Strong Roots In The Lord Series

Psalm 1 - Strong Roots in the Lord

Introduction

1. Psalm 1 sets the tone for the entire Psalter. “It stands as a magnificent gateway to this

extraordinary ancient collection of Hebrew religious verse…It is a text of which the remaining 

psalms are essentially exposition.” (James Boice, via Smith)

2. Mays: It introduces an agenda of themes that recur frequently in the book and plays a

fundamental role in its theology.

3. Swindoll “The Hebrews’ ancient hymnal begins with a song that addresses one of life’s most

common grinds: compromising with wrong…squeezing the joys and rewards of obedience from

our lives. It happens so silently, so subtly, we hardly realize its’ taking place.”

4. It presents a series of contrasts between what is righteous and good and what is sinful and weak. 

Josh Smith’s commentary labels Psalm 1: What Do You Do When You Come to a Fork in the

Road? What did Yogi Berra suggest? Take it!

5. It is a wisdom / Torah Psalm that has to do with following God’s laws/ways.

6. Mays: The psalm is designed to emphasize one thing as fundamental to the righteous -

engagement with the law of the Lord. … This first beatitude prompts the reader to think of the

entire book as instruction for life and commends a kind of conduct that uses the Psalter in that

way. 

7. Adam Faughn gives six headings to the six verses of this psalm.

1. The Seduction of Sin (1 NIV 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…)

A. “Blessed” 

1. How would you define a life that is “blessed”?

2. Briscoe: enriched, contented, fulfilled. “One reason why so many people are unhappy is

that, though they are busy pursuing happiness, they aren’t all that sure what happiness

is.”

3. Smith: a rewarding and fulfilling life. 

B. The psalmist makes it clear that we will not find happiness in certain places. 

1. Walking with the wicked

a. AMP [following their advice, their plans and purposes]

b. Briscoe: Happiness can never be found in a lifestyle that leaves God out of the picture. 

c. Smith: It is difficult to avoid imitating and becoming like those we walk with daily. 

2. Standing in the way that sinners take

a. AMP  [submissive and inactive]

b. Smith: The idea of staying a while, taking a look around, listen, hanging out with.

3. Sitting in the company of mockers 

a. AMP [to relax and rest]

b. Smith: Mockers / Scoffers describes the self-sufficient who pridefully believe they do

not need God. 

4. Wiersbe: If you follow the wrong counsel, then you will stand with the wrong companions

and finally sit with the wrong crowd. 

C. The seduction of sin is the idea that we are drawn in unsuspectingly little by little.

2. The Satisfaction of Scripture (2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,  and who meditates

on his law day and night.)

A. Delight in the Torah - the law / instruction of God. Not simply rules to keep and follow, but the

One who knows us and created us is aware of what will  make the best life for us. 

1. Keller: Christians have their attitude toward God changed from one of duty to free, loving,

self-giving because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. So to know how to meditate on

and delight in the Bible is the secret to a relationship with God and to life itself. 

2. Mays: The Lord reaches, touches, and shapes the human soul through it. For this psalm,

torah is a means of grace.

B. Meditate on his law - a theme for Psalms. 

1. Hebrew word hagah has an added nuance of muttering or even growling.

2. The term implies that a person is so saturated with God’s law that it is constantly on his

lips, whether he is talking to someone else or himself. God’s instruction becomes a

fundamental part of that person, because it constantly fills his mind.

3. Mays: Constant reflective meditation on the “law” (torah) of the Lord that grows out

of delight in it and concern for it. The basic meaning of the term torah is instruction, not

legal rules and stipulations … is used in a comprehensive sense to refer to the whole

body of tradition through which instruction in the way and the will of the Lord is given to

Israel.”

C. How can you continue to renew and increase your affection for God’s Word when it feels like a

burden or duty?

D. God knows what will bring happiness and joy into our lives. The torah or Divine Law is His gift

to us… we should allow it to fill our thoughts and words, body and soul.

1. Wiersbe points out that Psalm 119 suggests we should prefer God’s Word to