EXEGESIS FOR PSALM 1

By Greg Robinson

REL 1013-11 Dr. Bowman 02/16/12

1. Translation Checklist The Text I have chosen today for this exegesis paper is Psalms chapter 1: 1-6. I will be using more than just one translation in capturing the text, which I have chosen. I believe, by looking at more than one translation, you'll get a better understanding of the text that you are trying to do a textual criticism on. There are many variant readings and a passage. By working with more than just one of the major translations, I believe you will become more familiar with the text you are trying to do and exegesis paper on. One of the translations I will be using is the new American Bible. The Scriptures come from the original languages or from the oldest existent form in which the text exist, according to the members of the Catholic Biblical Association of America sponsored by the Bishops committee of the Confraternity of the Christian doctrine. Another translation I will use is a Zondervan NIV study Bible. This translation again comes close to the original text and is easy-to-read. The footnotes in this Bible are of several kinds, most of which need no explanation the commentaries are also very easy to read. They also provide more references where one might look for a better understanding of the passage you are reading. Finally I will also go to the Lutheran study Bible more often, and will be using this Bible in conjunction with the other two mentions above that the ESV has been carefully weighed against original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity to avoid any misunderstandings of the original text. I think it brings the original words of the Scripture into our own language of modern day times. Psalm 1:v1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of the sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. Psalm 1:v1 in the New American Bible starts verse 1 by saying Happy those.

Esher (835) means blessed; happy. (1) all but 4 of the 44 biblical occurrences of this noun are poetical passages, with 26 occurrences in the Psalms and 8 in Proverbs. (2)Basically this word connotes the state of prosperity or happiness that comes when a superior bestows his favored (blessing) on one.1
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but his delight is in the law[b] of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and

night. A godly person is influenced not by sinful people but by his meditation on the word of God. 1:2 The psalmist found direction not drudgery from the law of God.2
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He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and

its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 1:3 For all who take their delight in living by God's word, there is prosperity. Under the image of a fruit tree, the psalmist declared that whatever the righteous do will prosper (cf. 92:12 14). Two qualifications need to be noted. First, the fruit, that is, the prosperity, is produced in its season and is not necessarily immediately after planning. Second, what the godly person does will be controlled by the Law of God, (1:2). So if a person meditates on God's Word, his action will be godly, and his God- controlled activities will prosper, that is, come to their divinely directed fulfillment. 3
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The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

1:4 In the strong contrast with a blessed person (v.1) is a non-godly person. The wicked are not in a covenant relationship with God. They live according to their own passions. The psalmist compared them to shaft, the worthless husk of the grain blown away by the wind.4 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 1:5. On the basis of the contrast between the godly and wicked, the palmist wrote that God will separate the righteous from the wicked in the judgment. The righteous are those who are related by covenant with the Lord, who lived by his word, who produce things of
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James Strong, LL. D., S. T. D. The new Strong's exhaustive concordance of the Bible. . John F. Walvood Roy B Zuck. The Bible knowledge commentary Old Testament 3 John F. Walvood Roy B Zuck. The Bible knowledge commentary Old Testament 4 John F. Walvood Roy B Zuck. The Bible knowledge commentary Old Testament
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eternal value. God will divide the righteous and sinners as a man separates wheat from tares.5
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for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will

perish. 1:6 The basis for this judgment is the Lord's knowledge. The first half of the verse, the Lord watches over (lit., knows). The way of the righteous, is best understood by the identical parallelism, the way of the wicked will perish. Salvation in the Day of Judgment is equated with being known by the Lord (cf. Matt.7:23). In Psalm 1:6 the way of the righteous is contrasted with the way of the wicked. The way means ones whole manner of life, including what directs it, and what it produces the worthless life of the ungodly will not endure.6 The first Psalm stands as an introduction to the rest of the Psalms. It touches on two subjects that occurred continually throughout Psalms. It declares the blessedness of the righteous and the misery and future of the wicked. 2. Literary Placement. Psalm 2 introduces the basic content of Yahwehs instruction (TORAH), that Yahweh reigns as king over the world (and even the Davidic king, the human king, is subservient to Yahwehs kingship, 2:10-11). While the righteous one Yahweh will prosper, the wicked he will punish. Psalm 19:7 the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 3. Historical Context and Questions Psalm 1 shows us the destiny of both the righteous and the wicked. The wicked will, at the final judgment, find themselves separated from God and, in the long run, inheritors of eternal damnation. No one is exempt from this most terrifying fate. Yet God has provided a different way for us. He sets us on the righteous way of the righteousness
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John F. Walvood Roy B Zuck. The Bible knowledge commentary Old Testament. John F. Walvood Roy B Zuck. The Bible knowledge commentary Old Testament.

