� � of � 1 3Kings and Kingdoms, Week of May 8, 2016

STUDENT LEADER GUIDE

1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

EXPLAIN

Leaders: Feel free to use any of the “Explain” materials to guide discussion as it is needed or to expound on a certain area of the text as it comes up during your Life Group time, but the purpose of this section is to deepen your own personal understanding of the Word.

In the first Psalm, the ungodly and the Godly are contrasted by pitting two images against each other. While the ungodly is cast as a man slowly stopping his forward motion and becoming like chaff in the wind, the Godly man is compared to a tree planted by never-ending streams of nourishment. As we unpack the first Psalm, remember that this dilemma is presented to us every day—the decision to follow the pattern of the world or to follow the paths of righteousness—and that we must wake up each morning and intentionally pursue righteousness by submitting ourselves to Christ.

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HIGHLIGHT: Psalm 1

� � of � 2 3Kings and Kingdoms, Week of May 8, 2016

STUDENT LEADER GUIDE

AAPPLY Your Leader Guide will have material that the STUDENT guides do not have. The bolded material is what the people in your group will have, the other material is only for you to help guide discussion.

This guide can be as strict a script or as general a resource as the leader needs it to be.

1. Read through Psalm 1. Describe the differences between the two kinds of people that it talks about. How does the chapter say that each of them ends up?

The one surrounded by the wicked is shown in a downward progression--from walking to standing to sitting, while the righteous one is shown flourishing like a fruit-bearing tree planted beside streams. The wicked will not survive judgment and will be blown away like chaff in the wind, while the righteous will survive, have his path protected, and will weather storms because of his strong roots.

2. Verse 1 tells us that the Godly will be “happy,” or “blessed.” What do you think “happy” means? How does the world promise to make us happy? What should a believer consider to be a happy life?

Because of the varying definitions of “happy” that we have being fed to us from hundreds of different sources, we can sometimes lose sight of what Biblical happiness is. One commentator described it this way: “Happy expresses the sense of joy and satisfaction in one’s state or circumstances. It often is the result of blessing that comes from trust in and obedience to Yahweh.” This kind of joy is found elsewhere in Scripture, too—notably in James 1:2. It is a joy that is not dependent on one’s circumstances, but rather a joy that is present despite one’s circumstances.

v.1 German author Walter Kaser wrote that the expression “blessed is” refers to the blessings of covenantal life and the joy of living continually in the presence of God. “Blessings” in this context has little to nothing to do with physical possessions or prosperity.

v.3 In Wisdom literature, trees are used as metaphors for wisdom itself (like in Proverbs 3:18). Both healthy trees and the wise are rooted deep into good soil, they are provided the resources they need to survive, they stretch constantly to the sun, they withstand harsh conditions with grace, and they prove their health by bearing the kind of fruit they were planted to grow.

v.4 Chaff is the stiff, straw-like bit that grows around grains of wheat. When harvesting the wheat, the chaff must be removed. It is a useful metaphor for how the wicked will end because it reveals two things: how utterly useless a wicked person is and how easily God will deal with them. Chaff only gets in the way, and it is blown away by just a breeze. The thresher has only to toss it into the air and it will not even be remembered.

v.5 “Assembly” refers to the “people of God;” not necessarily to just the Israelites. This language suggests that, even as far back as the composition of this Psalm, it was understood that God’s judgment would come on circumcised Israelites who refused to live by God’s commands.

� � of � 3 3Kings and Kingdoms, Week of May 8, 2016

STUDENT LEADER GUIDE

RRESPOND Based on the dynamic of your group and how discussion has progressed, challenge your group to respond. Responses could include:

What is the area of your life that is the most prone to giving in to wicked counsel? How will you combat that this week?

Who is one person you need to display the Word of God to this week?

3. The Psalmist says that “whatever [the righteous man] does prospers.” Does that mean that everything a believer does will be successful? If your delight is in God’s Word, what will your definition of prosperity be?

We must be careful with a definition of prosperity, too. Remember that Jesus called the poor, those in mourning, the hungry and thirsty, and the persecuted “blessed.” He told His followers to store up their treasure in Heaven, rather than focusing on just acquiring them on earth. He told the rich young ruler to rid himself of his earthly riches if he wanted to enter the Kingdom of God. While many Christians can lead physically wealthy lives, that is not their aim. Aligning ourselves with Christ does less to make us “rich” and does more to replace the broken alternatives of the pattern of this world. With a new heart will come new definitions of happiness, joy, blessing, and prosperity—they will be found in nearness to the Father.

4. How do our surroundings give us a clue about which of these two people we are? How do your surroundings, in particular, say about you?

Are you surrounded by wicked, sinning, scoffers? Or are you surrounded by streams nourishing you with the Word and Spirit of God? Pastor Robby told us in his testimony that we can know what we are like by looking at our friends: they show us what we value in other people and what kind of counsel we regularly let into our lives.

5. Share about a time when you have been influenced by those around you, either for the better or for the worse. If we asked someone you know the same question about you, what category would they put you in—Godly or wicked? Why?

Are you prone to break people down or build people up? What is the source of the advice and counsel that you give?