Psalm 1
Theme
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
Outline
1–2, The Righteous and the Wicked 3–4, The Fruitful Tree and the Fruitless Chaff 5–6, The Saved and the Perishing
Key Verse
(1:1-2) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Notes
Psalm 1, linked with Psalm 2, introduces the Psalter by contrasting the righteous and the wicked, highlighting their lifestyles, outcomes, and judgments. It emphasizes the importance of the Torah and sets the stage for the messianic theme in Psalm 2, which presents the Davidic king. Together, they convey Israel's hope for a king who embodies righteousness. The structure of Psalm 1 reflects a thematic chiasm, focusing on the righteous versus the wicked, the fruitful versus the fruitless, and the saved versus the perishing.