Two ways, one right way!
Reading: Psalm 1.
This Psalms opens with a blessing, “Blessed is the person” just like the Sermon on the Mount, begin with a blessing. This first psalm provides a basis for all the psalms that follow. It compares the happiness found in the Lord with the sadness of those who do not know God.
Two men, two ways, two destinies. One is the right way, which leads to life. The other is wrong, and it leads to death. God says what is right and what is wrong. If we are going to go to God’s heaven, we have to go in God’s way. Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me” John 14:6.
Psalm one, sets forth both the character, and lifestyles of the “good” and “evil” man. God divides people into only TWO classes:
1. Those that have accepted Him, and please Him. The good man.
2. Those that have refused Him, and displease Him. The evil man.
VERSES 1-3. THE HAPPINESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN.
VERSE ONE.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”
The Hebrew word for “man” in this context means “person,” without reference to gender. The word for “blessed” could also be read “happy.” The truly “blessed person” is the one who steers clear of the lifestyle “of the ungodly.” The happy person is a real friend to the ungodly, but he/she is not a partner with them.
The godly person must avoid the steps that lead to sin: considering sin (walking), contemplating sin (standing), being comfortable in sin (sitting). Watch that first step! This does not mean that the happy man isolates himself completely from the wicked. Instead he witnesses to them of “sin, righteousness, and judgment,” and seeks to introduce them to Christ, the one source of lasting pleasure.
Verse one, contains THREE THINGS the righteous person does not do.
1. “Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.”
The righteous person determines to renounce the companionship of evildoers. This does not mean that he becomes snobbish, and unfriendly. For he still reacts with godly concern, and kindness towards all people. “Ungodly” is a general word for all wrongdoing. They that refuse to conceive any responsibility or duty towards God. So what worthwhile counsel or advice could such an ungodly person give?
2. “Nor stands in the path of sinners.”
“Sinners” are those who miss the mark in life or fall short of a standard, set by God. We are commanded, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” 2 Corinthians 6:14.
3. “Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”
The posture of “sitting” denotes decision. To “sit” with someone, means that a person has identified themselves with them, and has cast their lot with them. To sit with those who openly reject God. So the righteous person does not WALK, STAND, and or SIT with those who openly mock God and righteousness.
VERSE TWO.
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
The contrast is strong. Instead of finding enjoyment in entanglements with wicked persons, the godly person finds his or her deep enjoyment in the things of God, particularly the Word of God. It is impossible to visualize a happy person who is not also a lover of God’s Word. By this means his own life is enriched and he becomes a channel of blessing to others.
So we could say that the righteous person is meditating day and night on God's will for his life. It was John Wesley that said, “To find God's will is man's greatest discovery, and to do God's will is his greatest achievement.”
VERSE THREE.
“He shall be like a tree, Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
The man who is separated from sin and separated to the Scriptures has all the qualities of a strong, healthy, fruitful tree. The picture of a “tree planted by water,” suggests both firmness, and fertility. For he brings fruit in its season, this suggests constant fruit bearing. Because he has inner resources, he “shall prosper” in everything he does.
The reason, of course, is that he is living in fellowship with the Lord, and all his service is therefore guided by the Holy Spirit. The only way to be efficient and successful in the Christian life is to be led by the Spirit of God.
2nd POINT: THE SADNESS OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN, VERSES 4-6.
Everything the psalmist said about the “righteous person,” is untrue of the wicked one. The better translation reads, “Not so, the wicked.”
VERSE FOUR.
“The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”
The ungodly are not well-planted, fruitful, enduring or prosperous. Like chaff, they lack substance, the ungodly are blown away. Chaff, the weightless husks from the grain, is totally useless and is easily blown in whatever direction the wind may be blowing. There is no direction to its existence.
The righteous stand strong! The “ungodly” person is the one who has consciously and deliberately made his choice to reject God.
VERSE FIVE.
“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”
The words “stand in judgement” in this context probably means because of his total moral irresponsibility, such an individual will not be able to “stand in the judgement.” That is, there will be no appeal for him, no defence on which he can stand. Here it means that they will have no adequate defense.
“Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” Furthermore, they will never stand in the congregation of the righteous; they will be forever excluded from the company of those who are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.This suggests that ungodly people are never comfortable with those who are godly in character, and dedication. This would suggest that his choice of evil over good has been thoughtful considered and accepted.
VERSE SIX.
“For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
We cannot stress too often, however, that a person’s destiny is not determined by the way he or she lives. The determining factor is whether he or she has ever been “born again” by faith in Jesus Christ. The righteous person is the one who has confessed his sin and received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. His righteous life is the result of his new life in Christ.
The ungodly person is the one who refuses to acknowledge his need and to bow his knee to the Lord Jesus. He would rather keep his sin than have the Savior, and thus he seals his doom.
CONCLUSION:
How tragic that anyone is perishing when Jesus offers abundant life! The godly receive blessing but the ungodly receive judgment. The psalm starts with “blessed” and ends with “perish.” The choice is yours.
