An Exposition of Psalm 1
The following is a sermon manuscript preached on April 7, 2024, at Providence Church in Mansfield, Ohio.
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Introduction
Chances are, if you grew up in a Christian home, you memorized Psalm 1, or at least heard it read regularly. You learned of the blessing that comes to the righteous, and the destruction that awaits the wicked. But time passed, and, for many, this Psalm became a distant memory. As a child, I would wonder why anyone would intentionally choose to walk a path they knew would lead to destruction. But they did, and often, their way seemed to prosper. Perhaps you’ve been on the other side of this dilemma. You walked the ways of righteousness, but those blessings never seemed to come. Either way, it’s easy to grow disillusioned with this Psalm. It’s easy to grow indifferent to these admonitions.
Our hearts are prone to ask with Job, “Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?” (Job 21:7). We join the Preacher’s lament in Ecclesiastes 8:14: “There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.” Our hearts are torn between these exceptions we see and the truth we know from the Scriptures, “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7).
If we read to the end of Revelation, we see every wrong made right. We see the saints inherit the earth. But is eternity our only hope? Do the blessings of this Psalm mean nothing here and now? And if this were the right interpretation, why would this Psalm be given such prominence by being placed at the very beginning of the book? If eternity were our only hope, that would be sufficient, but I believe that this Psalm also proclaims real blessings for the present age. Perhaps this may be advocating for a return to childlike faith, but I would go one step further: Lasting blessings only come to those who walk in the Lord’s way of life.
So with that theme in mind let us consider the first main point of Psalm 1:
1. Righteousness leads a man in the way of life (vv. 1-3).
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Who is the blessed man? The psalmist offers three descriptions of who he is not, and two descriptions of who he is. Is there anyone here today who does not want to be blessed? Is there anyone here who does not desire God’s favor? Of course not! Atheists and Satanists even covet the blessings of righteousness. They simply seek those blessings in all the wrong ways.
As we consider this Psalm, it will be important to look at the big picture. Yes, sometimes ungodly people accidentally stumble across a nugget of real wisdom, apply it to their lives, and are blessed by it for a time. But one or two right decisions, followed by their blessings, do not change their position. They are still ungodly, sinners, and scornful. Likewise, as we already considered, the righteous may follow the principles of this passage perfectly, and they may not see immediate fruit. It’s important for us to remember that we delight in the law of the Lord because it is the law of the Lord. We don’t make law our God.
We don’t serve God because it makes life easier. Often, it makes life more difficult for a time, but temporary difficulty does not change the truth of this Psalm that there are still blessings to be found in delighting in the law of the Lord. After all, who made the world? God did! And nature itself declares in real, visible ways, that the design works best when used as the Designer designed it. Creation runs by the Creator’s rules. And the Law of the Lord, all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, do tell us the Creator’s rules. This is the basis for Psalm 1. Yes, this passage may be balanced by other texts like 2 Timothy 3:12: “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Yes, we know that the ultimate fulfillment of the Psalm is in eternity, but there are real fruits on earth as well.
Over and over in the Scriptures, we see how wickedness and lawlessness destroy a people. Entire nations are judged for violence, deceitfulness, and sexual immorality. Certainly, sins like drunkenness and adultery often lead to quick and deadly consequences. So next time you’re inclined to doubt this passage ask yourself, is the liar a blessed man? Is the murderer blessed? Is the covetous man blessed? Or consider the other side: what are the ordinary fruits of honesty, generosity, and marital faithfulness? This Psalm is not a formula that enables any man to attain immediate prosperity. Rather, it is a general observation of the fruits of righteousness we should expect to see in God’s world.
We see in this Psalm three negative characteristics of the blessed man – three things you will not find in him. He walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. He stands not in the path of sinners. He sits not in the seat of the scornful. The blessed man is not given to worldly wisdom. When he faces challenges and difficulties, he does not turn to the secular psychologist or the atheistic philosopher for wisdom. While they certainly do speak truth on some topics, it is by accident, and not by design, because their ideologies are rooted in godless alternatives to wisdom. The blessed man stands not in the path of sinners. While there will always be some contact with those who habitually break God’s law, he does not enjoy their presence. He does not go with them to sin against his God. The blessed man does not sit in the seat of the scornful. When he finds himself in the presence of those who mock His God, he is not content to sit with them or stay in their company. These are all things the blessed man avoids: the counsel of the ungodly, the path of sinners, and the seat of the scornful.
In contrast, the blessed man loves the law of the Lord! The blessed man is marked by two positive characteristics. He delights in the Law of the Lord and meditates on the Law of the Lord. It’s important to remember this “Law of the Lord” is more broadly defined than we might generally assume. At first glance, we might think this refers to the Ten Commandments, and that is certainly included, but that’s only part of the picture. This “Law of the Lord,” could be better described as the direction or instruction of Yahweh. It is the entirety of the Scriptures! And the commandments of our Lord are not burdensome! They are good, they bring blessing! The blessed man delights in the law of the Lord. He loves the instruction of Yahweh! And this love has great effects! Instead of seeking the counsel and company of the ungodly, you will find him meditating on the law of the Lord day and night. While he certainly will be faithful in his duties to his family and occupation, as he has a spare moment you’ll find him reading and meditating on the Law of the Lord. In those quiet hours, whether evening or morning, even sleep itself, will seem only slightly sweet compared to his delight in meditating on the law of the Lord.
