Psalm 1
- 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.
- 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 bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
- 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.
In Psalm 1, the godly man is compared to the ungodly man.
"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."
A truly godly man is a happy man. The Hebrew word that means "blessed" is in its plural form. It says, "Happy, happy, happy."
The first line of the verse could say, "The happy man who does not walk . . ."
And here's the first thing you need to do to be happy: get in the right place.
This is the most important thing in football. You can be very talented, but if you're not in the right place to make the play, your talent is wasted.
Getting in the right place at the right time is what makes you successful in sports.
And pay attention to how a godly person stands... He "doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly." Do you listen to the right advice? "Nor stands in the way of sinners..." Do you hang out with the right people? "Nor sits in the seat of the scornful..." Do you see life from the right angle?
People who don't listen to God won't make you happy.
You won't find it with people who sin.
And you won't find it in the cynical, negative people who look at life.
A truly happy person puts biblical people around himself or herself who offer biblical advice.
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
When you start living in line with God's Word, you will be happy. You need to learn how to see life from God's point of view.
Have you made the light of God's Word your joy?
This is what Jeremiah did. The prophet Jeremiah says to God, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: . . ." (Jeremiah 15:16,17). Jeremiah left the crowd that was making fun of him, being cynical, and being mean, and walked in the light of God's Word. He learned to love and want to read the Bible.
When a man becomes interested in the truth and starts reading the Bible, he reaches a turning point in his life. He learns to enjoy getting to know God better.
Thomas Aquinas said, "I have no rest, but in a nook, with the Book."
Observe that the psalmist "meditates" on the Word of God. To "meditate" means to think about something. Like a cow chewing its cud, you should think about God's Word over and over again and from different points of view.
Eastern meditation teaches people how to turn off their minds. Concentrate on a neutral point and empty your mind.
Biblical meditation is the opposite. You don't turn off 3
your brain. You use it to read God's Word. God made our minds. When we meditate, we trust that God will help us understand and figure out biblical truth. The Word shapes a happy person, not the world.
Verse 3 says, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Again, think about how important position is.
The psalmist's "rivers of water" were not the streams and rivers that could dry up when it rained.
The Israelis dug these irrigation canals to bring water to the desert. They put crops and fruit trees along these canals. They used a dependable water source. The psalmist says that the happy man is wise enough to put himself and his family next to spiritual sources.
A godly man is rooted—he's planted. He grows shoots, and his leaf doesn't die. He bears fruit—everything he does works out well. But again, keep in mind that his health and productivity are directly related to his job.
He plants roots in a church that will give him and his family what they need to grow. Spiritual position determines spiritual prosperity.
[4] The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
But in contrast, the ungodly are like the chaff that the wind blows away. People who don't plant spiritual roots next to reliable sources end up like corn husks that dry out and are blown away. The ungodly have no anchor. They float. It's a game of chance to live. Ephesians 4:14 tells us not to be like them. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, . .
[5] Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
[6] For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
"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."
A truly godly man is a happy man. The Hebrew word that means "blessed" is in its plural form. It says, "Happy, happy, happy."
The first line of the verse could say, "The happy man who does not walk . . ."
And here's the first thing you need to do to be happy: get in the right place.
This is the most important thing in football. You can be very talented, but if you're not in the right place to make the play, your talent is wasted.
Getting in the right place at the right time is what makes you successful in sports.
And pay attention to how a godly person stands... He "doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly." Do you listen to the right advice? "Nor stands in the way of sinners..." Do you hang out with the right people? "Nor sits in the seat of the scornful..." Do you see life from the right angle?
People who don't listen to God won't make you happy.
You won't find it with people who sin.
And you won't find it in the cynical, negative people who look at life.
A truly happy person puts biblical people around himself or herself who offer biblical advice.
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
When you start living in line with God's Word, you will be happy. You need to learn how to see life from God's point of view.
Have you made the light of God's Word your joy?
This is what Jeremiah did. The prophet Jeremiah says to God, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: . . ." (Jeremiah 15:16,17). Jeremiah left the crowd that was making fun of him, being cynical, and being mean, and walked in the light of God's Word. He learned to love and want to read the Bible.
When a man becomes interested in the truth and starts reading the Bible, he reaches a turning point in his life. He learns to enjoy getting to know God better.
Thomas Aquinas said, "I have no rest, but in a nook, with the Book."
Observe that the psalmist "meditates" on the Word of God. To "meditate" means to think about something. Like a cow chewing its cud, you should think about God's Word over and over again and from different points of view.
Eastern meditation teaches people how to turn off their minds. Concentrate on a neutral point and empty your mind.
Biblical meditation is the opposite. You don't turn off 3
your brain. You use it to read God's Word. God made our minds. When we meditate, we trust that God will help us understand and figure out biblical truth. The Word shapes a happy person, not the world.
Verse 3 says, "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Again, think about how important position is.
The psalmist's "rivers of water" were not the streams and rivers that could dry up when it rained.
The Israelis dug these irrigation canals to bring water to the desert. They put crops and fruit trees along these canals. They used a dependable water source. The psalmist says that the happy man is wise enough to put himself and his family next to spiritual sources.
A godly man is rooted—he's planted. He grows shoots, and his leaf doesn't die. He bears fruit—everything he does works out well. But again, keep in mind that his health and productivity are directly related to his job.
He plants roots in a church that will give him and his family what they need to grow. Spiritual position determines spiritual prosperity.
[4] The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
But in contrast, the ungodly are like the chaff that the wind blows away. People who don't plant spiritual roots next to reliable sources end up like corn husks that dry out and are blown away. The ungodly have no anchor. They float. It's a game of chance to live. Ephesians 4:14 tells us not to be like them. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, . .
[5] Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
[6] For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.