Intro & Chapter 1

I wanted to share something that’s been on my heart—I am diving into the book of Psalms to see what I can learn from it. Will you join me?! Did you know that Psalms has 150 chapters? This is quite an ambitious challenge. It will be an adventure; I am convinced it will lead to finding the quiet and adventure too. There will be growth that will be good for our souls and our hearts will be full! I'd love for you to join me on

this journey. I will be sharing one chapter at a time for us to explore together. If you

find anything interesting along the way, please share it in the comments. Let’s discover together!

Psalms is a beautiful collection of poetry, and it’s meant to be read a bit differently. It’s exciting because it’s full of vivid images and lovely word pictures that invite us to think deeply and really soak in the messages. This book tugs at our hearts more than it challenges our minds. As we read, let’s look out for symbols and metaphors, just like we would with any poetry. But remember, it also carries important theological truths that can really impact us.

Here we go. Go ahead and read through Psalm 1. Then proceed below:

Let’s take a look at Psalm 1—it opens with the word ";Blessed", which is all about happiness and inner joy, similar to what we find in Matthew 5:3-12. Right from the get-go, the writer tells us what a blessed person doesn’t do:

• They don’t walk with the wicked.

• They don’t listen to advice from those outside the law or mockers.

Instead, they are "like a tree" and what a beautiful image that is! This tree is planted by streams of water, which it needs to thrive and grow. Just like this tree, we’re meant to bear fruit in our lives!

Then, the writer compares the wicked to chaff—those dry, dead leaves that just get blown around without purpose. It says that they won’t stand in judgment, nor will sinners be among the righteous. The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the path of the wicked will fade away. This highlights a clear divide between the righteous and the wicked, and it reminds us that it’s not up to us to draw that line. The wicked will perish—those are some strong words and the imagery can be a bit heavy. Starting with "blessed"; we see that the person who delights in the law of the Lord and thinks about it day and night is the one who truly benefits. For us, this is our call to stay rooted in truth and live the way God intended. We can do this by staying connected to His Word, which nourishes our spirits. Committing to our relationship with the Lord helps us grow stronger each day. By living out our faith, we become examples of Jesus for the world to see. Just like a tree needs consistent watering to thrive, we need that nourishment too. We should aim for a deep, loving, and steady commitment to the Lord, who has a perfect plan for us. This way, we’ll flourish and produce beautiful, tasty fruit for others to enjoy. We live like this until we reach the endless joy of eternal life. I love how Charles Spurgeon put it: "The righteous carve their name in stone, while the wicked write theirs on the wind. The righteous work the land and sow seeds, with a harvest that can’t be fully reaped until they step into eternity. Meanwhile, the wicked may leave a shimmering trail, but just like the waves of the sea wash it away, they will be forgotten forever."

Isn’t that a wonderful example of imagery? Share your thoughts of Psalm 1 in the comments below.