and keeps us on it through his word. The blessed man who leads a clean and successful life in harmony with the word of the Lord, compared to that of a man who lives a life with the wicked, you shall surely die. There are no historical clues in this psalm to indicate when it was written, who wrote it, or why it was originally written. There is no historical context, N/A - not applicable. 1. Question: 2. Question: 3. Question: 4. Question: When psalm was composed originally? When was it placed as the introductory psalm? Where were the various psalms composed and to what ends? Where some of the psalms composed for use in the temple cult?

Literary type structure of this text: Psalm 1 is a "Torah Psalm" composed of Hebrew poetry which uses parallel lines to contrast here the righteous and the wicked. Vv1-3 the psalmist described the life of the blessed man: he does not walk stand or sit in the counsel way or seat of the wicked, ungodly, sinners or mockers. One who is not characterized by this evil influence is blessed, and is right with God and enjoys the spiritual peace. In v4 the (wicked) in strong contrast with a blessed person (v.1) the wicked are not in covenant relationship with God; they live a life of ungodliness. The psalmist compared them to chaff, the worthless husks of the grain blown away in the wind. The judgment in (Vv: 5-6) On the basis of the contrast between the godly and the

wicked, the psalmist wrote that God will separate the righteous from the wicked in the judgment. Keywords identified: "Walk in the way" (halak) means walk with God in the sense of living a godly life (cf. Gen.5:22ff; 6:9; Deut. 29:9 Judg.2:17) we are to walk in the way of the Lord. Law of God" = Torah or instruction of God; the psalmist frequently expresses delight in and reverence for the law (cf. Pss 1:2; 119: 18, 34, 92, 113, 174). Isa. 42:4 refers to the law of the suffering Messianic Servant, which is arguably identical with the law covenant of Yahweh. This is possible if we have the desire to do so, we can have happiness and not drudgery, from the Law of God. Blessed is plural in the Hebrew and literally means, Oh the blessedness, or the blessings. It affirms the blessed stat of all those who submit themselves to God in obedient devotion to him. It occurs about forty times I the Old Testament, mostly in the Psalms and Proverbs (e.g. Deut. 33:29; 2 Chr.9:7; Pss.1:1; 34:8; 88: 4ff.; 119:1ff.; Prov. 8:32ff.; 29:18; Isa. 32:20; Dan. 12:12). .Wicked describes those who are guilty (of sin). There is no peace for the wicked (Jer.5:26) Pss.55:3; 119:95,110 refer to the oppression of the wicked. Frequently, the wicked are declared to have been punished, condemned by God. (Pss.1:5; 9:5,16; Isa. 11:4; Jer. 30:23; Ezek. 21:29; 33:8ff.; Mal. 4:3).7 Key theological themes: Key themes found in Psalm 1: the righteous versus the wicked. Wickedness are people who ridicule God and defiantly reject his law (Pr1:22and note).Those who chose to walk in the way of the righteous will receive salvation and blessing. Those that choose
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Stephen D. Renn Expository Dictionary of Bible Words

