Psalms 1

Psalms 1:1 says, 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.  David said that the man, and we can add woman, is blessed if they do not follow the council of the ungodly or follow the way of the sinners and the scornful.  If we would be blessed by God today we need to heed this advice.  I don't believe that this means that we are to completely withdraw from the world, though, since God tells us to go into the highways and hedges to spread the gospel.  Instead, I believe it means that we are not to allow ourselves as followers of Christ to be ruled by the wisdom of the world. We are to be in but not of the world.  Verse two adds, But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  David said those who would be blessed would delight in and meditate on the law of the LORD day and night.  In other words, we are to continually be guided by God's word, and in order to be guided by His word, we must study it.  God's word should not be something we meditate on once or twice a week, but should be something that guides all times. times.  Verse three states, 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.  David said that when we avoid the council of the ungodly and delight in God's law that we will be like a tree planted by the waters.  We will be fruitful and will not wither and whatever we do will prosper.  I believe this refers to spiritual, and not material, prosperity.  Verse four declares, The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  David also gave a warning to the ungodly.  He said that they are like the chaff, which blows away when the good grain is separated from the bad.  Those who do not follow God will one day see all their accomplishments in this world blown away by God.  Verse five adds, Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  David stated that the ungodly would not stand in God's judgment, nor would sinners be found in the congregation of the righteous.  Unless a person accepts Jesus Christ as His or her Savior and Lord, he or she cannot be made righteous in God's eyes, and therefore cannot stand in His judgment and be a part of His congregation or kingdom.  Verse six concludes, For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  We do not determine if we are righteous or not, but God does.  If we are to be declared righteous, we must put our faith in Jesus Christ.