Psalm Chapter 1This is one of my favorite psalms. It is easy to understand and is very clear-cut. There are no hidden meanings and can be understood by the simple-minded.
Blessed means more than just happy. I would say blessed are they that are happy in the Lord. The blessed are those that do not walk in ungodly counsel. They do not run to ungodly people when they need counseling. Ungodly living is to live outside of the word of God, outside the will of God and to serve self instead of right living. In other words, ungodly living is to live without God or without acknowledging God. A life without God leads to sin and evil deeds but one does not have to do anything really bad to be ungodly. All you have to do to be ungodly is to live a life without God. A person who does not seek God or seek the will of God and totally ignores the word of God is actually an ungodly person even if they appear to be a good person. Standing in the way of sinners is simply walking in the way of sinners. Going the same path as they go and doing the same evil deeds they do. The bible says:
To counsel means to give advice, influence and guide in a certain direction. Those who seek ungodly counsel become miserable and unhappy. This verse brings out the fact that happiness and blessing follows a person who seeks out wise counselors and advisors. It is a blessing to have friends who walk in the word of God and encourage others in that walk. Those whose mouth brings forth fruitfulness and whose advice profits the hearers are a treasure more precious than gold. I long to be that kind of person myself. We waste so much time when we murmur, complain, gossip and use our tongues for evil instead of edification. Sometimes we meet those that seek counsel but are just trying to get someone to agree with what they want to do in the first place. They already have it in their hearts to do something and they want to find a counselor or friend who will tell them what they want to hear and agree with them. Very seldom will someone purposely go to someone they know ahead of time is going to talk them out of something they really want to do. The kind of counselors we seek usually reveals what is in our own hearts. If we want to get away with sin and still be saved, we will seek out those who will comfort us and tell us that we are okay, God loves us as we are, and that we cannot ever be lost no matter what we do. This is false. If we want to love God, we would put God first and not want anything to do with sin. We will seek those who will tell us the truth and will not compromise the word. Happy are those who seek truthful counselors. Happy is the person who avoids those that are inclined to cause trouble and disturbance. Isn't the bible so good to give us directions like this? We would get in less trouble if only we would take heed to its warnings. Usually a person who is not bent on evil will not go around those he or she knows are always getting into trouble. They will avoid them like a plague. If we find ourselves constantly in the presence of troublemakers, we need to examine our own hearts and ask ourselves, "What are we doing here?" Wresting judgment is a term common to the King James version. It means the opposite of a fair impartial judgment. It is to violently remove judgment or take it away to follow a crowd to do evil instead of good. We are never to follow a multitude that is out to evil and removing judgment that is good. We tend to seek out those who agree with us. If we want to sin, we will seek out those who will be supportive of our desires. If we want to live godly, we will seek out those who will encourage us in the Lord. I realize that we have to work around, live around and go to school with those who live ungodly but to actually seek their company to follow after their ways may reveal what is lacking in us. Why would we want to go around those who are constantly rebellious and getting into trouble? There are exceptions to this. If the Lord calls us to specifically go to someone to win them to Christ, then we are not going to receive counsel but to give it. We will not be constantly hanging around them and agreeing with their sin but we will go specifically as the Holy Spirit leads and leave when the Holy Spirit says to depart. If our motive is to turn someone else away from ungodliness that is a good thing but we must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Go with a another person who is strong in the Lord or go full of the Holy Spirit and by His leading. We begin to mature in Christ if we get to the place where we are giving good counsel to someone else. Those who sit around scorning usually are those who are idle with nothing better to do. We see them sitting instead of standing. This is a picture of how trouble sometimes starts. Sitting around with critics and backbiters, is one of the most unfruitful things we can do. We need to get out of it and into useful activity. Scorn, mockery, and evil speaking will rob us of our joy in the Lord. A wise person will stay away from people who waste their time in this manner. Have you ever seen a complainer, scorner, and mocker that was happy? Spend time around those who build up, speak truth and honor the Lord with their tongues instead of tearing down. I'm not talking about false flattery here or someone who is always complimenting with no words of correction or truth. I'm talking about building up in the truth and the word. I'm talking about speaking that which encourages clean, wholesome living and kindness to one another. This brings about happiness. A person who does these things has an inward peace that can't be found among the backbiters and gossipers. Mocking, making fun of, jesting, and ridiculing are not fruits of a spirit-filled life.
Here is the secret of inner peace and joy. Delighting in the word of God and meditating upon it. How much time do we spend in God's word as opposed to television, videos and other entertainment? I'm not saying those things are wrong necessarily but God has something better. He has something that brings joy and gladness to the heart. His blessings can't even be compared to the trivial things that we call entertainment. Believe me, those things we think are important cannot hold a candle to the presence of the Lord. Just one moment in His presence is worth more than thousand's of hours in the entertainment of this world. If you've never experienced the presence of the Lord, you probably do not know what I'm talking about. Take time to seek Him and find out. This is real folks.
A tree planted by rivers of water indicates strength, a solid foundation and fruitfulness. To walk in the word of God, to be continually in His presence, is going to bring forth abundant fruit. He or she will prosper who walks in the word. In other words, they who do these things will push forward, break out, and be profitable. Everyone around us is affected by our lives. It is a good way.
The Lord brings rest, contentment and strength. Everything else is troubling, restless, oppressive, and brings on depression. He is the answer to everything we need.
Now we see that the choice to live ungodly is just the opposite to the choice to follow after godliness. Ungodly people are compared to chaff which blows away by the wind. Here one minute gone the next. They are continually drifting about with no foundation or purpose.
At the day of judgment, the ungodly will not be able to stand up against it. They will have no place in eternity. Sinners will not be able to stand in the congregation of the righteous. All ungodliness and sin will pass away and die but the righteous will abide forever. What choice are we going to make? Are we going to choose to be among those that live forever or among those who pass away? Are we going to seek the company of those who waste time in ungodliness or are we going to seek the company of those who bring forth fruits of righteousness?
The Lord acknowledges the ways of the righteous and will reward them and accept them. He knows His believers and followers and will not forsake them. He accepts the ways of the righteous but rejects the ways of ungodliness. The ungodly shall perish. The ungodly are those that reject truth, the word and the presence of God. They go their own way and reject the ways of God. To neglect God is to neglect your own soul and its place in eternity. We may even live good lives and never hurt anyone but if we neglect our spiritual being, we lose out on that which is everlasting. We need God. There is something in our innermost being that cries out to God. Within the soul of every human being is a cry for salvation and redemption. When we choose to neglect this part of us, we neglect the very plan of God to give us eternal life. He made a way that we might have life and not die eternally. We have the power to choose. God's plan of salvation for all mankind is to live right. He made a way for all our past sins to be forgiven and covered by the blood of His own son, Jesus Christ who paid the price of redemption for our sins. He actually took that punishment for our sins in his own body. He who knew no sin himself took the punishment for our sins. When we let Jesus Christ take over our lives, He gives us a new beginning and a new spirit which causes us to want to live right. This psalm here shows us clearly which is the better choice but it is up to each and every individual to make the right choice. -DC |
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