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. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 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.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 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. (Psalms 1:1-6 KJV)
Thomas Haweis
Verses 1-3: This Psalm opens with a description of the holy and truly happy man, Ps 1:1. Blessed is the man, or O the blessedness of the man, how great, how unutterable, in time and eternity. His character is strongly marked; and by his fruits he may be known. He walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly; does not take his maxims from the world, that lieth in wickedness, nor fashion his conduct after their destructive ways; nor standeth in the way of sinners, though himself was once such; yet like Lot, he hath left the city, and desires no more to fix his abode among the unholy and profane, nor setteth in the seat of the scornful; however high their pretences to superior wisdom, and however much they affect to treat with contempt the revealed will of God: such children of pride shall not have his ear for a moment; their company he will shun as a plague, and their breath as infectious. Note, (1.) The company of wicked men is dangerous; we must separate from them, if we would avoid their ruin. (2.) The progress of sin is headlong; they who walk in the way of sinners, will soon sit in the seat of the scornful: determined iniquity makes way for daring infidelity, Ps 1:2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord. The safety of our walk depends upon the way which we have chosen: if we are led by that word which is appointed for a light unto our feet, we shall be guided into the paths of everlasting peace. This sacred clue, therefore, the man of God with delight follows; and in his law doth he meditate day and night: His Bible is his companion, he wishes no better entertainment: its glorious truths engage his deep meditation, are the matter of his daily converse; and if by night his eyes are kept waking, his thoughts are pleasingly occupied thereupon: In this blest course his soul prospers in every divine disposition, and consequently partakers of true and lasting felicity, for holiness and happiness are inseparable, Ps 1:3. And he shall be, or then shall he be, like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. When by divine grace he is thus enabled to delight and meditate thereupon the gracious effects of it will be evident; his leaf of profession continues green and flourishing, and his holy fruits of righteousness abound. The Lord, whose planting he is, waters him every moment; conveys to his soul the living streams of divine grace, from Jesus the living fountain; and thus he grows tall as the cedar, and fruitful as the vine: nor is his state fading or changeable, his leaves withering, or his fruit blasted like the untimely figs: no, His leaf also, shall not wither. Preserved by Almighty grace, decay shall not tarnish his beauty, nor apostasy lay the axe to the root; but whatsoever he doeth shall prosper: every prayer shall receive an answer of peace; every labour shall be attended with success; every providence be sanctified; and, in short, all things work together for his good. Such is the blessed, holy, happy man. May my soul bear the divine impression, and correspond more to this amiable character!
Verses 4-6: The very contrast to those above described, is the character of the ungodly; they are not so, sin is their way; the company they keep is like themselves ungodly: their opinions are erroneous as their practice is perverse. They abide in the paths of wickedness, and sit down content with their own deceivings; negligent of God’s word, never consulting it in secret, and if they sit under it, what a weariness is it? Their thoughts dissipated in pursuits of worldly vanity, or fleshly indulgences, never fix on the sacred volume: nor day nor night are they occupied therein. Like a blasted tree their leaf is withered, and instead of fruit only fit fuel for the flames: the curse of God is upon them in all the labour of their hands, and misery follows them closer than their shadow. They are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Vanity is stamped on all their enjoyments; driven before the breath of every temptation; light and despicable in God’s account, as the dust of the balance, and ready to suffer the eternal blasting of the breath of his displeasure: when, with his fan in his hand, he shall thoroughly purge his floor, and the chaff be burnt with fire unquenchable. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment: in that dreadful day, when God shall summon to his bar the guilty sons of Adam, to receive their eternal doom, then shall confusion cover them, every plea be silenced, every mouth be stopped. Though with hypocrisy, perhaps, they once joined in the assembly of God’s saints, their place shall be no more found; nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous: an awful and eternal separation shall be made; these shall go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal: For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: they walk by faith in Christ the living way and they are accounted righteous, as accepted in him, and derive also a divine nature from him; God knows them, sees and approves the way in which they go, and will shortly everlastingly reward them. But the way of the ungodly shall perish: they have chosen their delusions, and must perish in their own deceivings: their way is always grievous, and the end thereof is misery and death eternal. Lord, shut not up my soul with sinners!
Let the righteous rejoice; let the sinner tremble. In a moment this dread eternity opens, and their everlasting state is determined: Oh that it might awaken the fears of the ungodly, and quicken the diligence of the faithful.