Praise at Dawn · Day 1
Psalms 1–5 — Two Paths at Daybreak
About 9 min read · 46 v.
Planting your life by the streams of God's word.
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the LORD’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.
3He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
4The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Psalm 2
1Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying,
3“Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.”
4He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
5Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath:
6“Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
7I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
8Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 3
A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
1LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me.
2Many there are who say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah.
3But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5I laid myself down and slept. I awakened, for the LORD sustains me.
6I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.
7Arise, LORD! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
8Salvation belongs to the LORD. May your blessing be on your people. Selah.
Psalm 4
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.
1Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood? Selah.
3But know that the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to him.
4Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.
5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in the LORD.
6Many say, “Who will show us any good?” LORD, let the light of your face shine on us.
7You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.
8In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me live in safety.
Psalm 5
For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David.
1Give ear to my words, LORD. Consider my meditation.
2Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you.
3LORD, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.
4For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you.
5The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.
6You will destroy those who speak lies. The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.
8Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face.
9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.
10Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you.
11But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.
12For you will bless the righteous. LORD, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.
Scripture: World English Bible, Protestant Edition (WEBP) — eBible.org. Public domain. Rights
Reflection
An original reflection from Fall 7 Rise 8 Ministry
The Psalms open with a fork in the road. One path is shaped by mockers and hurry; the other is rooted by streams of water, where God's word is not a chore but a delight. Psalm 2 lifts our eyes to the King God has set on Zion, and Psalms 3–5 show what rooted people actually do when trouble comes: they cry out, they lie down and sleep, and they rise to pray again.
"In the morning you will hear my voice" (Psalm 5). You do not need a perfect life to begin this month. You only need to bring your morning to God. Whatever path you walked yesterday, today you can step toward the stream.
Practice
Before you open your phone tomorrow, say one sentence of Psalm 5:3 out loud to God and name one thing you are laying before Him.
Prayer
Lord, plant me by Your streams. When I am pulled toward the scoffer's seat, turn my delight back to You. Hear my voice this morning, and lead me in Your righteousness. Amen.
Study notes
Every Man’s Bible — supplied study notes — From the Every Man’s Bible study notes, as supplied to the ministry. Shown separately from the ministry’s original reflection.
1:1-6
One key to spiritual growth is turning to God and turning away from the kind of people who draw us into temptation. And there is no better source for wisdom and direction than the Word of God. When we fail to study and apply God’s Word, we tend to drift through life or follow those who do not follow God. If we are not careful to guide our lives by God’s Word, we will be tossed around by every new fad or philosophy that comes our way.
2:1-6
If God is in charge of the world, why do we continually try to do things our own way? Here we are told that fighting God’s plan is a foolish thing to do. Many turn from God because they don’t want to be his slaves. But if we reject God’s rule over us, we will invariably become slaves to someone or something else. The foolish man, in rejecting God’s righteous rule, soon falls into a prison of sin and destructive habits. God shows us here how useless it is to challenge him. The only way we can be in tune with God’s plan and receive his help is to surrender to him and accept his loving rule over our lives.
3:1-4
David was faced with enemies who mocked him, saying that there was no hope for him. He didn’t believe them. Instead he called out to God for help. We may encounter those who say there is no hope for us. We must not listen to them; rather, we should follow David’s example and call out to God for help.
3:5-8
God comforted David so much that he could sleep like a baby in the face of his troubles. What is more, David’s worries and anxieties vanished when he focused his thoughts fully on God. Thus David could view life as if all of his problems had been eliminated. By placing his problems in God’s hands, David had taken the most important step toward solving them. When we surrender our lives to God, we, too, can rest easy, knowing that he is in control.
4:1-3
David rejoiced about God’s powerful protection. In times of distress our merciful God is the perfect haven of rest. He is listening, and he hears our cries for help. God wants us to put our trust in him. We insult him when we trust in our own resources, or anything else, to deliver us from our problems. When we surrender our lives to God, we become his own chosen ones, whom he promises to hear when we call out to him.
4:6-8
Many of the people around us cannot see God at work in our lives. They see only our past failures. But as God transforms our lives, we become living testimonies of his power. True joy comes from God—a joy that is greater than all the gladness the world can produce. Nothing will bring us more peaceful nights of sleep than the knowledge that God is with us.
5:1-7
David understood how foolish it was to look for help from anything or anyone else but God. One by one he brought his needs daily to God. Wherever we go and whatever we are doing, we can trust God to help us in our moment-by-moment walk of obedience.
5:8-12
David requested God’s guidance because he knew the Lord would see him through the many troubles he faced. Like David’s enemies, many people will tell us the big lie—that sin won’t hurt us. Their words sound so good, but these people prove by their own lives of slavery to sin that they are headed for destruction. In the midst of these snares of the world, however, we can always find protection by trusting in God.
Additional reading from the supplied source
Optional articles printed alongside these psalms. They are not verse commentary.
Psalms — Introduction
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT? Psalms is a songbook.
WHO WROTE IT? King David wrote most of the psalms, but a great number of other songwriters, many of them anonymous, also contributed. Since the psalms were written to be used in worship, many were written by Levitical or priestly poets and musicians.
WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? The psalms were composed over many centuries. The earliest one was probably written in the 1400s B.C.; the latest in the 500s B.C.
WHERE DOES THIS BOOK FIT? Most of the psalms come from the era of Israel’s united kingdom.
THE BREAKDOWN There are no thematic sections per se, but traditionally the Psalms were divided into five ‘books’: Book I: Psalms 1–41; Book II: Psalms 42–72; Book III: Psalms 73–89; Book IV: Psalms 90–106; Book V: Psalms 107–150.
KEY CONCEPTS: Praise; Glory.
SCORECARD: David: The primary psalm writer. Asaph: Another lyricist.
READING TIME IN HOURS: 2:10.
WORTH MEMORIZING: Where to start? The most familiar—and most memorized—parts of the Bible are here. Choose any of the following to get going: 19:14; 27:1; 119:11; 119:105; 139:23–24.
Other great passages from Psalms to memorize include: Psalm 8; Psalm 23; Psalm 51:1–12; Psalm 91; Psalm 100; Psalm 103:1–5; Psalm 121; Psalm 150.
THE MASCULINE PERSPECTIVE — PRAISE AND WORSHIP. Some men think of praise and worship as ‘for women only.’ Yet here’s an entire songbook written by men! As we read this book with open eyes, we see that worship is a man’s most significant activity.
Headings, list layout and typography normalized. Memorization Scripture quotations are represented by their printed references; the reading plan retains its existing Scripture edition.
What’s the Point of Psalms?
God deserves our greatest passion.
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