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Study Section 6: The Psalms

6.1 Connect

As we begin reading Psalms for ourselves, we encounter the word “blessed.” The word
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means “happiness” or, even better, “bliss” and occurs 44x in the OT, 26x in the Psalter.
The word in the original is plural implying a great variety of blessings. It is as if the writer
is informing us about happiness, about when we should consider ourselves happy and
even more than just emotionally happy. “Blessed” speaks to one’s state of life. Left on
our own, people are often happy when we should not be. We are often happy over evil events and sad
over good events. So, the Psalms are written in part to correct human misconceptions. In other psalms
happiness is linked to forgiveness (32:1, 2), one who trusts in Yahweh (40:4), and a person with a large
family (127:5).

6.2 Objectives

1. You will see the connections between Psalms 1 and 2.

2. You will understand how Psalms 1 and 2 form the foundation for all the psalms.

3. You will note the difference between the “righteous” and the “wicked” and the two ways to be

blessed by God.

6.3 The Righteous and Wicked: Psalms 1 and 2

The definition of blessing in Psalm 1 is two-part: the one who does not walk in step with the
wicked and the one whose delight is in the law of the LORD (vv. 1, 2). The two are emphatic.
We note the progression in walk, stand, and sit plus wicked, sinners, and mockers. In contrast
the blessed person meditates on God’s law, day and night.

The state of blessedness is obvious also. The blessed one is compared to a tree with abundant
water. Like such a tree bearing fruit constantly, year-round, this person continually prospers. The
alternative is compared to chaff without substance, blown away by the wind (vv. 3, 4). Their end could

86 Harris, TWOT (v. 1, 80), s.v. “rva” by Victor P. Hamilton.
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