Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 17, 2018

Father’s Day Message

“A Psalm for Father’s Day”   Psalm 1   Bible Study   06/17/18

On this Father’s Day, we will turn our attention to Psalm 1 and its description of the blessed or, godly, person. This psalm also includes a powerful contrast between the person who takes the Lord seriously and the one who neglects to do so.

I. Overview

• Psalmoi (LXX): poem to be sung to stringed instrument
• dating: latest 2500 years ago/ earliest 3500 years ago
• informing the intellect, arousing the emotions, directing the will, stimulating the imagination
• use of parallelism and repetition
• connection to Christ: Luke 24:44
• three assertions: reality, reign and response

II. Consider the direction of the righteous man (1-2)

• negative assessment and use of parallelism
• positive assessment-delight in “torah”
• loving what the Lord commands and not mere compliance
• rumination on the implications of instruction

III. Consider the description of the righteous man (3-4)

• planted tree
• fruit in season
• does not wither
• contrasted with the wicked: “Not so the wicked.”

IV. Consider the destiny of the righteous man (5-6)

• contrasted with the wicked
• “for the LORD knows…”
• contrast: “blessed” and “perish”

V. So What?

• Because your eternal destiny is at stake, nothing matters more than a right relationship with the Lord.
• See Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm.
• Aim for increasing conformity to Jesus.
• Celebrate fathers who delight in the word of the Father!