“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Torah of the LORD, and in His Torah he meditates day and night” (Psa 1:1-2).
Without question, the book of Psalms is one of the most beloved books in the Bible. But as we begin our devotional journey through Psalms, we must ask whether it is best to read the Psalms as an inspired book or as a collection of inspired prayers and hymns. If it is merely a collection, then the order of the psalms, and the literary relationship between adjoining psalms, makes little difference in how we interpret them. In that case, the literary context of Psalm 22 would make no difference. Psalm 22 would mean what it means whether it stood between Psalms 21 and 23 or between Psalms 118 and 119.
But what if we read Psalms as an inspired book? Then we assume not only that the individual psalms were written by inspired authors, but also that they were arranged by an inspired author. In that case, the location of Psalm 22 matters. It also means the Psalter has a compositional strategy and a unified theological message. Over the past 40 years, psalm scholars from many faith traditions have increasingly recognized that the Psalter really is a book, shaped with intentional design.
Those who rebel against the blessed man of Psalm 1 will be driven away like chaff in the wind. But all who kiss God’s Son will enjoy the blessings of the blessed man too.
I am persuaded by the evidence that Psalms should be interpreted as a book. For this reason, I am also persuaded that Psalms 1-2 function as the introduction to the Psalter. Therefore, we should look carefully for clues in Psalms 1-2 about the meaning and message of the whole book. Psalm 1 tells us about a blessed man who meditates day and night on the Torah and prospers in all he does. While we could identify this man as a generic reference to every righteous person, in the larger literary context he is best understood as a king like David, one who loves God’s law and who, despite opposition, triumphs over the wicked (see Psalms 19-21; Psalms 118-119).
This blessed man is identified in Psalm 2 as the Messianic King. He replies to all those who rebel against him by laying claim to the divine promises he learned by meditating day and night on God’s word: “I will surely tell of the decree: the LORD said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You” (Psa 2:7). It is clear that the “decree” to which the Messiah refers is God’s promise to David: “I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever” (1 Chron 17:13-14).
So what is the overall message of the Psalter? Those who rebel against the blessed man of Psalm 1 will be driven away like chaff in the wind (Psa 1:4). But all who kiss God’s Son will enjoy the blessings of the blessed man too: “Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psa 2:12).
