Praise!
Six Studies in the Psalms by Peter J. Blackburn
Study 1 - Two Ways (Psalm 1)
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Psalm 1
1 Happy is the man
who does not take the wicked for his guide
nor walk the road that sinners tread
nor take his seat among the scornful;
2 the law of the LORD is his delight,
the law his meditation night and day.
3 He is like a tree
planted beside a watercourse,
which yields its fruit in season
and its leaf never withers:
in all that he does he prospers.
4 The wicked are not like this;
they are like chaff driven by the wind.
5 So when judgment comes the wicked will not stand firm,
nor will sinners stand in the assembly of the righteous.
6 The LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
1 Happy is the man
who does not take the wicked for his guide
nor walk the road that sinners tread
nor take his seat among the scornful;
2 the law of the LORD is his delight,
the law his meditation night and day.
3 He is like a tree
planted beside a watercourse,
which yields its fruit in season
and its leaf never withers:
in all that he does he prospers.
4 The wicked are not like this;
they are like chaff driven by the wind.
5 So when judgment comes the wicked will not stand firm,
nor will sinners stand in the assembly of the righteous.
6 The LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
What is it saying?
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Are all the words and phrases clear to me? Do I understand what this Psalm meant when it was first written -
Jot down here any new thoughts, problems or questions, that have come to mind as you have read and thought about this Psalm. |
In the group, share what you have written before reading on.
This Psalm acts as a kind of preface to all the Psalms. Spurgeon called it the text on which the rest of the Psalter is a sermon. It emphasises that there are finally only two ways people live - the way of righteousness leading to fulfilment and life, and the way of sin which leads to personal frustration and death.
"Blessed" or "happy" (v.1) - What is the way to true happiness. Many assume that true happiness is only found by being yourself, "doing your own thing", satisfying your own needs and desires. Jesus disagreed sharply with this view in the well-known Beatitudes (Matthew 5.3-10). In the Psalm, the happy way is first seen negatively (v.1) and then positively (vv.2,3).
Sometimes we are afraid of negatives - reacting against those who make Christianity a whole series of "don’ts". To be a Christian is positive, yet we cannot share in positive fellowship with God unless we turn from sin (1 John 1.6). And since we were made for God (Colossians 1.16), we cannot really fulfil the purpose of our lives while walking in sin.
The three pictures of walking, standing and sitting might suggest a lessening of activity. In reality it presents worsening stages of sin - from compromise to rebellion to active ridicule.
By contrast, our cue for life is to be taken from "the law of the Lord" (v.2). It is to be both our "delight" and our "meditation". It is to be basic to our life. We are to reflect on it a great deal.
As a result (v.3), we will have resources for living when the going is hard - even when the wicked and his friends are doing their worst!
"The wicked are not like this" (v.4). Whatever the immediate benefits might seem to be for those who reject God’s way, the final result is frustration and death. They have no staying power in the face of adversity (v.4), nor any ultimate security in the face of final judgment (v.5).
Note v.6 - "The Lord watches over (lit. knows) the way of the righteous." It is not just that he knows "about" it - he knows it, it is the way of his plan and the only way that can endure.
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In recent times, various non-
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What about me?
For the words of the Psalmist of centuries ago to be a meaningful part of my praise, I need to think about my life today. Use these questions to help focus group sharing.
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What are the pressures I (and others like me) face to depart from God’s way?
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What specific times of meditation should I set aside -
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In what situations recently have my spiritual resources been tested severely?
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How should we view our present society and the people within it who seem to reject God’s way?
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Praise!
Work individually for ten minutes or so and write down your own Psalm based on our sharing of life together in the light of Psalm 1.
Now share with the whole group what you have written.
Then join together in praise using the words of Psalm 1.
Praise! Studies in the Psalms © Peter J. Blackburn 1977, 2000. Permission is given for this study to be copied in its entirety for group use. Courtesy advice of the use of these studies would be appreciated. Any other proposed use must have the written permission of the author. Email Peter Blackburn.
Study 2 - God's Glory (Psalm 8)
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Study 2 -