Posted on 01/18/2011 2:37:30 PM PST by pastorbillrandles
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.(Psalm 1)
Everyone wants to be happy, but in this fallen world happiness seems elusive, for the most part. But the book of Psalms opens with a Divine description of a truly happy man, and how he attained it. God wants us to be happy, but knows it is only possible on His terms.
But the description starts out negatively, that is the Psalmist tells us first what we must not do , if we want to attain happiness. It’s as though he were saying to us that happiness is possible for us, but not on the path that we are already on.
* Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…The implication here is that it is the counsel of the ungodly that is the prevailing wisdom of the day , and that separation from it is necessary for true happiness.
The ungodly have their counsel, and it is disseminated quite widely through the various media. There is abundant counsel on how to love, how to live, eat, celebrate, how to think about right and wrong, the priorities of life, the human condition, the problems of the world, how to see yourself, the world, religion, God, family, etc.
In short there is an entire worldview that is constantly presented to us by the ungodly.It is the very air we breath, we live in it and don’t even realize it. This counsel is not something external to us, to be avoided, it is more likely that it is something we must come out of, having been raised in it, through education, media, entertainment,and the host of other forms of communication.
Godless counsel has not led to true and lasting happiness. We have seen this in our lifetime, for most of the readers have grown up in a tremendous time of social upheaval, the throwing off of all of the former civilisational restraints, in the interest of “self fulfillment”.
Those former conventions were christian based, our culture was Judeo Christian, our traditions , mores and conventions all came out of that context, but they have been undermined by a literally godless philosophy of sexual humanism. This generation is further from happiness than any other as the sale of prescription drugs illustrates.
* … (who) stands in the way of sinners…We proceed from walking, to standing, for we all end up taking a stand , a hardened position. Happiness is impossible to the one who takes his stand with sinners. This also is so automatic to men, most don’t even realise they have already done such, for standing with sinners is the default position of humanity.
The stance of sinners, is in defiance of the Lord, refusing to humble oneself, to admit sinfulness or the need to be reconciled to God. It is against Jesus, self justifying and condemning of God.
And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.(Luke 7:29-30)
The only real decision is to step “out from among them”, justify God by admitting your own sinfulness, letting Him wash you by the sacrifice of Jesus. And to stand with Jesus bearing the reproach of this world.This is the unhappiness which leads to true happiness.
* Nor who sits in the seat of the scornful… In this picture, the unhappy have walked and stood, but by now they have settled into a seat, and are unlikely to be moved at all.This is a progression, the ever-increasing hold of sin and corruption upon a person’s life.
The final immobility is frightening. When one is walking, he can always turn around, even a stance can be backed off from, but once seated, change is unlikely.
The scornful are what we would call cynical. They had at one time perhaps entertained ideals, but by this stage, they are hardened and bitterly disillusioned in their unbelief. Nothing is real to them, there is nothing to live or die for, there is nothing absolute, they are jaded and resistant to any softening.
Misery loves company, thus the ungodly are plural, so are the sinners and the scornful, but the Blessed man is spoken of in this Psalm in the singular.
This man has separated himself from all of that, he has come out of it at some stage, and drinks from a different fount entirely…
* But His delight is in the Law of the Lord…A man is known by what he loves, and by his pleasures. The truly happy man has found delight in the Law of the Lord. This is not just a reference to rules and statutes, this is the whole Torah of God, the entire teaching of life presented by the God of the Bible through His Holy prophets.
He loves the Word of God, he seeks it and is ever breaking with his former conformity to the world by the renewing of his mind to the Word of the LORD. “Oh How I Love thy Law, it is my meditation all the day!(Psalm 119:97)”
Because of this the blessed man is inwardly guided, and separated from the world. He has a base of conviction, his heart is fixed on truth, he doesn’t shift with the winds of human opinion. In God’s truth he has found something surer, than the opinions of the experts.
Finally , this Psalm tells us that happiness is not to be found by seeking happiness. “His delight is in the Law of the Lord…”. Happiness can only be a by-product of being in right relationship with God.
more to come
Thank you! I needed that to pick me up.
I can really relate to this psalm. I will carry it around with me. Since I became a born-again Christian, my life seems to have become more and more isolated. And this past Christmas, even more so. Other than my parents, most of my sisters and best friend, although raised the same as I, are (1) not sure they believe in God, (2) believe if you are good you’ll go to heaven, and/or (3) believe abortion is okay. I want all of them to go to heaven, but nothing I say sways them from their beliefs. Instead of arguing with them and separating myself further from them, I have decided that the only way I can help their faith is to pray for them that the Lord will somehow save them and their families.
It sounds like your sisters and friends are basically agnostic. They seem not to have ruled out God but that they think abortion is ‘’okay’’. pardon me but how so do they mean? In a case of rape or incest or just plain anytime every time ‘’okay? In the case of the former I say yes. In the latter, no. Never. And I had to be re-born to that position. And to believing in God again. Pray for your sisters and friends. Who gets to Heaven is entirely up to Him.
thank you brother! Shalom
Shalom Sister- glad you were helped-
BLESSED IS...
(Num 24:9) He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
(Psa 1:1) 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.
(Psa 32:1) A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
(Psa 32:2) Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(Psa 33:12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
(Psa 34:8) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
(Psa 40:4) Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
(Psa 41:1) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
(Psa 65:4) Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
(Psa 84:5) Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
(Psa 84:12) O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
(Psa 89:15) Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
(Psa 94:12) Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
(Psa 112:1) Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
(Psa 128:1) A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
(Pro 8:34) Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
(Isa 56:2) Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
(Jer 17:7) Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
(Dan 12:12) Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
(Mat 11:6) And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
(Mat 21:9) And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
(Mat 23:39) For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(Mat 24:46) Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
(Mar 11:9) And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
(Luk 1:42) And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
(Luk 1:45) And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
(Luk 7:23) And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
(Luk 11:27) And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
(Luk 12:43) Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
(Luk 13:35) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(Luk 14:15) And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
(Joh 12:13) Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(Rom 4:8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
(Jam 1:12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
(Rev 1:3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
(Rev 16:15) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
(Rev 22:7) Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
BLESSED ARE...
(Psa 2:12) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
(Psa 84:4) Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
(Psa 106:3) Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
(Psa 119:1) ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
(Psa 119:2) Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
(Pro 8:32) Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
(Isa 30:18) And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
(Isa 32:20) Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
(Mat 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 5:4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(Mat 5:5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(Mat 5:6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(Mat 5:7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
(Mat 5:8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(Mat 5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(Mat 5:10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 5:11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
(Mat 13:16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
(Luk 6:21) Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
(Luk 6:22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
(Luk 10:23) And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
(Luk 11:28) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
(Luk 12:37) Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
(Luk 12:38) And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
(Luk 23:29) For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
(Joh 20:29) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
(Rom 4:7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
(Rev 14:13) And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
(Rev 19:9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
(Rev 22:14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Amen!
LOL!
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