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Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of scorners. 2 But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah, and he meditates in His Law day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of waters, which will give its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf will not wither, and all which he does will prosper. 4 Not so are the wicked, but they are only as chaff which the wind drives about. 5 On account of this the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For Jehovah is knowing the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked shall perish.
Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of scorners. - Psalm 1:1.
The Psalm begins by declaring as "blessed" the saint who is not involved or associated with the counsel of ungodly, scornful sinners. When comparing the spiritual words of the LORD, we see a similar example given for our instruction in the book of Jeremiah:
"I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers, nor exult. I sat alone because of Your hand; for You have filled me with indignation. Why has my pain been without end and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You surely are to me like deceitful waters which cannot be trusted. So Jehovah says this: If you return, then I will bring you again; you shall stand before Me. And if you take the precious from the worthless, you shall be as My mouth. Let them turn back to you, but do not return to them. And I will make you a fortified wall of bronze to this people. And they shall fight against you, but they shall not overcome you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says Jehovah. And I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the evil ones." - Jeremiah 15:17ff. LITV.
Again, as we compare the spiritual words of the LORD, we see related teaching from God thru the inspired pen of Paul:
"Because of this, "come out from among them" "and be separated," says the Lord, "and do not touch the unclean thing," and I will receive you. "And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons" and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:17,18 LITV.
A threefold reference to posture points to the completeness of avoiding the counsel of the wicked: we are not to walk, sit, nor stand in their presence, but to avoid them. This thought being brought out in another excellent cross reference found in the Proverbs:
"Do not envy evil men, nor desire to be with them. For their heart studies violence, and their lips talk of mischief. Through wisdom a house is built, and it is established by understanding, and by knowledge the inner parts shall be filled with precious and pleasant riches. A wise warrior is in strength: yes, a man of knowledge firms up power. For you shall make war for yourself by wise advice, and safety is in the abundance of counselors." - Proverbs 24:1-6 LITV.
But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah, and he meditates in His Law day and night. - Psalm 1:2.
The blessed saint is one who delights in the law of Jehovah and he dwells upon the Word of God day and night. False teachers who claim to come in the name of the LORD do not glorify God, but man glorifying error. How sweet to the saint is truth which springs from the glorious Word of God alone:
"I have rejoiced in the way of Your Testimonies as over all riches." - Psalm 119:14 LITV.
"I will delight myself in Your Statutes. I will not forget Your Word." - Psalm 119:16 LITV.
"Make me walk in the way of Your Commands, for in it I delight. Bow my heart to Your Testimonies, and not to unjust gain." - Psalm 119:35 LITV.
"This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, and you shall meditate on it by day and by night, so that you shall be on guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall prosper your way, and then you shall act wisely. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for Jehovah your God is with you in all places where you go." - Joshua 1:8,9 LITV.
"lead me in Your truth and teach me; for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day long. Remember, O Jehovah, Your compassions and Your mercies; for they are from eternity. Do not remember the sins of my youth, or my transgressions. According to Your mercy, remember me, for Your goodness' sake, O Jehovah." - Psalm 25:5-7 LITV.
"My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips, when I remember You upon my bed. I will meditate on You in the night watches." - Psalm 63:5,6 LITV.
The actions that come forth from the heart and soul of a true saint will be those that relate to the God of Israel and His goodness and truth.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of waters, which will give its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf will not wither, and all which he does will prosper. - Psalm 1:3.
Note that the tree is planted. That is, it has not grown in the wild, but carefully nutured by the Holy Spirit. The leaf will not wither, the saint will be constant and steady; their fruits evidenced by their good works, see Ephesians 2:10.
Not so are the wicked, but they are only as chaff which the wind drives about. - Psalm 1:4.
God is all knowing; hence, He knows who His children truly are. On the otherhand, the wicked choose to elevate men and there is no hope for them, they are like chaff. Compare:
"Why do the wicked live? They grow old, and become mighty in power. Their seed is established with them before their face, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are in peace, without fear; nor is God's rod on them. His bull passes semen and does not fail; his cow calves and does not miscarry. They send their little ones out as a flock; and their children dance. They lift up voice at the timbrel and lyre, and rejoice at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in good, and in a moment go down to Sheol. And they say to God, Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what do we profit if we entreat Him? Behold, their good is not in their hand! The counsel of the wicked is far from me. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and their calamity comes on them! He shares out pangs in His anger; they are as straw before the wind, and as chaff that the tempest steals away." - Job 21:7-18.
"O Jehovah, contend with those who strive against me; fight those who fight against me. Take hold of a shield and buckler, and arise as my help. Draw out the spear and close ranks to meet my pursuers; say to my soul, I am your salvation. Let those who seek my soul be ashamed and disgraced; let them be turned back and brought to confusion, those who plot evil to me. Let them be as chaff before the wind, and the Angel of Jehovah driving away. Let their way be dark and slippery, and the Angel of Jehovah their pursuer. For they have hidden their pit-net for me without cause; without cause they have dug for my soul. Let destruction come on him; he will not know; and let his net which he concealed catch him; let him fall in it, into destruction. And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it will rejoice in His salvation. All my bones shall say: O Jehovah, who is like You, who delivers the poor from those stronger than he; yes, the poor and needy from his plunderer?" - Psalm 35:1-10 LITV.
"Woe to the multitude of many peoples; they roar like the roar of seas; and the crash of nations, they crash like the crash of mighty waters! The nations shall crash like the crashing of many waters, but He rebukes it, and it flees far away; yea, it is driven like the chaff of mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before a tempest. At the time of evening, behold, terror! Before it is morning, it shall not be. This is the portion of those robbing us, and the lot of those plundering us." - Isaiah 17:12-14 LITV.
On account of this the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. - Psalm 1:5.
Judgement is the final verdict from the LORD Jesus Christ. While at times the wicked may prosper with material things, they will not be found among the righteous children of God in heaven. The righteous do God's good will for which He created them. Cross references:
"The boasters shall not set themselves before Your eyes. You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those speaking lies; Jehovah will despise the man of blood and deceit. But I, in the plenty of Your grace, I will come into Your house. I will worship in Your fear toward Your holy temple, O Jehovah." - Psalm 5:5-7 LITV.
"And He shall judge the world in righteousness; He shall judge the peoples in uprightness. Jehovah also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of distress." - Psalm 9:8,9 LITV.
"And the heavens shall thank Your wonders, O Jehovah; also Your faithfulness in the assembly of the saints. For who in the sky shall be ranked with Jehovah, who among the sons of the mighty is like Jehovah? God is greatly to be feared in the congregation of the saints, and to be adored by all around Him. O Jehovah God of Hosts, who is a strong Jehovah like You? And Your faithfulness is all around You. You rule the pride of the sea; when its waves rise high, You still them." - Psalm 89:5-9 LITV.
For Jehovah is knowing the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked shall perish. - Psalm 1:6.
Here the Psalm concludes its contrast between the righteous and the wicked. Indeed life is a continual battle between the forces of good and evil. The righteous will inherit eternal life under the care of Jehovah God while the wicked will be as chaff, cut off and judged according to their rotten works. Praised be the God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting; Amen and Amen.
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