Psalm 1:1

Psalms

Psalms was written by 5 different authors. David wrote 75 of them, Asaph wrote 12, Moses 1, Heman 1, Ethan 1, and Anonymous 60.

Psalm 1:1

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.

a. NLT: Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

b. NIV: 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,

c. Amplified Bible: Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

d. Septuagint: Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Praiseworthy is the man who walked not in the counsel of the wicked, and stood not in the path of the sinful, and sat not in the session of scorners.

1. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…”

a. Blessed [Strong: 835 'esher eh'-sher; from 833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!:--blessed, happy.]

 b. [is the] man [Strong: 376 'iysh eesh contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]]

c. that [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

d. walketh [Strong: 1980 halak haw-lak' akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.]

e. not [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

c. [in the] counsel [Strong: 6098 `etsah ay-tsaw';  from 3289; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence:--advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.]

d. [of the] ungodly [Strong: 7563 rasha` raw-shaw';  from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.

1). The counsel of the ungodly is the philosophy of the natural man and the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God.

a). 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2). The carnal mind is in direct opposition to God.

a). Romans 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

3). The counsel of the ungodly will lead me into error.

a). Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

4). The counsel of the ungodly is wickedness.

a). Job 21:14-16 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

21:16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

5). We must not follow or imitate the devilish wisdom of popular culture. A man, woman, group or assembly who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, is blessed. Glory to God! We are not to imitate the world.

a). Romans 12:1, 2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

6). One way God brings the counsel of the ungodly to naught in individual believers is through the preaching of the cross and their receiving that revelation.

a). 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

7). Henry M. Morris: Psalm 1 is the foundation Psalm. The first three verses describe the way of the righteous, the last three verses describe the way of the ungodly. Psalm 1 outlines the two ways and the two destinies. There are only two ways and two destinies. It is the theme that constitutes innumerable other Scriptures.

a). Matthew 7:13, 14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

2. “…nor standeth in the way of sinners.

a. nor [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

b. standeth [Strong: 5975 `amad aw-mad'; a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive):--abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, + serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-)stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.]

c. [in the] way [Strong: 1870  derek deh'-rek ; from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side), whither(-soever).]

d. [of] sinners [Strong: 2400 chatta' khat-taw' intensively from 2398; a criminal, or one accounted guilty:--offender, sinful, sinner.]

1). Since the warning here is not to stand in the way of sinners I have to go with the Amplified rendering of the Hebrew that the warning is to not stand submissive and inactive.

3. “…nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

a.  nor [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

b. sitteth [Strong: 3427 yashab yaw-shab' a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle), (down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.]

c. [in the] seat [Strong: 4186  mowshab mo-shawb' or moshab {mo-shawb'}; from 3427; a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population:--assembly, dwell in, dwelling(-place), wherein (that) dwelt (in), inhabited place, seat, sitting, situation, sojourning.]

d. [of the] scornful [Strong: 3887  luwts loots; to scoff, mock, mocker, scorn , scorner, scornful.]

1).  Amplified Bible: “…nor sits down to relax and rest where the scornful and the mockers gather.

2). I can’t get away from the image of sitting in front of the TV or in the movie theater, of watching and hearing people mocking God, heaping scorn upon God and his people and these scorners and mockers getting paid by us through our purchasing the ticket. Compare what I just wrote with the following verses.

a). Psalm 26:4, 5 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 

26:5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

b). We must not sit with the scornful, the group of dissemblers, or the mockers. These are a congregation of evil doers. On television, the assault against Biblical values in American culture started in 1971 with shows like “All in the Family”. 

3). An attitude of mockery toward the things of God will be a characteristic of the last days. 

a). 2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

b). Jude 14-16 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

d). Murmurers and complainers are linked with ungodly sinners who walk after their own lusts, speak  violent, rough, offensive, intolerable words against Jesus.

4). Mockery and scorn similar to what Goliath heaped upon Israel.

a). 1 Samuel 17:4-10 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

17:5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

17:6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am  I not a Philistine, and ye servants of Saul? 17:9 Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 

5). What must be noted here is the progression or in other words the descent.

a). Henry M Morris: “First the unwary soul would hearken to “the counsel of the ungodly”; then he or she would begin “to stand in the way of sinners”; and eventually he or she would be “sitting in the seat of the scornful”, offering mockery for God’s word.”

b). Henry M. Morris?? “Verses 1 & 2 can be made to focus around words: counsel, scorn, the law of the LORD. Whose words are we going to take, the words of the ungodly, the sinner, the scorner or God’s?  

6). It also must be noted that the “evil man” and the evil morally loose woman in Proverbs were both former believers.

a). Proverbs 2:12-19 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 

2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 

2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 

2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 

2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 

2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 

2:19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.