In Hebrew, the book of Psalms is called Tehillim, “Songs of Praise,” or in fuller form, Sefer Tehillim, “Book of Psalms.” In these models of prayer and praise, Israel shaped appropriate and effective ways of speaking to God. Through the psalms, Israel expressed painful experiences of loss and turmoil, and exciting experiences of rescue and blessing. Psalm 1 introduces the book of Psalms and encourages meditation in this book as “the Law of the Lord.” The psalm describes who will be blessed and explains that person’s character and fate. It then pronounces the fate of “the wicked,” and closes with a statement that reveals God’s role in determining man’s fate.

Memory verse: 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.