The following notes were from a lesson taught at the First Baptist Church’s prayer meeting on September 23, 2026.

Introduction to the Psalms: Psalm 1 serves alongside Psalm 2 as an introduction to the Psalms. It introduces some key themes. There are only two groups of people: the blessed and the wicked. There in only One Blessed Man: The Son (Psalm 2:12), and it is only by taking refuge in him that anyone is blessed. There are only two ways: The Lord’s and the Wicked’s. There are only two eternal destinations: the congregation of the righteous or eternal perishing.

Outline:

I.                          The Blessed Man (vv. 1-3)

A.     Blessedness: a state of being not a personally earned reward (v. 1); we are blessed in the Blessed Man, the Lord Jesus. We are blessed for his merit despite our demerit.

B.     The Blessed Man’s “Does Nots” (v. 1)

1.      Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

2.      Does not stand in the way of sinners

3.      Does not stand in the seat of scoffers

C.    The Blessed Man’s Delight: The Law of the Lord (v. 2)

D.    The Blessed Man’s Likeness: Like a planted tree (v. 3)

1.      Planted – intentionally planted by the Lord

2.      By streams of water – cf. John 4:13-14; John 7:37-39)

3.      Fruitful – cf. Galatians 5:22-24

II.                      The Wicked (vv. 4-6)

A.     Are Not So – The Wicked are not like the Blessed (v. 4)

B.     The Wicked’s Likeness: Like the chaff (v. 4)

C.    Therefore, the Wicked will not stand (v. 5)

1.    In the judgment

2.    In the congregation of the righteous

D.    The Reason the Wicked Will Not Stand: The Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish (v. 6)