Psalms 1

6 verses

TL;DR

Psalm 1 contrasts the blessed state of the righteous, who delight in God's law and flourish like a tree, with the futile existence of the ungodly, who are uprooted like chaff and will not stand in judgment.

Summary

Psalm 1 begins by describing the blessed condition of a man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners. The psalmist then explains that this righteous man delights in and meditates on the law of the Lord day and night. He is compared to a tree planted by rivers, producing fruit in season and never withering, symbolizing stability and prosperity. In contrast, the ungodly are likened to chaff that the wind blows away, indicating their lack of substance and permanence. The psalm concludes by declaring that the ungodly will not stand in judgment, and the way of the righteous is known to the Lord while the ungodly’s path leads to destruction.

Outline

Definition of the blessed and the unrighteous (v.1)
Righteous delight in and meditation on God's law (v.2-3)
Contrast and judgment: the righteous prosper, the ungodly perish (v.4-6)

Themes

Blessing of righteousnessContrast between righteous and ungodlyDependence on God’s law and judgment

Keywords

blessedungodlylawmeditatetreechaffjudgmentprosperperish

People

Places

Things

law of the LORDtreeriver of waterchaffwind

Key Verses

Psalms 1:1: Introduces the central contrast and sets the tone of blessing for the righteous
Psalms 1:3: Vivid image of the righteous flourishing like a tree, illustrating spiritual vitality
Psalms 1:6: Concludes with divine judgment and the final outcome for both righteous and unrighteous

Questions

What does Psalm 1 teach about the daily habits of a believer?
How does the image of the tree help us understand spiritual growth?
In what ways does the psalm warn against the counsel of the ungodly?
What practical steps can we take to 'meditate on the law' day and night?

Sentiment

mixed
Positive tone towards the righteous, negative tone towards the ungodly