Types and Styles of Psalms

• Alphabetic/Acrostic• Ethical (Psalm 15)• Hallelujah (Psalm 103)• Historical (Psalm 106)• Imprecatory (Psalm 69)• Messianic (Psalms

2 & 110)• Penitential (Psalm 51)

• Songs of Ascent (Psalm 120-134)

• Suffering (Psalm 102)• Thanksgiving (Psalm

100)• Didactic (Psalm 1)• Liturgical (Psalm 136)• Meditation (Psalm 119)• Praise (Psalm 148)• Prayer (Psalm 51)

““The Truly Happy Man”The Truly Happy Man”Lesson 2: Psalm 1Lesson 2: Psalm 1

Parallelism in Psalm 1• VERSE 1 -- Stair step (Progressive):

– Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

• VERSE 2 – Cause/Effect (Synthetic)– But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

• VERSE 3 -- Cause/Effect (Synthetic) – He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of

water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;

Parallelism in Psalm 1

• VERSE 5 – Repeated Thought (Synonymous) – Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the

judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

• VERSE 6 – Contrast (Antithetical) – For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Blessedness of the Righteous Man• His character described negatively:

– Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly – Nor stands in the path of sinners

(Proverbs 4:14-15)– Nor sits in the seat of the scornful (Ps. 26:4-5)

• His character described positively:– Delights in the law of the Lord (Psalm 40:8;

119:24, 47-48, 103; Jeremiah 15:16)– Meditates day and night (Psalm 119:97-99)

• His prosperity (3 John 2)– Like a tree (Ps. 92:12-15; Jer. 17:7-9)– Whatever he does will prosper (Josh. 1:7-8)

The Desperation of the Wicked

• Nothing like the righteous– They are like the chaff which the wind drives

away (Ps. 83:13; Job 21:17-18)– Chaff is “the

seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain”

The Desperation of the Wicked

Their sorry end:• The wicked shall not ultimately enjoy the same

position as the righteous. • Barnes says, “…they would not share the lot of

the righteous: in all places, and at all times, where character is determined, and where the divine estimate of human character is manifested…Their true character would in all such cases be shown, and they would be treated like the chaff that is driven away. This would be true alike in those situations of trial in the present life when character is determined, and at the last judgment…” (Revelation 6:17)

A Final Contrast Between the Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Wicked

• The Lord knows the way of the righteous– The Lord protects and preserves those whom

He knows • “The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day

of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

• Psalm 37:18; John 10:14, 27

• Those whom the Lord “never knew” shall perish (cf. Matthew 7:23)