Here’s a structured Bible study on Psalm 1 that you can use for personal devotion or group discussion.
Psalm 1 is “Psalm 1” — placed first in the Psalter — for very intentional reasons. It acts as the gateway or preface to the entire book of Psalms, setting the tone for everything that follows.
1. A Foundational Introduction
- Psalm 1 is not simply the first in numerical order; it’s a thematic introduction that lays out the central choice every person faces:
- The way of the righteous (delighting in and obeying God’s Word)
- The way of the wicked (rejecting God and facing judgment)
- This two-path framework is echoed throughout the Psalms and the rest of Scripture.
2. A Wisdom Psalm
- While many psalms are prayers, laments, or songs of praise, Psalm 1 reads like a Proverbs-style wisdom teaching.
- By starting with wisdom rather than worship, it invites the reader to adopt the right mindset before entering into the prayers and praises of the rest of the book.
3. Placed as a Deliberate Gatekeeper
- The first word in Hebrew (ashrei) means “Blessed” or “Happy,” signaling that the Psalms are meant to lead the reader into blessing through relationship with God.
- The last verse of Psalm 1 warns that “the way of the wicked will perish,” serving as a threshold warning before stepping into the spiritual journey the Psalter offers.
4. Linked with Psalm 2
- Many scholars see Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 as a twin introduction:
- Psalm 1 focuses on the law of the Lord and the individual’s life.
- Psalm 2 focuses on the Lord’s anointed King and God’s rule over the nations.
- Together, they frame the Psalms around obedience to God’s Word and submission to God’s King.
5. Why It’s First
- It establishes:
- The central choice — Which path will you take?
- The source of blessing — God’s Word.
- The certainty of outcomes — God knows the righteous; the wicked perish.
- In short, Psalm 1 asks: Are you ready to walk the path of the righteous before you enter into the worship, struggles, and prayers that the rest of the Psalms contain?
1. Overview of Psalm 1
- Theme: The way of the righteous vs. the way of the wicked.
- Purpose: To set the tone for the entire Psalter by showing that blessing comes from delighting in God’s Word and avoiding the path of sin.
- Key Verse: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked… but his delight is in the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 1:1–2)
2. Structure
Psalm 1 has two contrasting portraits:
A) The Blessed (Righteous) Person – Verses 1–3
- What they avoid:
- Does not walk in ungodly counsel (beliefs and advice opposed to God).
- Does not stand in the way of sinners (adopt their lifestyle).
- Does not sit in the seat of scoffers (mock God’s ways).
- What they do:
- Delight in God’s law (Scripture).
- Meditate day and night (continuous engagement with God’s Word).
- Result:
- Like a tree planted by streams of water — stable, fruitful, and thriving regardless of season.
B) The Wicked Person – Verses 4–6
- Nature:
- Like chaff blown away by the wind — rootless, unstable, temporary.
- Outcome:
- Will not stand in judgment or belong to the assembly of the righteous.
- Their way will perish, unlike the righteous whom the Lord knows intimately.
3. Key Themes
- Blessing is about God’s presence and direction, not luck.
- Spiritual growth comes from continual, joyful intake of Scripture.
- Our choices and companions shape our destiny.
- Two paths exist — one leads to life, the other to destruction.
4. Life Application
- Ask: What “counsels” influence me daily — God’s Word or worldly opinions?
- Plan a daily Scripture meditation routine (morning and evening).
- Identify one ungodly influence you need to step away from this week.
- Pray for roots deep in God’s truth, not shallow in fleeting trends.
5. Discussion Questions
- What does it mean to “delight” in the law of the Lord?
- To “delight in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 1:2) means much more than simply reading the Bible or knowing its commands — it describes a deep, heartfelt joy and satisfaction in God’s Word because it connects us to Him.
Here’s what it means in detail:
1. Heart-Level Enjoyment
Not duty, but desire – You approach Scripture like a beloved letter, not a chore.
It means you actually look forward to time with God’s Word because it nourishes your soul.
2. Agreement with God’s Ways
You embrace God’s truth as good, even when it challenges your own thinking or culture’s opinions.
You see His commands not as restrictions, but as loving boundaries that lead to life (Psalm 19:7–10).
3. Ongoing Meditation
To “delight” naturally leads to thinking about it often — turning it over in your mind, day and night.
This shapes your attitudes, choices, and reactions because your mind is saturated with God’s truth.
4. A Relationship, Not Just Rules
God’s Word is not just “law” in the legal sense — it’s His instruction (Hebrew: torah) given by a loving Father.
Delighting in it means delighting in Him, because His Word reveals His character, promises, and plans.
5. Fruitful Result
Just as Psalm 1 describes the righteous as a tree planted by streams of water, delighting in God’s Word brings stability, nourishment, and spiritual fruitfulness, no matter the season of life.
