Psalm 1: The Glorious Gateway to The Psalms

Psalm 1 is a unique psalm. It lacks a stated author or a corresponding event in its preface. Unlike other psalms, there are no commandments like "go and do this or that." It is simply a reflection of the author's observations. What has the author observed? Possibly the entirety of the Psalms. Many scholars believe that Psalm 1 was written after most of the Psalms were collected and was intentionally placed first in the book. It's as if someone meditated on the majority of the Psalms and, like an explorer who first enters a new land, returned to the border to set up a grand, glorious sign marking the territory, indicating what you will find as you explore further. Psalm 1 serves as a grand, glorious gateway to the Psalms. It's similar to driving into Disney World. If you ever visit Orlando, you will drive through an entrance to the Disney property where there is a giant Mickey and Minnie sign. Above them, it says, "The most magical place on earth." We went to Florida a couple of months ago and didn't tell the kids where we were going. But as soon as we drove through the Disney entrance, they knew exactly where they were and what they would find. They screamed for joy, and my ears are still ringing. As we drive through the gate of Psalm 1, we pass under a sign with a few observations that let us know where we are and what we will find as we enter the land of the Psalms. The observations are these: It's a land of two options. One of these options is good news. These options don’t play out quite like you’d think, but their endings are certain. That's what's on the sign, the gateway of Psalm 1. Although Psalm 1 doesn’t tell us to pick an option, it leaves us wondering which one we will choose. The essence of the Psalm is to choose wisely.