The Holy Psalms of David
Psalm One ~ for Jews, Muslims and Christians.
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“Oh the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God (Yahweh/ Allah/ Almighty God): but they delight in doing everything that GOD wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.”

Thus does the first Psalm of David start in GOD’s Book (described by the prophet Muhammad in the Qur'an as ‘The Book’[1] and by Christians as ‘The Bible’). And Jews, Muslims & Christians all echo the truth of these words and claim that they define a devout man or woman of their particular faith.

The laws of GOD, which David speaks of here, are in fact the first five books of the Bible, the Jewish Scriptures, but which Muslims & Christians have also adopted as part of the ‘Word of Allah’. These five books are not just the laws given to Moses for Israel, but are also the story of Creation, Abraham and the patriarchs, as well as the story of GOD bringing the Israelites miraculously out of Egypt and enabling them to possess the ‘promised land’. Again these ‘laws’ will have different, but vital meaning for Jews, Muslims and Christians.

David continues, “They are like trees along a river bank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.” Here the man of GOD declares that the truly devout give out healing, refreshment and joy to those around them. This ‘fruit’ comes from GOD’s Spirit working within them, regardless of the ‘seasons’ of their lives. David is saying that ‘godliness’ does not wither under the circumstances of life, but draws water from GOD’s Word.

The first Psalm ends with the words, “But for sinners, what a different story! They blow away like chaff (i.e., dried/ burnt up) before the wind. They are not safe on Judgement Day; they shall not stand among the Godly. For the Lord (Allah) watches over all the plans and paths of Godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom.”

Again all devout Jews, Muslims and Christians echo the truth of these words. The pity is that many Jews, Muslims and Christians will deny this truth about all faiths other than their own! Although the Old Testament clearly teaches that Godly Gentiles are acceptable to Yahweh, there have been Jews who have persecuted them. And although the New Testament teaches that some who have never heard of Christ will be saved, many Christians have not believed this. And although the Qur’an clearly teaches that Christians and Jews who follow the Book are acceptable to Allah, many Muslims are not willing to face this and traditions have negated the truth of this Quranic text.

As for the Laws of GOD, they show up how desperately we all need GOD’s enabling power to live by, for, as GOD’s prophet Paul proclaimed, “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the standard that GOD’s eternal glory demands.” (The Book, Romans 3v 23)


footnote[1] Some traditions of Islam negate this Qu’ranic text, by claiming that The Book referred to in the Qur'an is no longer the Bible, but is a Book held in heaven. This is an attempt to explain away some of the vital discrepancies between the Bible and the Qur’an. At the time Muhammad first recited the early Surahs, it could be that he was personally unaware of these discrepancies. It is only in later years or centuries that Islamic Tradition introduced these explanations. Muslims claim that the Qur’an provides the divinely corrected version of The Book, hence such Muslims teach their adherents not to read the Bible (even though this was advised by Muhammad himself)