October 12, 2022 – Wednesday
Psalm 1:1 NET
1 How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers.
Psalm 1:1 NIV
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers
Comment
Have always loved Psalm 1 as so much is packed into its short six verses. Consider verse one above. Want to be blessed? If so, you have three instructions to follow in this verse.
The first instruction is to not follow the advice of the wicked NET or to not walk in step with the wicked NIV. All we must do is identify the wicked. In most cases that will be straight forward enough as they will be the ungodly, those who want nothing to do with God. But to determine this we have to consider is the advice Godly or ungodly or is the person giving the advice someone we would want to walk with by asking the same question, is this person’s walk Godly or ungodly?
The second instruction is like the first, but instead of the wicked, here the verse speaks of sinners. We are not to stand in the pathway with sinners or not to stand in the way that sinners take. The sinners’ activities are often more easily discerned and we are not to even be on the same path that sinners take, nor to stand in the way (direction) that they go. Proverbs five addresses this in a father’s warning against adultery when in verse eight it says, Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house. Don’t go that way, don’t take that path.
The third instruction is to not sit in the assembly of scoffers or not to sit in the company of mockers. There is an old saying my mother used to drum into all of us kids, birds of a feather flock together. The scoffers or mockers this is speaking about are those who are always belittling those doing their best to walk in ways pleasing to God, doing the right thing. When I was in high school, these were the ones barely passing and always making fun of those who were making the most of their classes. Instead of going out for any sport or school activity they were sneaking outside smoking cigarettes, skipping classes, and drinking beer whenever possible. This group was the easiest to spot.
But what does it actually mean to be blessed? The Believer’s Bible Commentary says The truly blessed person is the one who steers clear of the lifestyle of the ungodly. And that makes sense when we consider the three instructions we have just looked at.
One last point here, all the above does not mean to be blessed we are to completely isolate ourselves from those whose behaviors we are not to emulate. Instead, we can look for ways to bring our faith in Christ to them by our actions, kind and or friendly words whenever possible, a helping hand when needed. In some ways we become friends for the ungodly by doing so and praying for them while never partnering with them in their ungodly behavior.
Bottom Line: Remember, Every Saint has a past and Every Sinner has a future.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Please provide us with the necessary discernment on what to avoid while keeping our hearts open to bring the message of Your Son to others. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek