詩篇第一篇可以作為整部詩篇的導論，因為它明確地說明詩篇的基本信息：唯有喜愛主耶和華真道的義人才蒙受祂所賜的福祉、福氣、及生命；不認識主耶和華的惡人便會承受不幸、毀滅、及死亡。這第一篇詩篇將兩種不同的生活方式作了強烈的對比，說明了它們如何導致兩種迥然不同的結局。第一篇幾乎開宗明義就提到了祝福，但在篇首卻先描述消極面──義人不該做的事。不從惡人的計謀，就是說，他不採用他們的生活原則或標準。他不站罪人的道路，是指他不倣效他們的邪惡的行為。不坐褻慢人的坐位，意思是說，他不與那些褻慢上帝的人來往。因此，義人的生活是一種完全有別於世人的生活，也是一種毫無妥協的生活。

        積極的一面，義人該做的事就是不斷地喜愛及思想耶和華的律法，也就是上帝所啟示的聖言（1：2）。思想耶和華的律法不僅要閱讀它，而且要思想它，討論它。思想律法是要花時間的；我們找時間與上帝獨處並研究祂的話，必使祂感到喜悅。上帝的話就像日常的飲食一樣；我要不斷地吸收，才能保持堅強。結果，義人就像上帝所栽種的一棵樹，要多結果子，並使別人得到福氣。信徒想要擁有更豐富、更一致的生活，一種能帶領別人進入上帝國（結果子）的生活，他就要每天思想上帝的道，使他的根深入力量的泉源（比較耶17：8；賽58：11）。義人是根深蒂固的，為上帝所眷顧（祂「知道義人的道路」），惡人乃像糠秕被風吹散，因此，當審判的時候，惡人必站立不住，且必滅亡（1：6）。

        詩篇第二篇說明普天下邦國的兩個結局，以及那些信靠耶和華的人最後必得祝福。它是最早的彌賽亞詩篇，雖然它的上下文歷史背景可能是真的有人起而反抗大衛或所羅門加冕成為上帝所膏立的王，但上帝的默示指出，本篇在實質上是描述上帝所膏立的彌賽亞耶穌。本篇詩篇主要在肯定基督的神性（2：7），預言祂的主權會受到反抗，也預言祂必得勝及千禧年的統治（參徒4：25~27）。

        很多國家必懷敵意，起而反抗上帝所膏立的王（彌賽亞），共同謀算如何推翻祂。他們想推翻上帝的計劃不僅徒勞無功，而且是愚蠢的，上帝在此嘲笑人的愚蠢和無知。不過，祂的嘲笑不久變成了憤怒，惡人將陷入愁苦。上帝宣稱這位受膏的王就是祂的獨生愛子，祂的國度就要建立。祂要征服及統治宇宙，也使地上有公義（比較羅1：18；帖後2：8、13；來1：2~3）。上帝對那些背叛的國家發出警告，因為祂並不想要他們滅亡（參結33：11），但若他們能及時悔改，「省悟」、「存畏懼事奉耶和華」，「以嘴親子」（效忠祂、敬重祂、榮耀祂、順服祂、及向祂屬服），這些國家就不致滅亡（2：10~11）。公義可以高舉邦國，奉上帝為主的國家都會蒙福。

        詩篇第三篇充份說明，一個人如何信靠主耶和華，即使他身處逆境中也信心不減。當大衛王的兒子押沙龍背叛他時，他就靠著這一信心渡過艱難痛苦的日子（撒下15：13~14、30）。人們謠傳，大衛已失去上帝的幫助（3：2），也許因為他與拔示巴的罪，大衛才有這樣的遭遇，但是大衛已痛切悔改了，而且上帝也接受了他的懇求（3：4）。他的信心是不會動搖的，因為上帝是他的保護盾牌，是他恢復尊嚴的「榮耀」，又是叫他「抬起頭來」，給他勇氣和力量的（3：3）。大衛相信，主耶和華已經垂聽他發自信心的禱告，就在詩篇的這個地方，我們讀到「Selah」這個字，有可能是指一個音樂符號，也許是在間奏時，為了沉思的緣故，暫停一下。

        上帝的確聽到他的禱告，並在這無助的情況中進行干預。大衛信靠上帝是基於上帝的信實。他知道上帝已揀選他作為受膏王，並且應許他有一個永恆的王朝。知道上帝的慈愛和憐憫使他睡得平安，即使在他的仇人追殺他時，他也是如此。他醒來時，就像一個新人；上帝支持他，所以他心無所懼。由於有了信心，大衛在說話時，就好像主的救恩已經成就，因為他知道，上帝會祝福他的子民。