to walk in the way of the wicked will walk alone in their ungodly ways and will not find the path of blessedness. The value and delight in the Torah of God. We can look at the Torah as"teaching," "doctrine," or "instruction"; on how God wants us to live our lives. One of the main purposes was instruction in the life of faith, a faith formed and nurtured by the Law. It is possible if we have the desire to do so, we can have happiness and not drudgery, from the Law of God. The blessings and curses we see in Psalm 1. Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord blessed are all who will take refuge in him. Godly wisdom here declares the final outcome of the two ways the way of the sinners (v.1) and the way of the righteous (v.6). The curses for those who stubbornly choose the way of sinners have no place among the righteous. The final judgment for the wicked they are chaff that blows away in the wind. The wretchedness of the wicked are carried away by the lightest wind, and its removal brings about cleansing by extracting what is absolutely useless. They will be able to with stand Gods wrath when he judges. (Pss.37:20) But the wicked will perish: they will vanishvanish like smoke. Prosperity for all that takes their delight in living by Gods Word, there is prosperity. He is like a fruit tree planted by streams of water whatever the righteous do will prosper (cf. 92:12-14). The fruit, that is, the prosperity, is produced in its season and not necessarily immediately after planting. What the godly person does will be controlled

by the Law of God (1:2). So if a person meditates on Gods Word, his actions will be godly and his God-controlled activities will prosper.8 Summary Statement of Texts Purpose: In summary Psalms 1 invites us to come into a relationship with God, to walk in the ways of the righteous. It explains to us our destiny, if we elect to walk in the way of wicked instead of the way of righteous. If we choose to walk in the way of the wicked the final judgment will be eternal damnation. No one will be exempt. God has given us a way not to walk in the way of wickedness but in the way of righteousness through His Word. We are reminded there is an open invitation, to come to worship, with the Lord. His voice calls us to come to him and timeless struggles, time that we still defeated, and times when we no longer think we can go on, and times of sin. Psalm 1 gives us hope, knowing that, Yahweh will be there hands open, even when the way seems gloomy, when we have gone astray. No matter how many times we fall, no matter how many times, we harden our hearts, no matter how many times we do not listen to his voice he gathers his sheep and leads them back to the path of salvation. He invites us to come, bowing down on bent knee before the King, the God our Savior and worship with him. Questions Still Needing Answers: In my opinion there are many more questions that still need answering Psalm. Question 1: what does it mean the seat of scoffers? Question 2: he is like a tree planted by a stream of water? Question 3: chaff that the wind drives away?

John F. Walvood Roy B Zuck. The Bible knowledge commentary Old Testament.

Life issues: Walking in the way of the Lord is a concern. It is so easy for us to get wrapped up in the worldly things like more money, more toys and just being wrapped up in ourselves. We are easily distracted by the temptations of the world today. It is so easy for us to walk in the way of the wicked with all the temptations of the worldly possessions. Another big concern is the way of the wicked. How easy the world has made us think it is okay to reconsider our morals and our values to go against God. For instance a lot of the TV shows pushes nothing but sex and use language like taking the Lord's name in vain is okay now. Another concern of mine is when we should seek counsel. We only seek God's word when we're in trouble or when it is convenient for us. We should be seeking God's counsel each and every day of our lives. There are many more I could have selected. I selected these few because how the way of the world can twist our morals and values into us thinking like the way of the wicked and not walking the path of the righteousness. I am very concerned for the next generation. It seems like anything goes and God is left behind. It is all about what makes me feel good what can I do for me and who cares about anybody else. It also concerns me that we are seeing it into today's society and our own generation. We as believers have to do a better job in getting the word of God and His Gospel out into the world, so all those that are lost will discover the power of God's everlasting love and forgiveness and will have eternal life with Him.

Personal Theological Reflection: By working on this text it has raised the urgency of getting God's word out into this world even more. The world today has turned its back on God. We in this country today are taking our freedoms that God has given to us and like in Rome destroying ourselves from the inside out. We can see in some of our religious communities where walking the path of the wicked may be okay in some situations just to draw more members into their make me feel good congregations. As a believer every chance that I get I will try to plant the seed of God's word on the hearts of those that are confused, lost, and walking the way of the wicked. Let us never forget that Gods word will reach to the ends of the earth and all that believe will have eternal life with Him.