Psalm 1 and 2

 Psalm 1  Blessed Is the Man!

• v. 1 Blessed is to be obtained in 2 Ways.
• Negatively
• Positively
• v. 3 The Rewards of the Blessed Man
• v. 4 The Contrast to the Blessed Man

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLESSED? (32:1)

To be blessed is to be happy or full of joy. It is much more than a feeling, however; it is a joyous position resulting from a right relationship with God.

SHOULD WE MEDITATE ON GOD’S LAW? (1:2)

When we meditate by wrapping our hearts and minds around God’s revelation of himself in his Word (law), we find spiritual stability, depth of character and divine blessing. See the article Isn’t meditation used by other religions? (77:12).

DOES FOLLOWING GOD BRING SUCCESS? (1:3–4)

This psalm offers a principle, not a guarantee of success. The ancient Hebrews did not limit their definition of success to the purely financial aspect of life. They valued other factors as well, including a positive reputation and community respect. For the righteous, success is measured not in the accumulation of wealth but in the experience of God’s blessing on their words and deeds. See the article Are proverbs ironclad promises? (Pr 3:1–4).

WHAT IS CHAFF? (1:4)

After wheat is harvested, the chaff (stems, leaves, husks and dust) is separated from the grain in a process called winnowing. Chaff is carried away by the lightest wind, and its removal brings about cleansing by removing the unwanted seed coverings and debris from the grain. In this verse, the worthless chaff symbolizes the wicked, who will be separated from the righteous at judgment.

Psalm 2 "Thou Art My Son!"

• The Determined Hate of the People (v.1-3)
• The Divine Tranquility (v. 4-6)
• Messiah's Manifesto (v. 7-9)
• Overtures and Counsels of Peace (v. 12)