Dale Ralph Davis starts his exposition of Psalm 1 with a reflection on why this is the first psalm. Of all 150, which touch on nearly all areas of human experience and so fully capture what a prayerful, worshipful life looks like, this very first psalm, in a way, sets out the most important fact of life: “nothing is so crucial as your belonging to the congregation of the righteous” (p. 14). We know from elsewhere in Scripture that this belonging is achieved through Christ (e.g. Romans 1:17).

In a way, this psalm sets out the classic ‘two ways to live‘ that many in Christian circles will be familiar with. There are wicked people and righteous people, and the sort of life you live has eternal consequences – as seen in verse 6: “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction”. This is a very appropriate psalm to be reading as we start a new year and naturally reflect on what we want to get out of the next twelve months – this is the most important truth for us to remember.

There are all sorts of beautiful truths to be gleaned from this Psalm. Firstly, it gives practical advice on what righteous living looks like; in verse 1, we are advised against letting the surrounding culture of wickedness pervert our course; in verse 2, we are shown the joyful delight of a word-centred life; and in verse 3 we see the stability and fruitfulness that a righteous life brings. By contrast, we also see the truth of the wicked – they are basically nothing in verse 4, and have no place with God’s elect in verse 5. And again, in verse 6 we see the stark comparison: righteousness and life, or wickedness and destruction.

But one problem if we leave it there is that we forget what is to come in Psalm 14 – “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (verses 2-3). Of course, this is picked up on in Romans 3, where Paul emphatically summarises:

Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now, apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3, verses 20-24

This is related to Psalm 1 in two ways. First, this is how we get onto the “way of the righteous” – “through faith in Jesus Christ”. But secondly, Psalm 1 does give us something of a picture of Jesus, because remembering that “there is no one who does good, not even one” amongst all other humans, only Christ truly avoided walking in step with society rather than God (verse 1), only he truly lived a life of devoted worship and application of God’s law (verse 2).

There is something of a contrast between Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 as well. Psalm 1 elaborates on the way of the righteous, whereas Psalm 2 shows us a bit more of what the wicked are like: they consistently and confidently (and foolishly) reject God (verses 1 to 3). But it also shows us more. Returning to Dale Ralph Davis’ exposition of these psalms, he states:

The position of these two psalms at the beginning of the Psalter is deliberate. Psalm 1 deals with the most urgent individual matter; you must know where you are going and must be sure you belong to the congregation of the righteous. Psalm 2 says that you must know where history is going; you must see the whole show; you must understand that the world has been promised to the Messiah.

Dale Ralph Davis, ‘The way of the righteous in the muck of life: Psalms 1-12‘, pages 27-28. (2010, Christian Focus Publications)

So in Psalm 2, we see a world that conspires and plots and rebels against God (verses 1 to 3), followed immediately by God’s response – he laughs (verse 4). Their wickedness and rebellion doesn’t rob him of any power or authority. They deserve his anger (verse 5), which is deserved because this world is rejecting the true king (verse 6), the Lord’s annointed (verse 2).

In the face of this world-wide rebellion, God’s decree is clear: God’s son is the rightful king and will overcome this rebellion with sheer force (verses 7-9), which is necessary given the state of things in verses 1-3. In view of this, this psalm leaves us with a clear call to be wise – to kiss the king and be blessed, rather than facing the destruction fitting a wicked rebel (verses 10-12). “The way of the righteous” that the Lord watches over and leads to life – it is found when we humbly kiss his son and submit to his rule. It is found in Christ.