"Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, not stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
The opening three verses of this introductory Psalm lay the foundation for the wisdom found in the rest of the 149 Psalms. It begins by, describing the Flawless Witness of the child of God. This witness will have at its center three necessary but negative attributes that lead into the one positive source of all flawless living, the precious Word of God! The first of these negative attributes: “Walking not in the counsel of the ungodly” emphasizes the child of God's rejection of morally wrong and actively evil motives, plans, or directions. The believer instead chooses to walk circumspectly, walking in love, walking not as Gentiles (lost), walk as children of Light, and to walk worthy of the vocation to which they are called (Ephesians 4:1).
Walking in the Spirit's power (Galatians 5:16) is the ultimate goal of the Christian. The second negative attribute: “Standing in the way of sinners” refers to the behavior or lifestyle of those who are guilty of committing sinful deeds against God, society, and themselves. The child of God will purposely take a stand against all unrighteousness, standing against the wiles of the devil, resisting him who is the author of all wickedness through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you"(James 4:7); "Stand therefore having your loins gird about with Truth"(Ephesians 6:14); "Be sober, be vigilant, because you adversary the devil...Whom resist steadfast in the faith"(I Peter 5:8, 9). It is significant to note that these words stand and resist have the same root in the original, and emphasize taking a firm position in battle, neither advancing nor retreating, but steadfastly holding to the place where God has set you in rank for the battle!
The third and last of these attributes: “Sitting in the seat of the scornful” emphasizes a settled, permanent place of abode, dwelling, satisfied with scorning, mocking, and taunting persecuting the people of God. The Christian instead is “seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6), resting in Him who is our Peace, knowing that the Lord delights in comforting the one who is toiling in the midst of the battle for His Name's sake.
"Fear not little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom"(Luke 12:32); "In your patience possess ye your souls"(Luke 21:19. Yes in times of great trouble the Lord calls out to those who need His comfort: "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest"(Matthew 11:28-30). "If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you" (I Peter 4:14). Yes, the ones with the Flawless Witness will demonstrate by the advice they take, and their attitude and actions that they are on God's side of the battle-line!
Verse two of Psalm 1 demonstrates the positive aspect of the Christian's life showing them involved in Fullness of Worship. The word “Delight” emphasizes the pleasure, the joy, the "I can't wait to be with them" attitude a young person has when thinking of their special someone. The same longing of heart that accompanies these special relationships when time separates loved ones, is the focal point of this word delight. The Law of the Lord indicates God's complete revelation to the Psalmist. We as Christians have God's complete revelation which now includes the New Testament with all of Its glorious Truth, the focal point of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ's full work of redemption.
How much more should we meditate on the Word of God now having experienced His great love for us as revealed in the New Testament as well as the Old. This word meditate, carries with it the idea of mentally dwelling on, focusing our minds on the marvelous impact its truth has on our life, placing ourselves personally in the midst of the meaning of the passage we are considering, rolling over in our minds by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit the consequences, the blessings of God's Truth to us. The Holy Spirit will then formulate a melody, a spiritual song as described in Colossians 3:16. This is what David called “The New Song”(Psalm 33:3) which appears in the Psalms six times. It is new because the Holy Spirit creates these new songs in every Believer who continues to meditate upon the Word of God as prescribed here by the Psalmist.
This is what the Psalmist feasted on day and night, continually digesting, bringing up again and again, re-digesting the powerful mind altering Truth of the Holy Scriptures, worshipping the God of Heaven by showing his priority was in the right place, first place belonged to the Lord, his time was given to the treasure-filled Word of God! Fullness of Worship comes as we lay hold on this powerful principle of worship, meditation, the avenue whereby we commune with Him Who is the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ.
He becomes our Life, we literally put on the Lord Jesus Christ as His Mind becomes one with ours when it is controlled by His very Words! The Psalmist here underlines the statement made by Joshua centuries before: "This book of the Law shall not depart out of they mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then thou shalt make thy was prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."(Joshua 1:8.) Fulness of Worship is necessary to do the will of God, to have prosperity and to have good success! Should we not then make it our business to practice this one and only guarantee from God for Spiritual success? You are probably asking: "How can I possibly meditate on the Word day and night?" This might seem like an impossibility to accomplish. However, God does not command us to do something He is not able to perform through us! Continual meditation on His Word is a goal that can be accomplished if we are willing to sacrifice our time, giving Him the very first part of the day, making sure our priority is to worship Him by choosing a verse/passage to carry with us throughout the day as we seek to serve Him. Proverb 6:20-23 also gives the 24-7 formula of the working of the Word of God when it is in our heart.
