The Doorway to the Psalms Part 1: Two Ways to Live

Psalm 1

1 "Blessed is the man 

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither,

In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, 

but the way of the wicked will perish."

From marissavignola.myadventures.org

             
       I am working through each Psalm with a sheet from Simeon Trust. Before we jump into the Psalm, there are some basic points about Hebrew poetry to remember:

• it is compact
• it uses imagery
• it is highly structured (balanced lines - parallelism, word and sound plays)

     For more info (if you are a poetry nerd) to understand and see examples in all the Psalms - here are a few resources that might be helpful

• Detailed explanation
• Shows examples in Hebrew
• Compact article

     Below, is a chart comparing ( as many do) each of the five books of the Psalms to a Book of the Law. 

     The Simeon Trust worksheet has always been so helpful for me in preparing passages in any genre of Scripture to teach (or really, to understand for myself). I am throwing a huge shout out to my mom AND dad for sharing their worksheets and notes with me for Psalm 1. They are the best! This worksheet works well with the understanding that you read and reread and reread the passage. So here we go - please be patient as I figure out the best way to relate this here so that it is most helpful and not distracting.

Psalm 1 - A wisdom Psalm
Structure:
    The shape of a passage which we find through knowing the genre and looking at repeated words, grammatical breaks, contrasts, etc. Another word for structure would be the skeleton/bones of a passage. What is holding it together?

After reading this chapter, I kept seeing words in groups of two that contrast dramatically:

• two key words: blessed (1) and perish (6)
• two illustrations: tree (3) and chaff (4)
• two images: firmly planted (3) and swiftly driven (4)
• two groups: righteous (6) and wicked (6)
• two destinies: known by God (6) and judged by God (5)

This leads me to break down the verses into parts (perfect for memorizing)

• Vv 1-2: Two ways ( way of the wicked and way of the righteous )
• Vv 3-4: Two illustrations (tree and chaff)
• Vv 5-6: Two destinies (cursed/judged and blessed)

Emphasis: 

     The shape of your structure reveals an emphasis - one main idea

• Those who delight in God's law will be blessed, but those who walk in wickedness will perish

Context: 

• Psalms 1-2 are considered the door or pathway into the entirety of the Psalms (Psalm 2 shows the kings/rulers of the nations - the wicked - in contrast to the blessed who take refuge in the True King). Psalm 1:1 and Psalm 2:12 are bookends.

Where is the Gospel:

     Where does our passage anticipate the Gospel and which part of the Gospel does it best emphasize?

• Jesus is the True Righteous Man and we receive His Righteousness and Blessing by trusting in His death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Jesus prospered (accomplished all He had purposed to do) at the cross (Isaiah 53:10-11)
• Jesus taught on the Two Ways (Matthew 7:13-14, 23-27)
• Jesus declared Himself to be THE WAY, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)

Jesus is the One who stands at the portal of the Psalms to show us THE WAY

     This is the perfect Psalm to begin our journey into the Psalms and use as a springboard into the Gospel. After memorizing this Psalm, your children (if you are memorizing with them) should know that there are only two ways to live. But really... there is only one way we can live and that is the way of wickedness and death. We have no ability in ourselves to live any other way because of our sin, BUT God sent Jesus who lived the perfect life. Through His death and resurrection we can have the forgiveness of sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that Jesus was made to be sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God. This is how we can live the blessed life described so beautifully in Psalm 1.   So that's it: 6 verses over the next few days. And with all the review, think how well you know will this after a few years. 

Tips, Tricks and Songs

• Google Psalms coloring pages. (Pinterest would also be helpful). I am going to have a piece of art or something for my children to color for each Psalm. This will use another sense to help them remember, and it will also help Scripture to be tangible for them
• If you are the artistic sort (I envy you), try drawing each Psalm or writing it out in calligraphy to help you remember and understand it
• I am using an app to help me (as the adult) review. I also own just a copy of the Psalms which I use to read to the children. I am using the ESV. 
• Show your children a picture of a prospering tree and what chaff is
• Doesn't the walking, standing, sitting (v1) harken your mind back to THE LAW in Deuteronomy 6?  Parents were to teach their children diligently as they walked, rose, sat to follow in the way of God.

• hymnary.org will be your friend. Search for Psalm 1, and you will find several texts to sing
• Consider buying The Book of Psalms for Worship. I believe you can purchase a version that is downloadable for an iPad ( 1A is to a tune you may know and it is fairly easy to sing. )
• Most things on youtube ... not so great. I would encourage you to make up melodies as you go to sing with your children. I will be singing many spontaneously as we go over the next few years ... remember you aren't trying to compose but simply to help you internalize and remember the Law of the YAHWEH.