GOD’S WORD

OPEN IT:

What experience or activity do you find the most delight in and why?

Psalms 1:1-6

1. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2. but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

DIG INTO IT:

1. Read Psalms 1:1-2 and answer the following questions:

Psalm 1:1-2

1. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2. but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

a) What three behaviors are mentioned in v.1 that a person will be blessed by if they avoid them?

1) Walk in _____________________

2) Stand in ____________________

3) Sit in _______________________

b) What are some specific ways a person might do these three things?

c) Describe how can a person find delight in God’s Word?

d) What does it mean to meditate on God’s Word “day and night”? How can that be accomplished?

2. Read Psalms 1:3-6 and answer the following questions:

Psalm 1:3-6

3. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

a) The person who stays in God’s Word is compared to a tree. What do they have in common?

b) What specific blessings come to the righteous (vv. 3b; 6a)?

c) The wicked are described as “chaff” (finely cut straw or hay). How does this compare to the righteous being like a tree?

d) What two things can the wicked not do (v.5)?

REFLECT ON IT:

1. Describe some ways that you find delight in God’s Word:
2. How can God’s Word keep you from giving into sinful behavior? Is it really effective?
3. Would you say that God’s Word is simply a good guide for righteous behavior, or that it actually has supernatural power to change your life? Explain:
4. Are you ready to make a commitment to spend more time studying the Bible? If so, what kind of commitment are you going to make? If not, why not?
5. God promises to watch over the way of the righteous. Do you feel like He is watching over your life right now?
6. How can we pray for you today?

PRAY ABOUT IT: “Since God knows our future, our personalities, and our capacity to listen, He isn’t ever going to say more to us than we can deal with at the moment.” ~ Charles Stanley

Davis, Barry L.. Instant Bible Studies for Small Groups (p. 50). GodSpeed Publishing. Kindle Edition.