Brief Bible Dive with Pastor Nik
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Brief Bible Dive: Summer in the Psalms – Psalm 1—ashrei אַשְׁרֵי
This Brief Bible Dive is part of our summer worship series where we focus on the Book of Psalms. The goal of these videos is to give you a stronger knowledge of one Hebrew word and how it adds to the reading of the psalm.
Pronounced: AHSH-ray
Often translated: happy, blessed. Better heard as: flourishing, deep blessedness, the well-being of a life rightly rooted in God.
Better heard as: deep blessedness, flourishing, life rooted in God’s way
Root idea: Ashrei names the deep well-being of a life that is rightly directed and rooted in God.
Psalm 1 begins with ashrei.
The NRSVUE translates the word as “happy,” and that is a fair translation. But in English, “happy” often sounds like a mood. We may think of feeling cheerful, upbeat, or pleased.
Ashrei goes deeper than a mood. It describes the blessedness of a life that is rooted in God’s instruction. It points to flourishing, stability, and the deep joy of living in the way of life.
Why This Enriches the Psalm
Hearing ashrei helps us avoid a shallow reading of Psalm 1.
Psalm 1 is not saying, “Good people always feel happy.” It is not saying that a faithful life is free from grief, struggle, or suffering. The rest of the Psalms would not allow that.
Instead, Psalm 1 says that there is a deep blessedness in being rooted in God’s way. The tree may face heat, wind, and seasons of waiting, but it is planted by streams of water.
Ashrei is the deep blessedness of rooted life.
If you would have the full study guide for the Summer In the Psalms bible study, please contact our church office at office@bslcmi.org or 248-646-5041 for a printed transcript.
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