Adult Bible Study on Psalm 1

 Psalm 1

 (New International Version)

 

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

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

⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

 

1. What does it mean to “walk in step with the wicked,” “stand in the way that sinners take,” or “sit in the company of mockers”?

 

When you walk with someone, stand with them, and sit with them, you don’t look or behave any differently than them. You identify with that type of person. The Lord, however, calls us to be separate from the people around us.

 

2 Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

 

Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

 

 

2. The progression of the descriptions of people we are not supposed to be like goes from “wicked” > “sinners” > mockers.” It goes from worst to less severe in evilness. Why do you think the passage lists these types of people in this order?

 

It’s as if the Word is showing us that we’re not to be wicked (that’s obvious), but we’re also not even to be a little sinful, such as when we might mock or disrespect other people. We are to be completely holy, delighting in God’s law rather than rebelling against it. The passage is calling us to total holiness.

 

 

3. What does it mean to delight in the law of the Lord?

 

To delight in God’s commands means to agree with them and love them, to be happy to receive and follow them. If you don’t find joy in God’s commands, ask the Lord to show you how following His ways can bring you peace and fulness of life.

 

 

4. What are some practices we can follow to help us meditate on God’s law day and night?

 

Many Christians find that the best way to start their day is by reading Scripture and praying. Others spend time with God in the evening. What if we were to both start and end our day with God’s Word?

 

We should also get in the habit of recalling what we’ve read throughout the day so that it sinks into us and forms our mind. We’ll also gain new insights into the passage we’ve read the more we think about it throughout the day.

 

 

5. This psalm starts with a promise, saying we will be blessed if we refrain from sin and delight in God’s laws. Now we see the form in which that blessing will come. We will be like a tree, yielding fruit and never withering. Whatever we do will prosper.

 

What sort of fruit will we yield within this blessing?

 

Scripture talks about Christians yielding fruit in two ways: Spiritual virtues, and Evangelism.

 

Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

 

Matthew 13:23 - But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 

 

6. In what ways do people who are not following the Lord wither?

 

Those who don’t know or follow God have no enduring hope, and so when life’s circumstances go against them, they can become very depressed.

 

 

7. Is it true that everything the Christian does prospers? In what way is it true?

 

Matthew 21:21-22 - Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

 

If we are acting in accordance with God’s will, as we should be if we are avoiding all sin and delighting in God’s Word, then we can believe that God will prosper our activity.  

 

 

8. What does it mean to stand in the judgment?

 

You can picture a throng of people standing before God’s throne of judgment. When He pronounces the guilty, they fall down in shame, but you are left standing. You can hold your head high because of the righteousness God has given you.

 

 

What to DO after reading this passage

Commit to following the Lord in righteousness and not living according to the world’s way of thinking and behaving. If you’re in a group of people, stand with them as you all make this commitment.

 

 

Do you have another insight into this passage? Please share below!