Psalm 1: The Lord’s Law
Here’s a simple, interactive introduction to the first Psalm, with some thought-provoking questions to stimulate group discussion or your own meditation.
Psalm 1 (NIV)
1 Blessed is the one who
does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree
planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
What does this mean for you personally? What stands out to you in this Psalm?
What are the two contrasting ways of life that the Psalm highlights? Is this relevant for how people live today? Do you see people living these two ways?
What are the outcomes of these two ways of living?
The blessed person (verse 1) delights in the law of the Lord (verse 2). What is that? How would meditating on the Torah of YHWH have blest their lives? (Hint: Deuteronomy 28)
How does Psalm 1 apply to us? Does the Law that God gave Israel apply to Christians? Or are we part of a different covenant, based on God’s grace in Christ rather than the Sinai Law? (John 1:17; Galatians 2:21; 5:4). What should we meditate on and take delight in?
Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount by announcing blessings too (Matthew 5:3-12). Who did he bless? Why call them blessed, rather than those who meditate on Torah?
Jesus’ actions can help us understand his teachings. Did he follow the path of blessing in Psalm 1? Or did he sit with “sinners”? People were shocked (Luke 15:2). How can we reconcile Jesus’ lifestyle choices with Psalm 1? Why would Jesus choose to be numbered with the transgressors? (Luke 22:37)
Is there still a place to remind people (especially vulnerable or immature people) that “bad company corrupts good character,” as the Greek poet Menander put it (quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:33)?
Is there a “law” running through Scripture that we should meditate on? (Hint: James 2:8.) What kind of community would develop if we were meditating on the royal law of King Jesus rather than on how to gain recognition, wealth, or dominance over others?
Is there still a blessing for those who follow the way of the Lord? Or are we, like our Lord, called to a sacrificial life where we miss out on the blessing? How does God’s blessing come to the world?
How will you treat the phrase the Law of the Lord when you find it in other Psalms (such as Psalm 119)?
Any other thoughts on Psalm 1?
Adapted from “Formed in God’s Story: Psalms.” Full notes and podcasts here.
The image above was voted as Australia’s favourite tree.
Seeking to understand Jesus in the terms he chose to describe himself: son of man (his identity), and kingdom of God (his mission). Riverview Church, Perth, Western Australia View all posts by Allen Browne
