Psalms Chapter 1

If there is one thing that all humans by nature desire in this life it is to be happy. But true happiness is spiritual and eternal. It is not based upon or found in the physical things of this world. This world at its best will only bring temporary and uncertain joys. Psalms chapter 1 is a chapter that teaches us just this, how to be happy day by day in this life and eternally in the next.

The Bible says in Psalms chapter 1 verses 1-2, “Blessed is the man that walked not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth 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.” Blessed literally means happy. The world cries peace, peace. But there is no peace. People seek happiness in life and do not find it. But in reality: happiness; true happiness, spiritual happiness is easy to have. Verse 1 tells us of three reasons that most people will never find happiness: walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seat of the scornful. The counsel of the ungodly is any philosophy, teaching, idea, and attitude that does not come from the Bible. The way of sinners is the path of one’s own will instead of God’s will. Jesus said; not My will Lord but Thine be done, Lord. The seat of the scornful are those who do not have humble hearts because of their own sinfulness and thankful hearts because of Christ’s great sacrifice by dieing on the cross for their sins and all the world. Here are 3 reasons the great masses of humanity waste their lives and are headed straight for the pit of hell, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.

But verse 2 of Psalms chapter 1, lists only 1 way in which to be happy: by delighting in the law of the Lord. The law of the Lord is the Word of God. Or you could say whatever God speaks or writes is law. Please don’t underestimate the power of the Word of God. In Genesis 1:3, “God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” And the Bible also says in Romans 10:17, “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” To delight in the Word of God means to believe in God’s Word and to believe first and above all that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the World. There is no greater joy and happiness than that of salvation. A person that delights in the law of the Lord will see that it is the Word of God which is the key of life that opens the door to physical, mental, emotional and especially spiritual happiness and satisfaction. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” Of course that which a person delights in most will be the center of one’s thoughts and desires, dreams and expectations. And what we delight in will be the place we most often spend our time. Some people delight too much in their friends, or sex, or physical possessions. Of course the physical things of this world are not evil of themselves when received from God with thanksgiving and used within the bounds that God created them for. But apart from the God the physical things of life will be empty and destructive.

Psalms 12:6-7 says, “The Words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” The Word of the Lord will purify you. The filth of the world, the council of the ungodly, the way of sinners, and the sit of the scornful can be cleansed from you’re life through the blood of Jesus Christ and will be kept out of your life by the Words of the Lord; because they are pure words. And then you will live life to the fullest.

Psalms 1:3 tells us the result of those who meditate day and night in the Word of God, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” A tree takes years to grow strong and to be able to withstand the storms of life. And it is only a tree that has a sufficient water supply; that will grow into a great tree that bares abundant fruit, because water is the most important element to have physical life.

A Christian is very much like a tree. It will take many years to grow strong in your faith. But you will only grow if you are planted by the rivers of water. Jesus said in John 4:14, “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Here Jesus is speaking of the water of the Spirit. There is spiritual water, a spiritual life that comes only from God and from the promises of God. And it is this spiritual water alone that can make a man just like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of God. Jesus also said he that is faithful in little is faithful in much.

There are two kinds of people, those who follow the world and those who follow Jesus Christ. Psalms chapter 1 tells us what will be the destiny of both kinds of people. Psalms 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” It is very important to learn to flee temptation and to stay separated from the world. II Corinthians 6:14-15 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” Trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Day by day walk with God, saying not my will but Thine Lord be done. Keep your sins confessed and rely on the promises of God. And then you will live a happy life and be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. And everything you do will prosper if what you do is the Lord’s will.

Psalms 1:4-5 says, “The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” What is the end result of following the ways of the world? Psalms 1:4-5 tells us three results of not following the teachings of Jesus Christ. First you will be like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Jesus said a similar phrase in the Gospel of Matthew when speaking of John the Baptist. Jesus said that John was not a reed shaken in the wind. Psalms chapter 1 compares the child of God to a tree and the follower of the world to chaff blown in the wind. Something that is blown away by the wind has no strength or substance to be able to stand on its own. This is the way of the people of the world. When the sorrows of life fall upon them they beaten down because they have no true hope beyond this life. When the voice of society and the devil speaks, they must listen and obey because they do not stand for the truth. They are blind and do not have the strength or the courage to resist the powers of the world. The Child of God claim the promise of God in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” But the follower of the world cannot claim such a promise and instead of being like a tree planted by the rivers of water, he will be like chaff blown away by the wind.

Secondly, these verses say that the follower of the world shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. The Bible says in I John 2:16-17, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” This life is temporary. And one day we will all die. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27-28, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” There is a great condemnation that hangs over the heads of the wicked. When this life is over we will all stand before God to be judged. Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world. And when He was on the cross He was judged for our sins. Because of Jesus great sacrifice the Bible says in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk after the flesh but after the Spirit.” But for those who have not followed the way of the Spirit, for those who have rejected Jesus Christ, there is a condemnation for sin. And when it is time to be judged; you who have rejected Christ, will not stand in the judgment nor will sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Thirdly, Psalms 1 says that the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Job 20:5 says, “That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment.” Sometimes its seems like nice guys finish last. But Jesus said the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Some people believe the end’s justifies the means. Sometimes it seems like the wicked of the world prosper in their ungodliness. But in reality, God is simply patient and kind and is given them space to repent. Because the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that nay should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The way of the ungodly shall perish because the Bible says the end of sin is death. The way of the ungodly shall perish because all is vain and empty without God. And the way of the ungodly shall perish because when the end of the world is come and humanity is judged for its deeds, those without Jesus Christ will be cast into the eternal fires and darkness of Hell. And there they will burn for their sins, forgotten forever by God.

Proverbs 1:10 says, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Next time you are tempted by the false glamour of the world, just remember that the Bible says in Psalms 1:6, “The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” The way of the righteous is by repenting of your sins and trusting in Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. All other roads lead to hell.

___________________________________________________