A Prayer Through Psalms: Chapter 1

Recently I downloaded an app called "Read Scripture" which provides a detailed Bible study plan with the goal of reading through the entire Bible in a year. However, what makes this plan special was the emphasis they put on worship and prayer, as such, part of my daily reading plan includes a prayer through Psalms. This has inspired me to dissect the book of Psalms chapter by chapter using an ESV study Bible and record my observations on this blog. Hopefully this will be able to encourage you to live by faith.

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.

The first Psalm is a fitting introduction to the collection of poetry because it is one of the only wisdom Psalms. The Psalmist notes that a wise person loves God and studies his word, but the wicked person despises God.

1:1- Note the word "blessed" doesn't just mean happy, but it means to enjoy a special relationship or favor with God. The wise person is described by what he avoids, walking in the counsel of wicked, standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seat of scoffers.

1:2- A wise person is described as someone who not only follows, but takes delight in the law of God.

1:3- This more or less alludes to how Joseph was given prosperity by God for his faithfulness (Genesis 39:3). The wise person is like a prospering tee, not suffocating because it is close to water.

1:4- This verse contrasts the wicked in a harsh way. Where the righteous man is called a luxuriant tree, the wicked man is chaff that the wind drives away.

1:6- There are two ways of life, one which follows the Lord and one that turns away. The one which follows the Lord is fulfilled by faith in Jesus Christ.

My prayer today is that we, the people of America, will remain strong in the counsel of the Lord. That we will not try to seek out council in the place of the wicked, for they are like chaff in the wind. However, the Lord is steadfast, and those that remain in him are steadfast. Amen.