Vs. 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
Starts active: walking (associating intimately)
Becomes more methodical, (stands) indicates he is perhaps contemplating what they think. Hanging out with them socially.
Sitting with the mockers (NIV)
The KJ uses the word scornful. Scorn means to dismiss as contemptible.
To make fun of, poke fun at. In religious terms, make fun of Spiritual things. This can be done actively, either by joining in, or by keeping silent, and thereby not taking a stand (although you really are).
Vs. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.
This person by contrast, loves the Scripture and meditates on them day and night.
They delight in pleasing the Lord.
Such a person was Joseph, when confronted with the temptation of adultery, he didn’t say, my master might come in, or what if the other servants see us, or I have a headache.
No he said, how can I sin against the Lord! When you have been tempted to sin, have you ever said this? When I was younger I wish that had been my attitude. Most of the time it wasn’t, and I’ll bet you were no different. That’s why Paul said in Romans 7:15-16 “I do the very thing I don’t want to do”. Now as we mature in Christ it becomes easier to resist, but so many people who are Christians continue down this rocky road and because they don’t know the Word they continue to stumble.
Meditate means: reflects, focus on, contemplation. The picture here is of a cow chewing a cud. The cow will bring up what they have eaten and chew on it over and over. That is what meditation or reflection means.
The story is told of a Jewish lad who went to his father and asked if it were permissible to study other religions. His wise father pointed out this verse and told his son if he could find any time that wasn’t either day or night he could feel free to study anything he wished.
Vs. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Contrasts the person in vs. 2 who delights in the Lord with one who doesn’t. One bears fruit, one is just nominal and barren or bears very little. All through Scripture God gives contrasts between living our lives to suit ourselves or being the person he created us to be through Jesus Christ.
Some corresponding Scriptures
Ps.92:12-15
Jeremiah 17:7-8 contrasted to Jeremiah 17:5 – 6
Vs. 4 The wicked are not so, but like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Vs. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
Vs. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish
First he says that the righteous are like a tree planted (did not grow up by itself) by the water. We are planted by God Almighty.(He deliberately planted us – we didn’t just happen!)
The ungodly are like chaff, that is the outer husk of the grain.
Chaff was useless
Chaff was a nuisance
It was tossed up in the air and allowed to blow away. The grain was tossed up and the heavier grain came back down, while the chaff was blown away.
The ungodly man is insecure in the judgment. When judgment comes they will be crushed by the weight of their sins.
The ungodly will be repulsed by the light of God that they cannot stand in the congregation of the righteous. John 3: 19 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil
Verse 6: The Lord knows (approves of) the way of the righteous.
We have an example of this in Job 1:8 – also David was called a man after God’s own heart. Noah also, in fact the list in Hebrews 11. Did all the people in the list in Hebrews live perfect lives? No of course, David was a murderer, Noah got drunk, Samson – well let’s don’t go there. They were all sinners saved by GRACE!
Have you experienced the Grace of God? He died for your sins so you could spend eternity with him forever in Heaven.
“There is NO OTHER name under Heaven that has been given among men by which we must be (can be) saved.” Acts 4:12
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