A fresh look at Psalms 1

         Psalms 1. I have been aware for some time of the Hebrew use of parallelism. But I saw this in a new light. Doubtless a preacher or teacher has mentioned this to me in my past, but it really hit me with a new strength.          The chapter begins with blessing those who: Do not walk with the wicked. Do not stand in the way of sinners. Do not sit in the company of the scoffers.         And then it ends with warning that the wicked: Will not stand int he judgment Sinner Will not stand in the assembly.        It is an interesting use of parallelism that speaks the same truth in reverse and with visualization of very different scenes.        And in the middle we have two great metaphors, also very different. One of of a tree that is next to a stream, with a continuous supply of water so that it always bears fruit in the right season. [As an aside, compare this to the fig tree in Matt 21:19] The second metaphor is of the chaff of wheat being blown around, all dried up and empty of the fruit of the grain.