LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Exegesis Research Paper: Psalm 1:1-6
Submitted to Dr. Paul Jacobs, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the completion of the course,
RTCH 500-D05
Research, Writing, and Ministry Preparation
by
Jason D. Owens
Sunday, April 05, 2020
Introduction
The first Psalm may be regarded as the preface Psalm having in it the notification of the
contents of the entire book. There is an apparent desire from the psalmist to teach us the way to
be blessed and warn us of the destruction of sinners. This then is the matter of the first Psalm
which may be looked upon in some respects as the text upon which the whole of the Psalms
makes up a divine sermon. Psalm 1serves the worshiper as well provides an introduction
because of the all-encompassing purpose of the book of Psalms, but also the entire collection of
the Bible. This is due to the ability of the Psalms to deal with individuals’ paths and destinations,
it is a perfect precursor to what the reader continues to find in the book of Psalms. Psalm 1 is a
poem of wisdom that places an emphasis on the importance of having the wisdom to see the
world from God’s perspective and to gain knowledge about what God requires of His people in
order to walk fully in life and follow His instructions. Psalm 1 sets the tone of the entire Book of
Psalms by allowing the reader to see just how extensive wisdom is to God. This Bible passage is
the first set of instructions in the Book of Psalms. God strategically placed this passage here first
as a warning for all His children to take heed and be vigilant that as humans they are born into
sin and face the decision to choose either righteousness or wickedness. The blessed man
embraces wisdom, not simply the teaching of God’s law and ways but the living out of those
ways. Psalm 1:1-6 is centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. There are at least four
times within the book of Acts that Christianity is called the Way, this paper aims to show the two
paths that a person must come to decide which way they will follow: the way of the righteous or
the way of the ungodly.
Context
The context of Psalm 1 is significant as it provides the reader with the two-fold backdrop
for the entire book of psalms. Within this two-fold backdrop we see God's acts of creation and
history in general but also the history of Israel is further expounded. Verse six presents a key to
understanding Psalm 1: “For the Lord knows the way of the righteousness but the way of the
ungodly shall parish.” In this Psalm, the way the righteousness and the way of the ungodly are
contrasted.