Remember the Words of the Lord Jesus: "It is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing, the Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit, they are Life" (John 6:63). If we desire to walk in the Spirit, we essentially must walk in the Word! Meditating, focusing our minds on Him through His Word is not an impossibility, but a faith reality through the power of His Holy Spirit, leaning totally upon, and depending on the Promises of God! Yes, it is God's desire, it is His will that we have the powerful presence of His Holy Spirit if we only will ask! “How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? (Luke 11:13).<.i>
David understood this powerful principle before the Holy Spirit came to indwell the Christian at Pentecost, he said in Psalm 119:1 "Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord". He knew the secret to God's method of being undefiled. He walked in the Law of the Lord, just as we are commanded to "Walk in the Spirit" as the Holy Spirit now indwells the believer, so David and the Old Testament saint could have this same opportunity to worship the Lord, obeying Him, and walk undefiled in the way through walking in the indwelling Word of God! So, once again we are confronted with this simple but most powerful truth, memorization and meditation on the Word of God must be our priority! For it, and only it, can bring us into Fullness of Worship, as our minds are set on God's thoughts, He becomes the very focus of our life.
And, if this is not the case, how can we expect to worship Him who above all is Holy? Once this Flawless Witness is established through Fullness of Worship, we can go on to the next step of Christian life: Flourishing Works. In verse three of Psalm 1 the child of God is likened to a tree, a tree that has been planted in a place of promising prosperity! These rivers of waters are literally pictured as man-made irrigation channels, bringing God's Life the Water of the Word to the roots of the fruit-bearing tree!
Yes, bearing much fruit in God's timing, at the right season, when the fruit is ripe for the harvest, the Flourishing Works of the Supernatural God of Heaven are manifested through His instrument the Spirit-filled child of God! His instrument of grace, His instrument of mercy and truth, the one who is controlled and empowered by the precious Holy Spirit of God! His position by the rivers of water, his production of “fruit that remains” (John 15:16), his planning is exactly in His season, His power is direct from the Throne of God by the Holy Spirit, and his prospering is seen by all in whatever he does.
Yes, his works are most certainly flourishing, in the direct plan and will of God! The Psalm turns 180 degrees and briefly but ever so pointedly surveys the one who chooses the opposite way of life. The Failure of the Wicked is portrayed as chaff, the waste material of harvest, the outer hull driven with the wind and tossed, beaten and buffeted, divinely scattered by the blast of the storm. The Psalmist uses the word ungodly to describe these that have rejected God's way. This word focuses on the morally wrong, the actively evil people that choose to perform wicked deeds. They will not stand in the judgement, no, every knee shall bow before the Lord in that day (Philippians 2:10)!
The sinners, the guilty, the unrepentant, the rejecters of Jesus, will not stand in the congregation at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15), for their names will not be found in the Lamb's Book of Life, they too will be cast into the Lake of Fire! How these woeful statements should prick our hearts and cause us to cry out to God for the souls of those He brings into our day of Divine Appointments. Yes, we must be ready to pluck them out of the fire, those that come into our daily path! "For the Lord knows (is familiar with) the way of the righteous (Everlasting Life in Heaven) but the way of the ungodly shall perish (Everlasting Torment in Hell)".
This summary statement in verse six brings reality face to face with the child of God. We, those of us who have been born-again the Bible way, will live eternally in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hallelujah, Drivers, let us rejoice in this one thing. However, those who reject Him will spend eternity in the everlasting fires of hell! We must contemplate with all soberness the reality of this final statement from the Psalmist and be certain to maintain a Flawless Witness through Fullness of Worship, thereby enjoying Flourishing Works which will include Faithfully Witnessing and Winning to the Lord Jesus Christ those whom God sends into our path! Remember, Drivers, those we meet at the next stop are those that God has put there! Our response and witness for the Lord could mean the difference between an eternal heaven or hell!