INTRODUCTION TO THE PSALMS
The Psalms are Hebrew poetry. Many were written to be sung. Hebrew poetry does not rhyme; its chief characteristic is parallelism: In the second line the ideas or thoughts that have nearly the same meaning--many times with a little progression added--are repeated (Ps 4:1) or the opposite is given. Some psalms are like envelopes--they end with the same phrase with which they began (Ps 103). Some are structured as acrostics--the beginning of each verse or section follows a letter in the Hebrew alphabet (Ps 119).

King David wrote many of the psalms. He is the one who brought music and psalms into temple worship. He organized the temple worship and appointed the Levites as musicians. Other Psalms were written by the prophets, various musicians serving in the temple, and the anonymous.

The Psalms flow through the course of Israel's history. They constitute a kind of inner history which runs parallel to the recorded events. Most of them are poems or songs of prayers, praise, gratitude, and repentance to God. They tell us that God is intimately involved in Israel's history. He is the Creator of heaven and earth; he is the Redeemer; he is the Ruler of history; he is the one worthy of praise and honor and thanksgiving. As we study the Psalms, let us turn our hearts to him and learn from the Psalmists to praise and thank him and to lay before him all of our fears and anxieties and worship the LORD God. (Sarah Barry)

1. The way of the righteous (1-3)

The righteous do not listen to the advice of the wicked, and do not hang around those who deny God or those who are immoral, and they do not join in with the people who treat God and his people with contempt. Rather, their joy is in God's word- the law of God they meditate on day and night. Like a fruitful tree planted by the waterfront, their life is deeply rooted in God's word and is nourished and strengthened by it. They become prosperous in all they do, for the LORD watches over and blesses them. They are the ones who are truly blessed.

2. The way of the wicked (4-6)

However, the way of the wicked is like a chaff of the wind that blows away. All their busy activities will be like chasing after the wind- nothing that will lead them nowhere. Their life has no root, no meaning, and no fruit. They seem to be free and wise, but are restless wanderers on earth and will face destruction and judgment in the end.


Application: Lord, thank you for redeeming me from the empty way of life by the precious blood of Jesus. Help me to walk closely with you by meditating on your word with delight.
One Word: God's word is my delight.