Today’s Sermon: “Background & Theme of Psalms: Psalm 1-The contrast Of The Righteous & Unrighteous / Psalm 2-The Kings & Rulers Take Counsel Together Against The Messiah” by Pastor Jim Bomkamp

Background for book of Psalms: 1. Psalms in Hebrew is tehillı ̂ m, which is translated “Songs of Praise”, as these poems describe the greatness, goodness, and might of the Lord, and are meant to be sung in worship. 2. Other Psalms: Exodus 15, Judges 5, 1 Sam. 2:1-10, Ho. 6:1–3; Is. 2:2–4; 38:10–20; Je. 14:7–9; Hab. 3:1, Ezr. 9:5–15, and Ne. 9:6– Five distinct divisions or books to the Psalms: 1–41, 42–72, 73–89, 90–106, 107– About the authorship of the book of Psalms. 5. Sometimes we see David acting in way as a type of Christ. 6. About technical designations of Psalms… 7. “Imprecatory Psalms” are an unusual part of scriptures. 8. The Psalms are an invaluable gift to Christians.

Psalm 1 - “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.”

This first Psalm has been called the theme to the book of Psalms.

Who is the “righteous man” in Psalm 1?

Who is the “ungodly man” in Psalms 1?

Negative profile of “righteous man”: 1. He ‘does not walk in the counsel of the wicked’. 2. He does not ‘stand in the path of sinners’. 3. He does not ‘sit in the seat of scoffers’.

Positive profile of “righteous man”: 1. He has ‘his delight is in the law of the Lord’. 2. It is ‘in His law he meditates day and night’.

The blessings of the “righteous man”: 1. ‘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’. 2. ‘in whatever he does he prospers’.

Description of the “ungodly man”: ‘The wicked are not so’

What does the “ungodly man” inherit? 1. ‘They are like chaff which the wind drives away’. 2. ‘The wicked will not stand in the judgment’. 3. ‘Will not stand in the assembly of the righteous’. 4. ‘The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish’.

Purpose of Psalm 2: 1. It reveals that the Psalms are Messianic. 2. Some ancient church fathers thought Psalm 1 and 2 were combined. 3. Other kingly Psalms: 18; 20-21; 45; 72; 89; 101; 110; 132; Acts 4:25 ascribes Psalm 2 to King David. 5. A Commentary Critical And Explanatory states the following:

Psalm 2:1: Why are the nations in an uproar?

Psalm 2:2-3: Kings of the earth and the rulers take counsel together

Psalm 2:4: The Lord sits scoffs at the rebels

Psalm 2:5-6: The Lord will speak angrily against the kings and rulers of the earth and terrify them

Psalm 2:7-9: The Psalmist prophetically declares the future incarnation of Jesus Christ

Psalm 2:10-11: The Psalmist issues a warning to the kings of the earth

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Does your life align with the “righteous man” or the “ungodly”? a. Do you ‘walk in the counsel of the wicked’? b. Do you ‘stand in the path of sinners’? c. Do you ‘sit in the seat of scoffers’? d. Do you ‘delight in the law of the Lord’? e. Do you ‘meditate in the law day and night’? 2. Recognize the folly of being an ungodly man: a. ‘like chaff which the wind drives away’. b. ‘will not stand in the judgment’. c. ‘will not stand in the assembly of the righteous’. d. ‘the way of the wicked will perish’.