Psalms 1

• Blessed: The Hebrew term ’ashrey appears twenty-six times in the Psalms. While some translations use “blessed,” a different term (barak) is used for blessings (Psalms 5:12; 45:2; 107:38).

• The godly are people who trust the Lord and try to live in ways that please him. They avoid living under the influence of sinners.

  Those who do not fear the Lord are “the wicked” (Psalm 36:1). They oppose those who love God, do right, and the poor and oppressed (see 10:2–13; 37:14). The wicked might seem devoted to God (50:16). Sometimes they enjoy success, but it does not last long (37:35). They will face sadness and ruin when they must deal with the results of their bad actions (1:4–6; 9:16; 32:10).

• People who turn away from God's path and rebel against him are sinners (Psalms 25:8; 78:17). They commit serious crimes like adultery (being unfaithful to their spouse) and murder (compare Psalm 51).

• sit in the seat of: This expression describes a person who is controlled by sin (compare Psalm 1:2; 26:3–7; Deuteronomy 6:7).

• Mockers are people who disrespect and reject God's wisdom. Mockers hate the Lord and insult anyone who tries to correct them (Proverbs 9:7–8). They seek only the “wisdom” that justifies their actions. These bold people have little respect for God, his plans, or his followers (see Psalms 86:14; 119:51, 69, 78, 85, 122). These three terms (wicked, sinners, mockers) describe all kinds of people who do not live in a way that pleases God.

The Lord brings true happiness to those who turn away from evil and find joy in him.

Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm. It sets the tone for the whole book of Psalms. The psalm clearly contrasts the happiness of godly people with the judgment of the wicked. In the end, the way of wisdom will triumph.

The psalm describes an ideal picture of a godly person, similar to Psalm 8. This picture shows what the Lord expects from his people. It also points forward to the coming Messiah, God’s chosen king (Psalm 2).

The people of Israel did not live up to this ideal. The kings from David’s family also failed to meet it. Even the best kings could not bring about the lasting righteousness described in Psalms 1, 2, and 72.

In the New Testament, the apostles use the Psalms to describe the life and work of Jesus the Messiah. Their teaching shows that Jesus alone fulfills the ideal of the godly person described in the Psalms. Only Jesus fully pleased God and secured redemption (rescue from sin), true happiness, and peace.

Psalm 1 also introduces a note of hope that continues through the Psalms. It looks forward to the final hallelujah in Psalm 150). At that time, the Lord will remove all evil from his creation and bring blessing and life to his people.

The first two psalms serve as an introduction to the whole book of Psalms (called the Psalter). Psalm 1 presents the Lord's guidance in wisdom, while Psalm 2 shows God's rule over a rebellious and sinful world. Together, these psalms invite people to abandon foolishness, which leads to destruction. These psalms invite people to follow God's path instead, which leads to wisdom and salvation. The New Testament confirms that God will govern the nations through Jesus Christ, his chosen representative (Hebrews 1:5; Revelation 12:5; 19:15).

Psalms 1 and 8 form an inclusio (a literary pattern where the beginning and ending act like matching bookends). Together, they describe what God expects from the ideal person. These psalms compare the godly person with the wicked and praise the dignity and worth God gives to the godly (see Psalms 19; 33; 104; 145).

Jesus the Messiah, introduced in Psalm 2, fully embodies this ideal. He is the Lord with complete power and authority, and the perfect example of true humanity. The New Testament applies Psalm 8 to Jesus, showing that God placed everything under his authority (Hebrews 2:6–8; see 1 Corinthians 15:27).

• The law of the Lord is called torah in Hebrew. It means God’s instruction or teaching for his people (see study note on Deuteronomy 4:44).

• Meditating involves inner reflection, which can be positive (Psalms 1:2; 63:6; 77:12; 143:5) or negative (see Psalms 2:1; 38:12). The Lord’s word is the object of godly meditation (119:48).

• day and night: This includes all times, whether walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping (see Deuteronomy 6:7).

Well-watered trees stay strong and produce plenty of fruit (compare Jeremiah 17:8).

The future belongs to those who follow a righteous path.

The future judgment (Psalm 1:5) will remove the wicked and everything they have done (Psalms 35:5; 83:13; Isaiah 17:13; see study note on Jeremiah 13:24).

The wicked cannot endure the Lord's judgment. They are already condemned (see Psalms 5:5; 7:6; 101:7).

• When God takes care of people who obey him and punishes people who do evil, it shows how God gives people what their actions deserve (see Galatians 6:7–10). This is called "retribution." The wicked might appear successful for a short while, but their lives are short and meaningless in the end. God and the people who remain faithful to him will have the final victory (see Psalms 9:5, 6, 18; 10:16; 37:20; 73:27; 92:9; compare 142:4; Isaiah 57:1).

• People who live in a way that pleases God are happy (Psalms 1:1; 5:12; 14:5). They are happy because God protects and cares for them, listens when they ask for justice, and secures their future (see 121:3–4).

• A person's path is their life and character.