Psalms 1:1-3:8 Comments by Stephen Ricker
Bible Study Home Page

His Delight
Comments for Study 1

Pick to read this Bible passage in a separate window.

Memory Verse: 1:6
Questions
Introduction
Outline

In English, the title of the book is derived from the Greek word "psalmoi", meaning "instrumental music" and, by extension, "the words accompanying the music". The Hebrew name of the book, "Tehillim" means "praises", as it contains many praises and supplications to God. In the Quran, the Arabic word "Zabur" is used in reference to the psalms.

I. Blessed is the Man (1:1-6)

Psalm 1 - Dead Sea Scroll

* A picture of a scroll of Psalm 1, part of the Dead Sea findings.
The Great Psalms Scroll, also referred to as 11Q5, is the most substantial and well preserved manuscript of Psalms of the thirty-seven discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran caves. It is one of six Psalms manuscripts discovered in Cave 11.

>1. What does "walk" and "way" mean in verses 1 and 6 and what two ways are reviewed in this Psalm?

* Psalm 1:1 "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers."

* Psalm 1:6 "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

* As an introduction to the book, this psalm reminds the reader that those of whom the Psalms speak (using various terms) as the people of God, those whom he receives in his presence and favors with his salvation and blessing, must be characterized by righteousness - sinners have no place among them - and that the godly piety that speaks in the Psalms is a faithful response to God's revealed (and written) directives for life - which is the path that leads to blessedness. (NIV Study Bible)

* "walk... stand... sit... way" -Poetic terms referring to continually moving through life. One step can be considered one day and/or one moment. The righteous order their life according to God's way as revealed in the Holy Bible. The apostles stress in the New Testament "keep in step with the Spirit" and "walking in the word, light, and truth" for God has poured out his Spirit into the hearts of his sanctified. (Romans 5:5, 7:6, 8:4; Galatians 5:25; 1 John 1:6-7, 2:6; 2 John 1:6; 3 John 1:3; Revelation 3:4)

* "wicked... sinners... mockers" -Three adjectives describing the same set of people.

A Tree Planted by a River

* "perish" -The original Hebrew is "abad" (transliterations) meaning terrible finality, destruction, and utterly broken.

* This Psalm by an unknown author compares two ways; that is lifestyle choices and their results. The first is the way of the wicked, sinners, and mockers (1). The second is the way of the righteous (6). The way of the righteous is blessed. Blessed, used 516 times in the Bible is a translation of the Hebrew words "esher" here and "barak" elsewhere (transliterations). "Esher" means happiness. The Lord God is simply saying through the author, "How happy is the righteous!" I want that. So then, what are some of the lifestyle choices of the righteous?

The righteous person delights in the Word of God (2). They constantly think about it, study it, and apply it to their life. The Author of Life says, "If you want to be happy in life, then have the Holy Bible in your heart, soul, mind, and body. Have it nearby, ready to read and meditate on. Jesus, the Word made Flesh tells his disciples, "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." (John 14:25-27a)

When the Word is in me, then I am promised three things. First, I will always produce delectable succulent fruit, like a fruit tree that receives plenty of water and sunshine. The fruit of the Spirit of God will grow from my soul. (Galatians 5:22-25)

Second, I will not wither as I age. My physical body will decay as my soul and spirit not only remain but are always ever-increasing life. My leaf will never wither (3).

Third, I will not perish when my physical body ceases to function (5-6). The wicked will perish. I, if I follow the way of the righteous will live eternally. I will be happy for the rest of the days of my life. I will flourish eternally. I will know the joy of God and delight with the righteous forever. Eternity will be mine and he will never leave me. I will be blessed without ceasing. I will not be blown away like chaff as the wicked on the day of judgment.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 1.

>2. What do the righteous delight in and how does it affect their life? (2-3; John 6:63)

* Psalm 1:2-3 "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

* "delight" -"Hepes" a noun in the original Hebrew (a transliteration) is an expression of strong positive emotion.

* "meditates" -Meditating on God's word is not merely reading it, nor simply seeking it for guidance. Rather the person takes time and seek to often deep meanings behind what is written.

* Yielding fruit is a poetic way to say that the word of God in a person's soul (mind, heart, will) produces good things in their character.

* "Not withering" is a poetic way of saying that the word of God in a person's soul keeps them a live.

* John 6:63 "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life."

>3. How does rejecting the words of God affect the wicked life? (4-5)

* Psalm 1:4-5 "Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous."

* The word picture of "chaff that the wind blows away" is very common in the Bible. At harvest wheat needs to be separated from chaff. No one likes chaff in their flour. Chaff is the dry bracts enclosing mature grains of wheat and some other cereal grasses. It removed during threshing. It is a simile of the wretchedness of the wicked. Chaff is carried away by the lightest wind, and its removal brings about cleansing by exacting what is utterly useless. The main usage is God removing the wicked from the righteous. However, removing the wicked within a soul is also applied, thus all that remains is that which is desired.