Practical Ways to Grow in Delighting
Pray before reading – Ask God to open your eyes (Psalm 119:18).
Personalize Scripture – Apply it to your own life situations.
Memorize & meditate – Carry verses with you in thought and prayer.
Worship through the Word – Turn passages into praise.
How is the progression of walk → stand → sit a warning about gradual compromise? The “walk → stand → sit” progression in Psalm 1:1 is a vivid picture of gradual spiritual compromise — how sin often captures a person’s heart step-by-step rather than all at once.
1. Walk – Casual Exposure
“…does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…”
Meaning: You begin by moving alongside ungodly influences — hearing their advice, adopting their values, letting their worldview shape your thinking.
This stage is often subtle. You’re “just listening” or “just curious,” but your direction is already influenced.
2. Stand – Intentional Association
“…or stand in the way of sinners…”
Meaning: You stop moving and take your place among them. This signals agreement or identification with their way of life.
The shift is from passing influence to active alignment. You’re no longer merely hearing; you’re staying, participating, and normalizing what God calls sin.
3. Sit – Settled Comfort
“…or sit in the seat of scoffers…”
Meaning: You become comfortable and at home in mockery or rejection of God’s truth.
Sitting implies belonging — now you’re not just influenced, you’ve adopted the attitude and identity of those opposed to God.
Why It’s a Warning
Sin is progressive — rarely does someone jump from faithfulness to full rebellion overnight.
Each step hardens the heart — exposure → agreement → identity.
The danger is disguised — each stage may feel small or harmless, but each one deepens compromise.
Biblical Pattern
This pattern is echoed throughout Scripture:
Lot in Genesis 13–19: first pitched his tents near Sodom, then lived in Sodom, and finally sat in its gate (a leadership role).
Peter during Jesus’ trial: followed at a distance → stood with the guards → sat with them and denied Christ.
Application
Guard your first steps — the “walk” stage — because that’s where the slide begins.
Surround yourself with voices that point you toward God, not away from Him.
Regularly evaluate: Who am I walking with? Where am I standing? Where have I sat down? - In what ways does meditation differ from simply reading Scripture? Meditation on Scripture is a deeper, more intentional practice than simply reading it — it moves the Word from the page into the heart and daily life. Here’s the key difference:
1. Depth vs. Surface
Reading: Primarily an intake of information — your eyes scan the words, your mind registers the content.
Meditation: You slow down, linger, and consider the meaning and implications. It’s about soaking in the truth until it shapes your thinking and emotions.
2. Reflection vs. Recognition
Reading: You may recognize familiar verses or themes, but they can pass quickly without much personal engagement.
Meditation: You pause to reflect — “What does this reveal about God? About me? What is God asking of me here?”
3. Internalization vs. Awareness
Reading: You become aware of what Scripture says.
Meditation: You internalize it so it becomes part of your worldview, influencing decisions, reactions, and prayers.
4. Ongoing Conversation with God
Reading: Often one-way — you read and move on.
Meditation: Two-way — you talk to God about the passage, ask Him questions, and listen for the Spirit’s prompting.
5. Transformation vs. Information
Reading: Can fill the mind with biblical facts and stories.
Meditation: Transforms the heart because it pushes truth deep into your inner life (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2).
Example
If you read Psalm 23:1 — “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”:
Reading: You see that God is described as a shepherd who provides.
Meditation: You picture Him guiding you today, recall times He has provided, confess areas where you haven’t trusted Him, and carry that truth into your next decision. - How does verse 6 bring both comfort and warning? Psalm 1:6 says:
“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
This short verse carries two powerful truths — one deeply comforting and the other a sober warning.
1. Comfort for the Righteous
God’s personal knowledge – In Hebrew, knows doesn’t just mean awareness; it implies intimate, loving attention and approval. God doesn’t just see your path — He walks it with you.
Security of the path – To be “known” by God means you are under His care, guidance, and protection, even when the path is difficult.
Certainty of outcome – Your way is not wasted; it is heading toward life, blessing, and eternal fellowship with Him. This reassures believers that their faithfulness is seen and will be rewarded.
Cross-references:
Nahum 1:7 – “He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep.”
2. Warning for the Wicked
Inevitable judgment – “The way of the wicked will perish” means their chosen path leads to ruin — morally, spiritually, and eternally.
Loss of what seemed secure – Even if the wicked appear to prosper for a time, their path is temporary and ends in destruction (Psalm 73:18–19).
God’s knowledge as exposure – The wicked are not hidden from God’s sight; He sees their way too, but without the saving relationship that leads to life.
3. The Two Paths Contrast
Righteous path → Known by God → Leads to life.
Wicked path → Ends in perishing → Leads to separation from God.
The comfort is that God knows and preserves those who follow Him. The warning is that those who reject Him face certain ruin.