The Two Paths

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor
stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
Psalm 1:2
but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and
night.
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields
its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he
prospers.
Psalm 1:4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind
drives away.
Psalm 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
Psalm 1:6 for the LORD
knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

1:1
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;”

It’s interesting to me the progression of wickedness (or ungodly as it is also translated) or a sinful life. It begins with walking in the counsel, then standing in the way, and finally sitting in the seat of scoffers. How often does the sin perform the snowball effect when we dabble in something we may know isn’t technically right, or something that “technically the bible doesn’t say I can’t do this” we end up wallowing in our sin and the effect there of.

John Wesley, evangelist of the 1700’s and co-founder of the Methodist movement, offers an enlightened view of this passage:

“Blessed - The Hebrew words are very emphatical: O the blessedness of that man! Counsel - That doth not lead his life according to their counsel, or manner of living. Standeth - Which notes a more settled abode in it. Way - In their manner of conversation. Seat - Which notes a constant and resolved perseverance in their wicked courses. Scornful - Of those who make a mock of sin, and scoff at goodness and goodmen. Divers observe a gradation in this verse; the following clause still exceeding the former, for standing is more than walking, and sitting more than standing; and sinners in scripture use, are worse than the ungodly, and the scornful are the worst of sinners.”

The Nelson commentary adds, “Walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, i.e., his conduct is not shaped by worldly standards; nor standeth in the way of sinners, i.e., he does not make his association with evil men; and nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, i.e., he has no fellowship with those who scorn God.”

Psalm 1 denotes two different “ways.” One is the way of the righteous and the other the way of sinners. Verse 1 contributes to the way of the righteous by explaining what the righteous does NOT do. “The blessed man does not do certain things. There is a way he will not walk, a path he will not stand in, and a seat he will not sit in. …The righteous man and the ungodly man are different in how they think, how they behave, and to whom they belong.” (David Guzik)

In his commentary, David Guzik says that first, the righteous must know how to discern the counsel of the ungodly. “They hear advice, or theories about their problems, and they find themselves agreeing or disagreeing without considering, “Is this godly or ungodly counsel.”” He also adds that we must discern whether “the counsel of the ungodly can come from one’s own self. Our own conscience, our own mind, our own heart, can give us ungodly counsel.” Leading to verse 2 the blessed knows where to find godly counsel; the Bible. “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)

1:2
“but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

“But” being a conjunction meaning a word that connects two parts of a sentence, implies that verse two is connected to verse one. This means that not only is there a way to conduct yourself and associate yourself, there is also an importance to have delight in the law of the Lord and to meditate on it day and night. There is a difference and being a good person and a good person whom delights in the Word and fills their life with it.

Jesus told satan, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4) Here He is referring to Deuteronomy 8:3; “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Man LIVES by every word that comes from the Lord’s mouth. Delight in it and meditate day and night on it. Again I quote John Wesley, “Not seldom and slightly, but diligently, and constantly.” "Man must have some delight, some supreme pleasure. His heart was never meant to be a vacuum. If not filled with the best things, it will be filled with the unworthy and disappointing." (Charles Spurgeon)

The first commandment says “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) What is your God? Martin Luther explains, “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.” The most important command according to Christ is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." (Matthew 22: 37-38) This is paralleled with (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” “The righteous man only has God’s word on his mind two times a day: day and night.” (Guzik) The word הגה or hâgâh is Hebrew for Meditate meaning to murmur (in pleasure or anger) by implication to ponder, imagine, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter and of course meditate. The path of the righteous keeps the Word of God near him/her at all times.

1:3
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

“he is like a tree "planted" ... "not a wild tree, but “a tree planted,” chosen, considered as property, cultivated and secured from the last terrible uprooting, for “every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up:” Mat_15:13. " (Charles Spurgeon) We may know if we are planted by streams of water and yielding fruit by comparing ourselves to Galatians 5:22-23; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” As this metaphorical tree’s leaf does not wither, neither do we. Our blessings and happiness are not temporary but everlasting. Notice the plural use of “stream” which to me indicates the multiplicity of blessings and grace. Back to Guzik, he adds “Whose leaf also shall not wither: Brown, dead, withered leaves are signs of death and dryness. The righteous man does not have these signs of death and dryness; his “leaves” are green and alive.” Perhaps his spirit is alive and shows no sign death or dryness.

And in all the righteous one does he shall prosper. Of course when we use the word “prosper” we must use a universal concept of prosperity. It is far too common to use the American evangelical definition of prosperity which can only be used in America. Biblical prosperity reaches from east to west and has the exact same meaning to all.