* "the judgement" -The day Jesus will judge the living and the dead. (76:7, 130:3; Ezra 9:15; Malachi 3:2; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 6:17)

* Matthew 13:49-50 "This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

* Matthew 25:31-33 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."

II. Why (2:1-12)

David Composing Psalms

* This magnificent piece of 10th century art is titled, "David Composing the Psalms" with Melodia behind him. It is part of The Paris Psalter. The Paris Psalter is a copy of the 150 Psalms of David, translated from Hebrew into demotic Greek. The Paris Psalter is a Byzantine illuminated manuscript 38 x 26.5 cm in size, containing 449 folios and 14 full-page miniatures. The Paris Psalter is considered a key monument of the so-called Macedonian Renaissance, a 10th-century renewal of interest in classical art closely identified with the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (909-959) and his immediate successors.

>4. Who is the Anointed one and why do people, even the powerful leaders conspire and plot against him? (Acts 4:25-28, 13:32-33; Hebrews 5:5)

* Psalm 2:1-6 "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

* Acts 4:25-28 "You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen."

* Acts 13:32-33 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: "'You are my Son; today I have become your Father'."

* Hebrews 5:5 "So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."

* The book of Psalm does not state the author of Psalm 2. However, Peter and John ascribed it to David in Acts 4:25. Perhaps David was the author or perhaps they were following the Jewish practice of honoring David as the primary author of the Psalter.

* Psalm 2 is considered a royal psalm, composed for the coronation of Davidic kings. If David wrote it then it is possible that the Israelites decided to use it as the coronation of the kings that followed David.

* Psalm 2 is about the messianic reign of Jesus, the Anointed One as confirmed by New Testament quotes. (Matthew 1:17; Acts 4:25-27, 13:32-33; Hebrews 5:6; Revelation 2:26-27, 12:5, 15) The rage and conspiring against his rule is a fallen human state that all inherited from Adam. This was demonstrated when Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in Jerusalem to conspire against Jesus. (Acts 4:25-27) This will be exhibited again when Jesus comes again. Before God's grace in my life, my inner being also raged against the Lord of the Universe.

Rage against God is a joke. The "Whys" in verse one are rhetorical questions that imply, "How dare they!" And the laughter of the One Lord in verse 4 reveals the reality that no one can resist the majesty and might of God. What God has established is Jesus is King of kings and Lord and lords. (6) This will never end.

So with the Eternal King reign in my heart, I too will never end. The question I need to address is, "Does Jesus' will preside in my life?" "Or am I still raging against him?" As Proverbs 20:8 declares, "When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes." And as Jesus taught above love for enemies on the mountainside, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48)

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 2:1-6.

>5. What decree of the LORD is is proclaimed in verse 7 and what does it mean?

* Psalm 2:7 "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."

* "LORD... son... Father" -In the ancient Near East the relationship between a great king and one of his subjects kings, who ruled by his authority and owed him allegiance, was expressed not only by the words "lord" and "servant" but also by "father" and "son." The Davidic king was the Lord's "servant" and his "son". (2 Samuel 7:5-16) (NIV Study Bible)

* "decree" -A legal royal proclamation.

* "decree of the LORD" -The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees. The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, comprehending a plan including all his works of all kinds, great and small, from the beginning of creation to an unending eternity; ends as well as means, causes as well as effects, conditions and instrumentalities as well as the events which depend upon them, must be incomprehensible by the finite intellect of man. The decrees are eternal (Acts 15:18; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Th 2:13), unchangeable (Psalm 33:11; Isaiah 46:9), and comprehend all things that come to pass (Ephesians 1:11; Mathew 10:29, 30; Ephesians 2:10; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27, 28; Psalms 17:13, 14).

The decrees of God are:
    1. efficacious, as they respect those events he has determined to bring about by his own immediate agency;     or 2. permissive, as they respect those events he has determined that free agents shall be permitted by him to effect.

This doctrine ought to produce in our minds "humility, in view of the infinite greatness and sovereignty of God, and of the dependence of man; confidence and implicit reliance upon wisdom, righteousness, goodness, and immutability of God's purpose." (Easton's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

* Jesus is the Anointed One meaning he is the Absolute King (2, discussed in the previous BDBD). This verse and verse 12 declare that Jesus is also God's Son. (Acts 13:32-33) When Jesus was baptized "...a voice came from heaven (declared): "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22) When Jesus was transfigured on the mount before Peter, James, and John a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:5)

Jesus is not an angel. "For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father?' Or again, 'I will be his Father, and he will be my Son'? (Hebrews 1:5, 5:5; 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13) Being God's Son, Jesus is the Lord of the host of angels. (Matthew 26:53)

Many in the world are getting ready to celebrate Jesus' birth. When he was conceived in Mary's womb and nine months later came forth as a human baby Jesus did not at that time become God's Son. He was always God's Son. Mary was and remained a virgin during the pregnancy. The immaculate conception was the power of the Spirit. In that aspect, God was Jesus' Father. Yet, even before this, Jesus was God's Son in status and station.

