Psalm 1

1 ¹ אַשְׁרֵי־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב׃

2     כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת יהוה חֶפְצֹו וּבְתוֹרָתֹו יֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה׃

3     וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל־פַּלְגֵי מָיִם אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיֹו יִתֵּן בְּעִתֹּו וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא־יִבּוֹל וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ׃

4     לֹא־כֵן הָרְשָׁעִים כִּי אִם־כַּמֹּץ אֲשֶׁר־תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ׃

5     עַל־כֵּן לֹא־יָקֻמוּ רְשָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט וְחַטָּאִים בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים׃

6     כִּי־יוֹדֵעַ יהוה דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד׃

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Verses 1 and 2 are in stark contrast to each other – one speaks of the wicked man and his choices; the other the righteous and what he meditates on: God’s Word.  The law is a continuing desire of much of the Psalms and the entire Psalter seems to be addressing man’s confrontation with God’s perfect law, the result of either following it (blessing) or deciding not to (curse).  The book of Psalms ends with a set of hymns that point us to God and let Him be praised by action, word and thought.  Verse 3 points us to the result of following the law and God – specifically a fruitful life or a legacy (something that lasts beyond our life).  This verse, like verses 1 and 2, is contrasted to verse 4, which shows what happens to those that don’t follow God (look at 1 John 2:15-17).  A life not walking with God results in a life that will not be sustained.  It will fade away.  Verse 5 mirrors the second half of verse 1.  Where verse 1 talks of taking the sides of the ungodly, scoffers and the wicked, verse 5 shows that in the end the ungodly will have no power at judgment and no say in the end.  Verse 6 wraps it up by repeating the concept again. 

This gives Psalm 1 a style that looks like this: 

A(1) – B(2) – B(3) – A(4-5) – B(6a) – A (6b)

In many ways, this is classic Hebrew, and classic Psalms’ language.  However, to go to application, what side of the seat do you sit on?  What are you putting your hope in?  Are you meditating on the ways and purposes of God to see Him change your life?  A life without God doesn’t mean much and suffers from not being sustainable.  So what is your choice?

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^[1]The Hebrew Bible : Andersen-Forbes Analyzed Text; Bible. O.T. Hebrew. Andersen-Forbes. 2006; 2006 (Ps 1:1-6). Logos Bible Software.