The Book of Psalms doesn’t open with a celebration. It opens with a warning.
You’d expect a worship manual to begin with something triumphant—“Enter His gates” (Psalm 100:4), “Shout to the Lord” (Psalm 100:1), “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 145:3). But instead, Psalm 1 starts with a choice. Not a song. A path.
“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.”
(Psalm 1:1)
Before you raise your voice in praise, God wants to know: who are you walking with?
That’s no small thing. Psalm 1 is placed first for a reason. It’s not a gentle introduction—it’s a gateway. A filter. A line in the sand. If you ignore it, you may not get to Psalm 2, much less Psalm 150.
Psalm 1 is the “Holy, Holy, Holy” of the hymnbook, not because it sounds majestic, but because it sets the tone for everything that follows. And instead of looking up first, it makes you look around—at your friendships, your influences, your rhythms. Because if you surround yourself with mockers, you won’t be a worshiper for long.
Don’t miss this: Your worship life depends on your relational life.
Psalm 1 doesn’t say anything about music. But it has everything to do with whether you’ll ever truly sing.
It shows two paths: one rooted, one ruined. One is anchored in God’s Word; the other is driven by the winds of culture. The difference isn’t talent, emotion, or effort—it’s direction. It’s depth. And it starts with the people closest to you.
If you surround yourself with people who love the Word, you’ll delight in it too. If you walk with the wise, you’ll bear fruit. But if you walk with the wicked, you’ll dry up before the first verse of Psalm 2.
That’s why Psalm 1 comes first.
It’s not a preface. It’s a warning shot. A divine wake-up call.
So look at your circle. Check your direction. And remember: if you want to experience the power of the Psalms, you can’t skip the first step. Get Psalm 1 right—and the rest of the worship journey will follow.
