Expository Notes: Psalm 1

Alli and I have started a weekly Bible study on the book of Psalms, and plan on going through one each week together. I thought I might start putting up my notes that I prepare for the study. Feel free to agree, disagree, or just comment!

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An introduction to Psalms, a preface to the entire book. The themes of the book are already represented here in the first chapter.

How does one recognize the man of God?

-Negatively:
-He walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.
-He stands not in the path of sinners.
-He sits not in the seat of the scornful.

(Note the downward gradation, the corruption of sin: walk, stand, sit.)

-Positively:
-He delights in the law of the Lord.
-Not under, but in.
-He meditates on His law, both day and night.

How is the man of God blessed?

-Finds delight in God’s word.
-Is always near to God’s word, as a source of water.
-He will bring forth fruit.
-His leaf will not wither.
-Whatever he does shall prosper.

Images of water and growth:

-How is God’s word represented? As life-giving water.
-An ever-flowing stream, one that will never cease to give life.
-Man who meditates on God’s law = tree planted by the rivers of water.

-The tree is planted and cultivated by God, not a wild growth.
-Secure: “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” (Matthew 15:13)

-How does a leaf wither?
-From lack of water.
-From lack of fruit-bearing. If there are no nutrients to bear fruit, there will not be any to keep the leaf from withering either.
-Perseverance of the saints and necessary fruit-bearing! :o) !!!

What about the ungodly?

-They are not eternal, their ways will not stand.
-Like the chaff which the wind drives away.
-The way of the ungodly shall perish.

-They shall not stand in the judgment.
-Doesn’t say that they will not face judgment, but that they will not stand up against their final judgment. They will have no defense to give. Their mouths will be made silent.

-Similarly, sinners will not stand in the congregation of the righteous.
-Our earthly congregations may be filled with both wheat and chaff, but in heaven it will not be so.

The righteous are saved because the Lord knows their way.

-The translation in Hebrew is closer to is knowing their way.
-God is constantly looking on the way of His children, and although there will be times when the path may be dark or obscure for us, we can be sure that He certainly knows our way.

-They delight in His law.
-They meditate on His word, day and night.
-His word and presence is as important and supporting to them as water to a tree.
-They bear fruit.
-Their leaf does not wither.