Psalms in Poetic Form: Introduction and Psalm 1

Introduction

Jesus Christ loved God’s Word and studied it day and night. He was like the good man of Psalm 1. His ancestor David wrote many of the Psalms, as did Jesus’ other ancestor Hezekiah. Every Psalm, in some way, seems to speak of what the coming Messiah would do and accomplish.

Some, like Psalm 16, tell of how David looked forward to his “son” the Messiah—that the Christ would not remain in the grave, but would be raised from the dead. Others, like Psalm 22, tell in great detail of the manner of his suffering and death—mockers around him, his hands and feet pierced, casting lots for his clothing. The fifteen “songs of degrees” (Psalms 120-134) show Hezekiah’s thankfulness to be healed and to live that many more years—during which time he bore a son to carry on the ancestral line of Jesus Christ.

The Psalm before these songs, 119, is a beautiful acrostic (each section of eight verses beginning with a succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet) where all 176 verses speak of God’s Word (showing the Messiah’s love for his Father’s truth). And who could forget Psalm 23, perhaps the most beloved of all. Here we see the Lord God as a shepherd, provider, peace giver, righteous one, present help, displayer, and healer (corresponding with seven Jehovah titles in the Old Testament). The Gospel of John shows how the Messiah, Jesus Christ, lived all seven of these qualities so that he could truly say, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”

For some time, I have enjoyed putting scripture to English poetic verse. The title “Psalms” comes from the Greek word meaning to sing. Originally, the Hebrew title meant to “praise.” The Psalms in Poetic Form goes to the original Hebrew text and brings forth, as much as within my ability, the great heart of praise to our Mighty God for His Son, the Christ. The rhyme scheme is such that it can be read as a song. Each verse has two sections divided by a semicolon. Within each section is a comma, to show where a pause in the reading takes place.

We will post one Psalm at a time. To see the complete collection of Psalms to date, go to the page The Psalms in Poetic Form.

May this work put a song in your heart of thanksgiving to God for all that His Son has done for us!

Click here to read PSALM 1 in poetic form.

Background

The first Psalm sets the pattern for all others that follow. Jesus Christ is the great subject of God’s Word, including the Psalms written by his “father” David. In this Psalm we see the godly man who delights in God’s law, and the ungodly–the lawless–who are deluded and led by the god of this world.

Structure

(Verses 1,2) The man who delights in the law of the Lord, not ungodly counsel

(Verses 3) Like a tree planted by the water: fruitful, green, prosperous

(Verses 4) The ungodly not like the blessed man

(Verses 4,5) Like chaff driven by wind: no standing in judgment or righteousness

(Verse 6) Righteous: His way acknowledged by God

(Verse 6) Ungodly: His way comes to nothing

Key Scriptures

Verse 2—”But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Jesus Christ lived this way. His delight was to do the Father’s will (John 8:29).

Verse 6—”For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous.” Jesus Christ knew that the Father would always be with him (John 16:32).