; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch.

• H3384 - A primitive root; properly to flow as water (that is, to rain); transitively to lay or throw (especially an arrow, that is, to shoot); figuratively to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach.

This is the same Hebrew word used both times in this passage.  I'm sure at some juncture I've looked up the word for law and the root of it, but today, it's, it's, 'tastier.'  I desire the law not because it's a set of rules (though it is) that I must 'tick' off to be righteous and acceptable to the Lord.  Rather, I'm learning more and more to delight in it because it gives me guidance, direction, correction, comfort, solace, peace.  As I submit to Him and His ways, I become more and more conformed into His image.

The first usage of the word law is in Genesis 26:5 - regarding Abraham who kept God's charge, commandments, statutes and laws.

LORD - H3068 - From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.

• H1961 - A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).

The first usage of this word (6521x in 5524 verses) is Genesis 2:4 - God is used in Genesis 1:1 and throughout that chapter which is H430 - 'ĕlôhı̂ym, pronounced: el-o-heem' - interesting, of the 31 verses in Chapter 1 of Genesis only 5 do not contain the word 'God.'  Ah...what a study, eh?

Back to the first usage of LORD - Gen 2:5  And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 

meditate - H1897 - A primitive root (compare H1901); to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication to ponder.

Ooooh, gotta love it, one of my most favorite words!  Ponder!

Compare H1901 - let's shall we!?

H1901 - From an unused root akin to H1897; properly a murmur, that is, complaint.

• H1897 - ^ isn't this some type of circular reference?

Only 25x in 24 verses - how is it used?  In Joshua the exhortation is thus:

Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 

Job 27:4  My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 

Psa 35:28  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Pro 15:28  The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Gill's commentary on this portion:  and in his law doth he meditate day and night; as Joshua was directed to do, and David did, Jos_1:8. This is to be understood of a diligent reading and serious consideration of it; and of the employment of the thoughts, and of deep study upon it, in order to find out the sense and meaning of it; and which is to be done constantly, every day, as often as there is leisure and opportunity for it; or, as Kimchi on the place observes, whenever a man is free from the business of life; unless this should be taken figuratively, of the day of prosperity and night of adversity, whether in things temporal or spiritual, which are each of them proper seasons to meditate in, upon the word of God and Gospel of Christ.

Curiosity (pondering) about the word 'meditate' - its used 14x in Scripture - 12 of which are in the OT.

The other OT usage of meditate is H7878 - A primitive root; to ponder, that is, (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence aloud) or (transitively) utter.

I like that talk to oneself and hence aloud!  There's the encouragement to be speaking to ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs!

day and night -

day - H3119 - From H3117; daily.

• H3117 - From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literally (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figuratively (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverbially).

night - H3915 - From the same as H3883; properly a twist (away of the light), that is, night; figuratively adversity.

• H3883 - From an unused root meaning to fold back; a spiral step.

day and night - makes me think upon a recent teaching about God's covenant with the day and night.

Continuously - thinking upon Him and His Word.  Its amazing to actually 'see' the difference in oneself (or others) when they spend time in His Word.  May we all have a 'scent' about us, a fragrance of HIM because we are so saturated with Him, He literally 'pours' from our pores.