"Blessed is the man who hath such a promise as this. But we must not always estimate the fulfilment of a promise by our own eye-sight. How often, my brethren, if we judge by feeble sense, may we come to the mournful conclusion of Jacob, “All these things are against me!” For though we know our interest in the promise, yet are we so tried and troubled, that sight sees the very reverse of what that promise foretells. But to the eye of faith this word is sure, and by it we perceive that our works are prospered, even when everything seems to go against us. It is not outward prosperity which the Christian most desires and values; it is soul prosperity which he longs for. We often, like Jehoshaphat, make ships to go to Tarshish for gold, but they are broken at Ezion-geber; but even here there is a true prospering, for it is often for the soul's health that we should be poor, bereaved, and persecuted. Our worst things are often our best things. As there is a curse wrapped up in the wicked man's mercies, so there is a blessing concealed in the righteous man's crosses, losses, and sorrows. The trials of the saint are a divine husbandry, by which he grows and brings forth abundant fruit." (Charles Spurgeon)

1:4
“The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.”

Chaff “is the inedible, dry, scaly protective casings of the seeds of cereal grain, or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material such as scaly parts of flowers, or finely chopped straw. In agriculture chaff is used as livestock fodder, or is a waste material ploughed into the soil or burnt.” (Wikipedia) Chaff similar to salt that has lost its taste (Luke 14:34-35) “is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away.” Or to Charles Spurgeon, “intrinsically worthless, dead, unserviceable, without substance, and easily carried away." “They are restless and unquiet: their seeming felicity, hath no firm foundation, but quickly vanishes and flees away as chaff before the wind.” (John Wesley)

It’s important to notice where it says “The wicked are not so.” Verse four can only be talking about verse three. Thus the wicked (or ungodly) are not at all similar to “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Therefore he is NOT like a tree planted by streams of water. He does NOT yield fruit in season and his leaf withers. In spite of all he does he will not prosper. This person is relatable to (James 1:6) “like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” The wicked are for eternal purposes worthless and lack any stability, they are scattered and controlled by the wind. One could say the wicked are “like the wind.” The godly and the ungodly have huge differences in how they live as well as how die; which leads us to the next section.

1:5
“Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;”

“Therefore” indicating that because the ungodly is like chaff they will not stand in the judgment. “When they are brought before the judgment bar of God, they have no retort to God’s just condemnation of their ungodliness.” (Nelson) The wicked will not stand in judgment, and they will not stand in the congregation of the righteous. It is interesting to note that he who stood in the way of sinners will no loner stand as judgment weighs down upon them.

1:6
“for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

John Wesley describes knows and perish like “Knoweth - He approves, loves, and delights in them, and therefore will recompence them. Perish - All their designs and courses shall come to nothing, and they shall perish with them.”

Charles Spurgeon’s comment on this verse is "Not only shall they perish themselves, but their way shall perish too. The righteous carves his name upon the rock, but the wicked writes his remembrance here, which shall never be fully reaped till he enters the enjoyments of eternity but as for the wicked, he ploughs the sea, and though there may seem to be a shining trail behind his keel, yet the waves shall pass over it, and the place that knew him shall know him no more for ever. The very “way” of the ungodly shall perish. "

"In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death." (Proverbs 12:28)

The first verse of the first chapter of the Didache (The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles) is “There are two paths, one of life and one of death, and the difference is great between the two paths.” There is the path of life and the path of death.

“The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If someone impresses you for one mile, go with him two. If someone takes your cloak, give him also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed you are not able. Give to every one who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that to all should be given of our own blessings (free gifts). Happy is he who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to him who receives; for if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives not having need shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what. And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny. And also concerning this, it has been said, Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give.” (Didache 1: 2-6)

“And the way of death is this: First of all it is evil and accursed: murders, adultery, lust, fornication, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rape, false witness, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving to good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, not pitying a poor man, not laboring for the afflicted, not knowing Him Who made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork of God, turning away from him who is in want, afflicting him who is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. Be delivered, children, from all these.” (Didache 5)

“Two men, two ways, two destinies. One leads to life and blessedness; the other, without God and His Word, is a dead-end street, leading but to death. No one can seriously read this psalm and not examine his own destiny. If we’re going to go to God’s heaven, we have to go in God’s way. Jesus Christ said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me’ (Jn 14:6)”

Have you ever been asked if you knew the Lord? May I ask a separate question? Does the Lord know you? Does He know your ways?