Psalm 01.01-06 l WHICH MAN ARE YOU?

Today’s reading: Psalms 01.01-09.20

Psalms 01.01-06 “1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”

The title of this praise book for the nation of Israel is taken from the Greek word “psalmos”, which translates the Hebrew word “mizmor”, which means music accompanied by stringed instruments. In the Hebrew this book is titled “Tehillim” which means, “Praises”.

Seventy-three of the Psalms were written by David, twelve by Asaph (Psalm 50.01-23; Psalm 73.01-83.18), eleven by the sons of Korah (Psalm 42.01-11; Psalm 44.01-49.20; Psalm 84.01-85.13; Psalm 87.01-88.18), two by Solomon (Psalm 72.01-20; Psalm 127.01-05) one by Moses (Psalm 90.01-17); one by Heman the Ezrahite (Psalm 88.01-18), one by Ethan the Ezrahite (Psalm 89.01-52; 1Kings 04.31); and forty-nine are anonymous. Asaph, Heman, and Ethan were musicians from the tribe of Levi (1Chronicles 15.17; 1Chronicles 15.19; 1Chronicles 06.39; 2 Chronicles 05.12)

The Book of Psalms is divided into five books:

Book 01=Psalms 01-41; Book 02=Psalms 42-72; Book 03=Psalms 73-89; Book 04=Psalms 90-106; Book 05=Psalms 107-150. Each section ends with a doxology, and the Book of Psalms ends with a glorious doxology of Psalm 150.01-06.

In Psalm 01.01-06 we see the blessedness of the Godly man contrasted with the misery of the wicked man.

Psalm 01.01-03 The Blessed Man

The psalmist describes the life of the blessed man. He does not walk, stand or sit in the counsel of the wicked (the ungodly). He doesn’t have fellowship with them (2Corinthians 06.14-18). He is set apart by the LORD (Psalms 04.03).

A Godly person is not influenced by the unrighteous, but is influenced by the Word of God and his study of it.

Psalm 01.04-06 The Wicked Man

The wicked ungodly man is compared to chaff, basically saying, and here today but gone tomorrow.

God will in the end divide the righteous and sinners as a man separates wheat from the tares.

The LORD knows personally the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked will perish (2Peter 02.09). This all will be taken care of by the LORD (Matthew 07.15-23).