Psalm 1 speaks on two extreme contracts of Godly and Ungodly living. This is a psalm of guidance about good and evil, depicting life and death, blessing and curse, so that we may choose the path leading to eternal life and avoid the path that leads to sorrow and destruction. The complete summary of Psalm 1 is “The Righteous are Blessed and the Wicked are Judged.”
Lets look at the verse that states "Blessed is the one" is implying this person is content with life and most importantly being right with God. To further emphasize being Blessed indicates being supremely happy or fulfilled. One interpretation from British preacher and Evangelist, Charles Spurgeon, regarding being Blessed he stated "It is not Blessed is the King, Blessed is the scholar, Blessed are the rich, but Blessed is the person. This Blessedness is a attainable by the poor, the forgotten and the obscure as by those whose names figure in history and are trumped by fame'. What Charles Spurgeon is saying is that being Blessed is attainable to anyone who walks in the ways of God.
Referring to the person who walks not or stands or sits is indicating the differences between the righteous person versus the ungodly person in how they think, how they behave, who they belong to, that being our Heavenly Father of the god of this world, being Satan. One interpretation according to Biblical scholar, Adam Clarke, speaking on the subject of progressive sin he stated "The great lesson to be learned from the whole is sin is progressive with one evil act leads to another. He who acts by bad counsel may soon do evil deeds and he who abandons himself to evil doings may end his life in total apostasy from God".
The following verse "Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly". The ungodly have counsel and the righteous person will not walk in that counsel. With all the advice that comes to us from so many different sources the righteous person knows how to stay away from the counsel of the ungodly. Its about discernment and seeking the Holy Spirit's counsel on whether a situation is either Godly or ungodly? The righteous person is also discerning enough to know the counsel of the ungodly can come from one's own self, our own conscience, our own mind, our own heart, which can give us ungodly counsel.
The next verse states "Nor stands in the path of sinners". The ungodly have a path where they stand. With a righteous person knows that they do not belong on that particular path. A path could imply a way, a road or a direction and the righteous person is not traveling in the same direction as sinners. A righteous person has confidence in the path that is directed by God.
The following verse states "Or sits in the seat of the scornful". The scornful love sit and criticize the people of God and the things of God. The righteous person will not engage in negativity criticizing others. However, upon reflection, how often have we seen Christians remain silent when others are putting down Christians on their faith? As Christians we are called upon to be proud to follow Jesus Christ. According to Charles Spurgeon he stated "Be out and out for Him (being Jesus), unfurl your colours, neither do you hide them but nail them to the mast. Say to all who ridicule the Saints if you have any ill words for the falls of Christ then pour them upon me. But know this you shall hear it whether you like it or not I love Jesus!".
The next verse is "But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and His Law he meditates day and night". When we have a delight in something it ceases to be a burden. For a Christian meditating on God's Word is a captivating reverence in itself and it is pure delight. We meditate on God's Word we don't just hear the Word and then forget it. We contemplate, reflect, mull it over and truly meditate on God's Word.
The following depicts the righteous person is truly Blessed and it states "The person shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in season whose leaf shall not wither and whatever that person does shall prosper". Being planted by the rivers of water indicates a continual source that fulfills all our needs. Bring forth its fruit in its season indicates the Fruit of the Sprit as depicted in Galatians 5 verses 22 and 23. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Whose leaf also shall not wither indicates life and whatever that righteous individual does shall prosper indicates how God brings forth something good and wonderful even during challenging times. God will bring something that will prosper us.
However, the way of the ungodly is a very, very bad place to be! "The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away". From an eternal perspective all those things that have been indicated for the righteous will not be so when it comes to the fact of the ungodly. Although they may appear to prosper in this temporal lifetime sadly their eternal life will be a complete separation from God and paradise. When the ungodly are referred to being shaft basically indicates to be intrinsically worthless, dead, without substance and easily carried away.
The next verse states "Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in judgement or sinners in the congregation of the righteous". This indicates the dangerous future of the ungodly since they have no Godly values they will be found lacking on the day of judgement. Sadly, sinner will not share in the same glorious future of the righteous.
And finally "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish". The righteous can have peace knowing our loving Heavenly Father knows their ways and will protect and preserve them. However, the way of the ungodly leads to destruction. They are on a broad path that may seem for them is comfortable for this present time but unfortunately that path has much company. However, in the end of this age there is no eternal life for them. And the worst par of it all will be complete separation from God for all eternity.
Amen.
About The Author: Steve is a Christian Blogger, Videographer, and Personal Trainer. His content creation focuses on Societal Lifestyles, Health/Fitness and Faith.
