The book of Psalms is filled with teaching, expressions of praise and thanksgiving, summaries of historical accounts, predictive prophecies regarding the Messiah, and utterances of prayer from David and others. It is a rich book, and we have shared some of its various treasures in past lessons.

On this occasion, however, we begin an exercise in reading and praying through the Psalms. Our goal at this time is not commentary or explanation of difficult portions of the text. Our aim is to express our heart, using the sacred text as our basic form and outline. Although I am sharing my prayers through the Psalms, I encourage you to passionately pray through the Scriptures also on your own. It is a rewarding effort.

PSALM 1
1 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;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 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;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

MY PRAYER
Father, help me to be a real man
Who joyfully pursues what is right
In my deeds
And in my words,
Finding joy in Your Scriptures
At all times.
Make me like a strong tree
And nourish me,
That I would be productive for You
And not fail,
But succeed always to Your glory.

May I not envy the ungodly
With their worthless ways

That will not prosper before You.

Strengthen me among Your righteous ones,

That I might know You as You know me
And not perish with the ungodly.
Amen.