Having described both the characteristics present and absent in the blessed man, the psalmist proceeds to describe the nature of those blessings in verse 3. The blessed man is like a tree “planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” The wisdom found in the Law of the Lord supplies the blessed man’s needs just as rivers of water supply a tree near the bank. Like the well-watered tree, the blessed man brings forth, timely, seasonable fruit. Notice these fruits come in their season, not necessarily on-demand, whenever he wants them. Just as the farmer must have patience to reap the harvest, the blessed man must have patience to see the fruits of his labor. But they come with the same certainty as the good fruit that ripens in the last days of summer. Should a drought strike, even the leaves of the heartiest tree whither without a steady flow of water, but the springs of water flowing from the Word of God never fail the blessed man. In good times and bad, he perseveres, not because he is some extraordinarily hearty soul, but because he is watered by the living waters of Jesus Christ! He is safely held by the almighty hand of a Shepherd who never loses his sheep. And like that tree planted by the river’s banks, the blessed man prospers in whatever he does. He may not prosper immediately. He may need patience while he awaits the harvest. But he will certainly prosper. For lasting blessings only come to those who walk in the Lord’s way of life.
We see a picture of the blessed man in God’s blessings on Abram in Genesis 11-25. There is a marked contrast between Abram and his nephew Lot. They both left the land of Ur for Canaan together. Eventually, they both accumulated sizeable amounts of livestock, and their servants began fighting over grazing land. Now, Abram delighted in the Law of the Lord, and as a righteous man should, gave his nephew Lot the opportunity to pick the prime land. Lot chose the fertile fields and the sinful company of Sodom. Abram turned towards the hills where he might serve the Lord and guide his people to peace. For a time, Lot seemed to prosper. The fertile fields and the business opportunities in Sodom were far superior. But his success was temporary. The story of Sodom is unforgettable. When the day came that God judged this wicked city, Lot lost almost everything he had except the clothes on his back and two daughters. Not to get even deeper into the details, but these daughters only multiplied his troubles, as Lot wound up homeless, living in a cave, and bringing two sons into the world through the wicked deeds of his own daughters. Such is the lot of those who choose passing pleasure, carnal company, and worldly wisdom. But what became of Abram? Yes, he went through many trials and many years wandering in the land, but eventually, God covenanted with him, gave him a son, Isaac, and a new name, Abraham. Abraham’s descendants inherited Canaan, and his Seed, Jesus Christ, has brought salvation and blessing to the ends of the earth. In Abram, we see the lasting blessings that come from walking in the Lord’s way of life.
So the question must now be asked: are you a blessed man? Do you seek the counsel and company of evil men, or do you delight in and meditate on the instruction of Yahweh? There are only two ways. You will either walk in righteousness, or you will walk in ungodliness. Many wish they could pick and choose their favorite blessings of the Lord’s way of life, and the passing pleasures of worldly wisdom and companionship. You simply cannot have it both ways. If you reject the narrow path of righteousness, you will remain on the broad path to destruction. Yes, there will be many to accompany you on that broad path, but their company will be little comfort in the eternal fires of hell. So repent of your sins, turn from your wicked ways, and trust in Jesus Christ. He alone can save you from your sins and guide you to walk in the way of life. Let us delight in the Law of the Lord, both the Law of the Old Testament and the Gospel of the New Testament. May we seek no other blessing than those that come in the paths of righteousness, knowing that these blessings are the only ones that last.
2. Ungodliness leads a man in the way of death (vv. 4-5).
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
The ungodly are not like that well-watered tree that bears timely fruit and never withers. The ungodly do not prosper forever. Despite the laments of Job and the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, the prosperity of the ungodly is temporary. After all, they do covet worldly wisdom and carnal company. They do not delight in the law of the Lord and spend their time meditating on it. In every mark of the blessed man, the ungodly are not so.
Their leaf surely does wither. They are like the chaff that the wind drives away. Chaff is not likely to present a familiar image to most of us. Chaff is the husks of winnowed grain which were burned, or left to blow away. When grains like wheat and barley are harvested the seed is surrounded by a husk that is worthless and must be discarded. In Bible times, the process of removing this husk was called threshing. This was done by beating, crushing, or trampling grain to separate the edible portions from the chaff. In modern times, combines do this work. This fall, if you drive through rural regions across America, you will see combines at work harvesting fields of grain. When you see the clouds of dust, think of this verse. “The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”
Like chaff, the best deeds of the ungodly – the wisdom they might claim, the riches they might accumulate, the pleasures they might enjoy – like chaff, these are all worthless, empty, and vain. So “the ungodly shall not stand in the day of judgment.” Though they may appear to thrive for a time, in some cases, their whole lives, their way does lead to eternal destruction. They shall not stand in the Day of Judgment. They will have no place in the congregation of the righteous, which will be revealed on the last day.