        主耶和華啊，感謝您，您的話語鼓舞了我們的心，因為我們日夜思想。就像大衛一樣，信靠您是一件多麼有福氣的事。哦，為了您的恩典，我們更要信靠您！奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        Psalm 1 serves as an introduction to the whole book of Psalms, as it clearly expounds the book's basic underlying message: happiness, blessedness, and life come to the righteous who walk in the ways of the Lord; sadness, destruction, and death come to the ungodly who do not know the Lord. This first psalm contrasts these two very different ways of life, leading to two opposite destinies. The book of Psalms begins with a beatitude, "blessed is the man", and firstly describes the negative side — what the righteous man does not do. He does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, meaning he does not adopt their standards or principles of life. He does not stand in the path of sinners, meaning he does not practice their evil deeds. He does not sit in the seat of the scornful, meaning he does not fellowship with those who scorn God. The righteous man's life, then, is one of total separation from that which is worldly and is a life of no compromise.

        On the positive side, what the righteous man does do is continually delight in and meditate on the law of the Lord, that is the whole divinely revealed Word of God (1:2). To meditate on it is not only to read it but to ponder upon and discuss it. Pondering takes time, and it pleases God when we take time with Him and His Holy Word. It is like our daily food; we need it regularly to keep strong. As a result, the righteous man becomes like a tree that God has planted for the purpose of bearing fruit and blessing others. If a believer wants to have a more productive and consistent life, a life of bringing others into the kingdom of God (bearing fruit), his roots must be tapped into the Source of strength by meditating daily on God's Word (cf. Jeremiah 17:8; Isaiah 58:11). The godly are firmly rooted, watched over, and cared for by God (He "knows the way of the righteous"), but the ungodly are blown away like chaff, having no part in the vindication of the righteous, and destruction awaits them (1:6).

        Psalm 2 deals with the two different destinies of nations and ends with a beatitude (a blessing) for those who put their trust in the Lord. It is the first of the Messianic psalms, for although the immediate context was likely an actual historical uprising against the coronation of David or Solomon as Israel's divinely anointed king, divine inspiration revealed that it is in essence about God's Anointed Messiah Jesus. The words of this psalm affirm Christ's deity (2:7) and foretell of the opposition to His Kingship, as well as foretelling of His triumph and millenial reign (cf. Acts 4:25-27).

        The nations, in deliberate enmity, rise up against God's Anointed (the Messiah), and conspire together to overthrow Him. It is futile and absolute foolishness to attempt to overthrow God's plan and purpose, and God Himself laughs at man's ridiculous folly and ignorance. Soon, however, His laughter turns to wrath, and He puts them in derision and distress. He proclaims that the Anointed One is His begotten Son whose kingdom will indeed be established. He will conquer, have universal reign, and bring justice to the whole earth (cf. Romans 1:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-13; Hebrews 1:2-3). God issues a warning to the rebellious nations, for it is not His desire that they perish (cf. Ezekiel 33:11), but unless they repent, "be wise", "serve the Lord with fear", and "kiss the Son" (pay Him homage and give the respect and honour due Him, which includes obedience and submission), they will indeed come to national destruction (2:10-11). Righteousness, however, exalts a nation, and blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

        Psalm 3 illustrates well the peaceful trust one can have in the Lord, even in the face of adversity. It was this kind of trust that brought David through the very difficult and painful situation of his son Absalom rebelling against Him (2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30). The people had gossiped that David did not have the help of God (3:2), likely because of his sin with Bathsheba, but David had sincerely repented and God accepted his supplication (3:4). His faith and confidence could not be shaken, for God was his "shield" of protection, his "glory" to restore his dignity, and the "One who lifts up" his head to give him courage and strength (3:3). David was confident that the Lord had heard his prayer of faith. At this point in the psalm, we read the word "selah", a musical notation which is likely a pause for the sake of meditation, possibly during a musical interlude.

        God did indeed hear and intervene in this seemingly hopeless situation. David's trust in God was based upon God's faithfulness. He knew that God had chosen him as the anointed king and had promised him an eternal dynasty. His knowledge of God's lovingkindness and mercy caused him to sleep in peace, even though his enemies were seeking his death. He awoke like a new man; God had sustained him, and he had no fear. With faith, David could speak as though the salvation of the Lord had already been accomplished, for he knew that God would bless his people.

        Thank You, Lord, for Your Word which encourages our hearts as we meditate on it day and night. What a blessing it is to place our trust in You, as did David, Oh for grace to trust You more!