A Study of Psalm 1 and 2
Psalm 1-2
Introduction
- Psalms broken into 5 books, covered an extensive time period
- Gathered together as songs of praise & words of encouragement/warning
- There are psalms of wisdom, royal psalms, lament psalms, & thanksgiving
- There are also psalms of pilgrimage and enthronement (majesty of God) psalms
- If we determine to apply ourselves, this could be a life changing study
-- We will go through these as the Lord leads
- We are in a tough time for our church; believe that God is still at work
- I want us, as a church, to walk through and see if we can’t rejoice more
- We ought to be able to praise, and prayerfully you will want more daily
- Read Psalm 1-2 / Pray
Point 1 – Psalm 1 (The Godly vs. The Ungodly)
- Broken into vivid descriptions of two people: the Godly and the Ungodly
- First described is the way of the Godly (1-3)
- He is satisfied (blessed) in the Lord (1a)
• He is favored by God
• He is fulfilled in God … APP: God’s ways make him complete
- He is separated from the world (1b)
• Refusing secular beliefs – Worldly views
• Refusing sensual behavior – Self-gratifying things
• Refusing shameful longings – Desires God, not lust/material/etc.
He is saturated in the Word (2)
• Delights in the Word – It’s his pleasure to read it
• Dwelling in the Word – Literally lives in the Word (we could all use this)
• He is often found digging in the Word (3)
o Finds: Stability & Productivity
o Produces: Constancy & Prosperity
- Then, the psalmist describes the way of the Ungodly (4-6)
- He is corrupted internally (4)
• The wicked are useless (like chaff: chopped straw used as fodder)
• The wicked are unstable (undependable, unreliable) – easily blown away
- He is condemned rightly (5)
• He will not stand in the judgment (unable to be seen as saved)
• He will not stand with the righteous (separated from those who are saved)
- He is damned eternally (6)
• The righteous will prosper b/c God watches over them
• The wicked will perish – destruction (self-reliance leads to this)
- APP: Those who live by God’s ways are rescued and redeemed for eternity
-- Living by wicked ways leads to deception and separation from God
Point 2 – Psalm 2 (God is still God)
- Despite man’s desire to be in charge, God has put Jesus in control of everything
-- He outlines this by identifying where we are – and where Jesus is
-- There are four things that Psalm 2 shows us …
- First, there is an obvious insurrection against God (1-3)
-- Men are always scheming vainly; they desire to do everything their way (1)
-- Men are standing defiantly; they place themselves in opposition to God (2)
-- Men are speaking arrogantly’ even their words conflict with God’s ways (3)
-- Rebels cry out: “Let us break their chains, throw off their shackles”
- APP: Humans always want to rebel against God … evidenced by crucifixion
- Second, we see the clear indignation of God (4-6)
- God scoffs in derision towards their attitude (4)
- God speaks in displeasure of their actions (5-6)
• He will terrify his adversaries (5)
• He will enthrone his anointed (6)
- APP: God remains God … He will not be swayed by our intentions
-- Mankind will never be able to make Him bend to our will (cannot do it)
- Third, God’s intention of what He wants is clear (7-9)
- God’s declaration here ought to make us shout for joy
-- APP: He is discussing His Son, Jesus, clearly speaking to Him in this
- My son will rule the nations (7)
- My son will inherit the nations (8)
- My son will judge the nations (9)
• He will break them with a rod
• His actions will shatter them like pottery
- Finally, in light of this … God gives a very specific invitation to all (10-12)
- Be wise (10a)
- Be warned (10b)
- Serve the Lord (11)
- Rejoice with trembling (respectful fear) (11b)
- Kiss the Son (reverence Him, respect Him more than just words) (12)
- Take refuge in in Him (He is able to protect us from God’s wrath) (12)
Big Idea – God victory is certain
- The life of a believer is never going to be an easy one
-- But, in two short Psalms, we’ve seen the human condition clearly outlined
1. We are either part of the Godly or the Ungodly
2. God promises victory for Himself; and for us if we abide in Him
- John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
- IMP: What an exploration we are about to take … prayerfully you’ll be changed
- Pray
