Thoughts On the Psalms: Psalm 1

What an incredible book Psalms is! I have always loved the Psalms; they share a special place in my heart. It’s easy to identify with them, seek comfort from them, and simply enjoy their beauty, yet there is always a deeper layer to them. They contain doctrine and prophecy in abundance and even the deeper message God has for each one of us. Most of the Psalms were written by David, a man after God’s own heart, and each one was a song written to the creator He loved. Growing up, as part of our schooling, we read a psalm every day, and it has been something I’ve gotten away from. I think it’s about time to revisit the Psalms and explore the beauty, wildness, and the voice of God in each one. Join me for thoughts on the Psalms as we read through some of the most beautiful poetry ever written and see through the eyes of men deep in a romance with their creator. 

I thought about starting with my favorite Psalm, 119, but as I read through Psalm one, a couple of key things jumped out to me, so we will start in the beginning and read through them in order.  

Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV Blessed [is] the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 

2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

By the time we get to verse two of the first Psalm, we have already encountered one of the most prominent themes in the book of Psalms: the law of God. The delight one takes in the law, and where one's focus should be as opposed to the opposite, or the way of lawlessness. If we delight (hepes: delight, pleasure, a valuable thing) in the law of the Lord, then we will not walk in the way of the ungodly, sinners, or scorners. 

These three things seem a bit redundant, but Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas more than it does sounds as we are used to in English poetry. This is a classic example of rhyming ideas as the Psalmist uses a progression from walking to standing to sitting to bring together the picture of being immersed in wickedness as contrasted to being immersed in the law of God. The Psalmist then rhymes ideas with his statements about the law of God to better paint the picture that he is aiming for.   

Psalm 1:3 NKJV He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.  

David develops his idea more in verse three as he paints a picture of one who delights in God’s law. He will be sturdy, well-fed, that is taken care of, and he will bear much fruit (Isaiah 61:3). God will take care of us when we obey Him. Getting down to a deeper level, this picture has within it a promise of eternal life to those who obey God and keep His commandments. The blessings we receive for having a relationship with God are not just limited to this life. If we obey God, our leaves will not whither. 

Psalm 1:4 NKJV The ungodly [are] not so, But [are] like the chaff which the wind drives away.

As we move into verse four, we once again see a contrast between the righteous and the ungodly. The wicked, or those who don’t delight in God’s law, don’t have the solidity or foundation that keeps them well in place; rather, a stiff wind blows them away as easily as the light husks on kernels of grain. This calls to mind one of the parables our Messiah told in His time here on earth. 

Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 

25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 

26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 

27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

This is a sad state of affairs for the wicked. They are driven about and tossed upon every wind of doctrine when they do not cling to God and His commandments. Their house will not last.

Psalm 1:5 NKJV Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

We see these consequences of not clinging to God’s law laid out as we get into verse five and discover that the wicked will not be able to stand in the judgment because they have nothing to stand on. They have no foundation, unlike the righteous.  

Psalm 1:6 NKJV For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

One of the amazing things about this Psalm is that we see all three structures of Hebrew poetry plainly on display as the Psalmist expertly uses them to weave a picture and a contrast of a righteous man versus an ungodly one. He sets the tone for the whole book of Psalms in this first Psalm, with the wicked man contrasted by the righteous one. The one who loves the law of God and the one who does not. The one who sets God and His word as His foundation and the one who does not. The Psalmist finishes up with a statement of confidence that the Lord knows His way and he will see life because of it as he said in verse three, but the wicked man will perish because he has no foundation. 

This is a beautiful Psalm and a striking reminder of why we seek God and should delight in His law. If we seek Him and obey His commandments, God has offered us tremendous blessings for this life and in eternity.