The rest of Psalm 1
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
What we love we love to think of. We must have a constant habitual regard to the word of God as the rule of our actions and the spring of our comforts, and we we must have it in our thoughts upon every occasion that occurs. The more we converse with the Word of God the better furnished we are for any good word and work.
Ps 119:16 “I delight in your decress; I will not neglect your word.”
Ps 119:35 “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.”
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water,”
A tree cannot live without water, just as we cannot live without God’s protection. Like a tree that soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. The rivers of pardon and the rivers of grace, the rivers of promise and the rivers of communion with Christ, are never-failing sources of supply.
“which yields its fruit in season”
The man who delights in in the Word of God, being taught by it, bringeth forth patience in the time of suffering, faith in the day of trial, and holy joy in the hour of prosperity
“and whose leaf does not wither”
He wont lose his beauty or fruitfulness if the Word of God rules in his heart.
“Whatever he does prospers”
It is not outward prosperity which the Christian most desires and values, it is soul prosperity which he longs for.
“not so the wicked!”
the ungodly are the reverse of the righteous, both in character and condition. They are led by the counsel of the wicked, in the way of sinners, to the seat of the scornful; they have not delight in the law of God, nor ever think of it.
“They are like chaff”
A description of their character - worthless, dead, unserviceable, without substance
“that the wind blows away.”
Thu ungodly are easily driven to and fro by every wind and temptaion, and have no steadfastness. Those that by their own sin and folly make themselves as chaff will be found so before the whirlwind and fire of divine wrath, so unable to stand before it or escape it.
Ps 35:5 “May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
Isa 17:13 “Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale.
“Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,”
The ungodly shall be found guilty, shall hang down the head with shame and confusion, and all their pleas and excuses will be overruled as frivolous. So plain will the evidence be against them and so just and impartial will the judgment be upon it.
“nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
They will forever be shut out from the society of the blessed. They shall see the righteous enter into the kingdom, and themselves, to their everlasting vexation, thrust out. Christ cannot be imposed upon. A day is coming when he will separate the wicked and the righteous
Luke 13:27 “But he will reply, “I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!”
“For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,”
He orders all our steps. The Lord approves and is well pleased with the way of the righteous.
Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
“but the way of the wicked will perish.”
The ungodly, because the very way in which they have chosen and resolved to walk leads directly to destruction; it naturally tends towards ruin and therefore must necessarily end in it. The Lord is angry at the way of the wicked, all they do is offensive to him, and therefore it shall perish, and they in it.
Lord, you know the desires of my heart. Open my eyes to see what areas of my life need to change so I am living as you would want. I need your help and strength. Left to myself, I would turn away. I want to know You and Your Word more so I can apply it to my life and follow You more closely. The more I know Your Word, the more resources I will have to guide me in my daily decisions. I want to have a fruitful and faithful life, so You can use me. I do not want to be like chaff that drifts along without direction by even the slightest wind. I pray that others will see You in me. Give me a boldness to proclaim Your greatness that others may come to know You and save themselves from Your holy wrath. Fill me with a holy dread of the wicked man’s portion. I want to live a life pleasing and acceptable to You. As Spurgeon said, “May the Lord cleanse my heart and my ways, that I may escape the doom of the ungodly, and enjoy the blessedness of the righteous!” Amen.
