Happiness (Psalm 1-2)

How to be Happy Living in the World (Psalm 1-2). Psalm 1 contrasts the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing the importance of delighting in God's Word.

Ø  Is there a key to happiness? Or is it a secret known only to a very few select people?

Ø  What do you think you need to do to be happy and not unhappy?

1. How can you avoid ungodly influences in your life (Ps 1:1)? What does it mean to walk, stand and sit?
2. What does it mean to "delight"? To "meditate" on God's law day and night (Ps 1:2)? How can we incorporate this into our daily lives?
3. What are the benefits of being like a tree planted by streams of water? How does this relate to a steadfast faith? (Psalm 1:3)
4. What is the destiny of the wicked, and why does it contrast with the righteous? (Psalm 1:4-6)

• **How can you encourage others to walk in the path of righteousness as described in Psalm 1 as the (only) way to be happy?

Psalm 2 ("The Sovereign Lord and His Anointed One") emphasizes God's sovereignty and the anointed role of His Son, Jesus Christ.

1. What is the world's attitude toward God (in particular the rulers and leaders) (Ps 2:1-3)? How does God respond to their rebellion (Ps 2:4-6)? What should rulers and those with money and power know and do (Ps 2:10-12)?
2. Who is the "Anointed One" and how does this foreshadow the future reign of Christ as the Messiah, the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Ps 2:2, Ac 4:25-27, Heb 1:5; Rev 19:16)? What is His authority and role (Ps 2:7-9; Ac 13:33)?
3. How do you "serve the Lord with fear" and "celebrate with trembling" (Ps 2:11)?
4. What does it mean for the nations to "kiss the Son" (Ps 2:12)? Why is this important and significant for our happiness?
5. What do you learn about God's sovereignty and about God's coming kingdom on earth (Ps 2:8; Mt 6:10)? How does understanding this give you peace and happiness? What should you do (Rom 10:9-10)?

	NIV	Robert Altar	Alec Motyer
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,	Happy is the man who has not walked in the wicked's counsel, nor in the way of offenders has stood, nor in the session of scoffers has sat.	Blessed is the man who has determined not to walk according to the advice of wicked people, nor, according to the way of sinners, to take his stand, nor in the seat of cynics, to sit.
2	but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.	But the LORD's teaching is his desire, and His teaching he murmurs day and night.	To the contrary, in Yahweh's teaching is his pleasure, and in his teaching he meditates 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.	And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither—and in all that he does he prospers.	Consequently, he is like a tree, transplanted beside channels of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither—and whatever he does, he prospers.
4	Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.	Not so the wicked, but like chaff that the wind blows away.	Not so the wicked ones! To the contrary—like chaff which the wind drives about!
5	Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.	Therefore the wicked will not stand up in judgment, nor offenders in the band of the righteous.	Therefore, the wicked ones will not rise up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous ones.
6	For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.	For the LORD embraces the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked is lost.	because Yahweh knows the way of righteous ones, and the way of the wicked ones will perish.