Jesus, the Son of God is due my worship, respect, and praise. My soul is in awe of the King who is the Son of God.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 2:7.

>6. What inheritance is the Lord's and what response is demanded to this honor?

* Psalm 2:8-12 "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

* Verses 8 and 9 are part of the decree started in verse 7.

* "inheritance" -in order for their to be an inheritance someone must die.

* According to Revelations 12:5 and 19:15 this word will be fulfilled in the triumphant reign of Christ. In Revelations 2:26-27 Christ declares that he will appoint those who remain faithful to him to share in his subjugating rule over the nations.

* "kiss" -A sign of submission.

* A warning is made to kings, rulers, presidents, and leaders. Jesus' inheritance will be to the ends of the earth. He will rule with an iron scepter. A scepter is a staff held by a sovereign as an emblem of authority. A scepter could be made of anything. Being made of iron, the scepter displayed power and strength. With his iron scepter, Jesus will dash to pieces like pottery the evil who ruled the earth.

Therefore the warning, "Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son..." Though I am not in control of a country, state, or city I heed these words. I seek to serve the LORD in all my life. Kissing the feet of a sovereign was a sign of submission (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 19:18 Hosea 13:2)

The LORD Jesus while speaking to John revealed an amazing prophecy about the future of his congregations. "To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-- just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:26-29)

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Anointed Son when oppressed by the evil rulers of the world. A day will come when they will be gone and I will rule under Jesus in his worldly kingdom. If I submit to him now I will rule with him then.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 2:8-12.

III. From the Lord Comes Deliverance (3:1-8)

David's Psalm for Deliverance

* A woodcut for "Die Bibel in Bildern".
David depicted giving a psalm to pray for deliverance, 1860 woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld.

>7. What were David's foes saying and how did he respond? (1-2)

* Psalm 3:1-2 "O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."

* The title of this psalm is "A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom."

* This is a prayer psalm. David's response to trouble was prayer.

* "O LORD" -Covenant name of the God of Israel.

* "how many" -Though David was deemed by the Lord, his God to be "a man after my own heart" he had many foes in this world, more than can be counted.

* "rise up" -The original Hebrew verb, "qum" is a primitive root. The word picture is that they are like weeds that drain crops of needed water and nutrients. Many weeds can reduce and even eliminate grain. They were not their and suddenly they appear tall, ugly, and vicious.

* "God will not deliver him." -They knew David's problems and woes. They did not help nor comfort. Instead they despised his dependence on the LORD, his God.

* Jesus told his disciples that they will have trouble and people will hate them because of him. (Matthew 5:11, 10:22)

>8. What four things did the Lord do for David?

* Psalm 3:3-4 "But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill."

* "But you are a shield around me, O LORD" -A shield against his enemies. He need not worry.

* "you bestow glory on me" -His foes tried to take away his glory, his honor and respect. The Lord bestowed glory to him even though others tried to take it away.

* "lift up my head" -His foes shammed him. When shammed we often lower our heads. Since God bestows glory, his people don't need to be shamed.

* "To the LORD I cry aloud" -Prayer is sometimes emotional and loud cries.

* "he answers me from his holy hill." -Solomon, David's son built the temple after David died. However, the tabernacle and the Ark of the Lord were moved to a hill under David's direction.

>9. Because of the LORD what could David do?

* Psalm 3:5-6 "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side."

* "I lie down and sleep" -peace of God.

* "I wake again" -Full rest had.

* "because the LORD sustains me" -The LORD makes pleasant sleep possible.

* "I will not fear" -Knowing God is with me and his peace is in me drives out fear.

* "the tens of thousands" -Absalom's army.

* "on every side" -David's forces were smaller and thus his could be encircled.

>10. What did David pray concerning his enemies future? What can be said of a person who prays for such things to happen when many encircle in order to destroy?

* Psalm 3:7-8 "Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people."

* "Arise... Deliver me... Strike... break..." -Fight for him.

* "From the LORD comes deliverance." -David prayed in confidence of the LORD's answer.

* "May your blessing be on your people." -Not just himself.

* King David, the author is amidst despair and trouble. His beloved son Absalom has turned against him in a violent attempt to become king. (2 Samuel 13:22, 29, 39, 14:33, 15:12, 31, 15:13-14, 16:8, 21, 17:1) Much of David's life had encountered many foes, among them some have tried to kill him. David responded by turning to God in prayer. "O Lord, how many my foes! How many rise up against me!" When despondent circumstances like a torrent of rain and hail befall me, I open my soul to the Prince of Peace, a shelter amidst the storm.

If Absalom's personal attack wasn't devastating enough, David overheard many during his prayer, "God will not deliver him." Misfortune exposes shallow ice cold love. A faithful friend who can find? Jesus is often the only friend who bears my burden with me.

The LORD sustains me. After prayer, the peace that passes understanding warms a bed as David lies down and sleeps. "I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked." David experienced "from the LORD comes deliverance." The turbulent clouds rushed off and the warm sun dried the tears from dark clouds. "May your blessing be on your people."

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 3:1-8.