But there is also comfort on this side of eternity. The ungodly will be like chaff that the wind drives away even before they face their final judgment. Evil empires may stand for a time, but they always fall. The history of commercial enterprise is littered with stories of men who accumulated wealth and comfort by any means possible only to have their sons squander it and end up in poverty. A tyrant may seem to prosper all his days, but how many dynasties can you name that continued in such wickedness to the tenth generation? Even in this life, God judges wickedness. There are no lasting blessings for the ungodly.
Consider the example of wicked King Ahab (1 Kings 16-22). He rejected the law of the Lord and raised idols in his place. He took a pagan wife and adopted her god, Baal. He sought worldly wisdom and carnal pleasures. But, he twice defeated his mortal enemy, Syria in battle, regaining wealth and prestige for his nation, Israel. Yet God did not allow his sin to remain forever. He died of a random arrow in the field of battle, and God raised up Jehu to put an end to his family and their wicked ways. The ungodly are, indeed, like chaff blown away by the wind.
These verses only amplify the warnings to the ungodly we considered under the first point. Flee every wicked way. Reject the counsel of this world, the way of sin and death, and the company of evil men. If you continue in sin, you will be like the clouds of dust in the harvest. You will not stand in the Day of Judgment. You will have no part in the congregation of the righteous in the resurrection. Salvation and refuge in that day will be in Christ alone. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. It is also important for those of us who are in Christ to consider what we may learn from these verses. All of us are tempted at times to seek worldly wisdom and carnal company. Consider the end of these ways. Flee those temptations. The best counsel and comforts the world, the flesh, and the devil might offer are weak crutches that will splinter under us. Seek healing and strength in the Lord’s way of life. Delight in and meditate on the Scriptures, and you will find all you need and far more in Jesus Christ. Let us also warn others of the eternal destruction that awaits the wicked. May we be encouraged as we remember that God does not allow evil to perpetually increase in this world. The nation or family that chooses the way of death will ultimately die. Unrighteousness leads a man in the way of death, but we may find our lasting blessings in the Lord’s way of life.
3. The Lord knows our ways, and will judge rightly (v. 6).
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Under this third point, we find the resolution to the conflict we see all around us. It is simply this: the Lord knows. Yes, the wicked may appear to thrive for a time, but it will not last. He will reap what he sows. Yes, the godly may suffer for a time, but their faithfulness will be eternally rewarded. Beyond that, The Lord knows their way, here and now. Often, future generations reap the faithfulness of the man who sowed in tears. Just as often, the family, tribe, or nation that gives itself over to wickedness, perishes within a few generations.
The Scriptures have much to say about the knowledge of the Lord. In 2 Timothy 2:19, we see the solid foundation of the true Gospel is sealed by the truth that “the Lord knows those who are His.” In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep. Sinners are saved only because they are known by the Savior! Saints are preserved, only because they are known by Jesus! They may be certain they will have eternal life because no one can snatch them out of Jesus’ hand. Numerous passages in the Old Testament speak of the knowledge of the Lord. In Nahum 1:7 we read that the Lord “knows those who trust in Him.” In Psalm 142, David recounts the comfort found in the Lord’s knowledge of the path he walked. Though Saul intended to kill him, David knew that there was refuge and comfort in the Lord, since the Lord knows the way of the righteous. In Psalm 139, David considers the knowledge of the Lord in every thought and action he took. Rather than producing anxiety, this provides great comfort to the righteous. For if the Lord knows, he certainly guides, protects, and preserves his people.
This concept of the knowledge of the Lord is more thoroughly developed in Psalm 37:18-24:
18 The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
So how does the Lord know the ways of the righteous? He knows their days and assures them of an eternal inheritance. He never promises an easy life or an escape from trouble, but in the evil time and days of famine, he sustains them in ways they could have never anticipated. They will never be ashamed of Christ, because he will never abandon them. The wicked, on the other hand, shall be blown away like smoke. Sure, smoke may linger for a time, it may be overwhelming for a time, but it always vanishes away. So shall the ungodly end. The righteous, those who live in the blessing of the Lord’s Law, shall inherit the earth, while the ungodly shall be cut off. The Lord orders the steps of the blessed man. The Lord delights in his way. Though he fall, his fall will be temporary, for eternal blessings are his! And this, the Lord guarantees by upholding this blessed man with his own hand!
Often, in the moment, we fail to see blessings that come as a result of righteousness, but God’s promises never fail. Sometimes we simply need to step back and look at the big picture of how God keeps his promises. Consider the life of John Wycliffe. He is often called “The Morning Star of the Reformation.” In the late 1300s, he confessed the authority of Scripture was greater than that of the Pope or church tradition. He labored with a few others to translate the Bible into English, and to oppose the corruption and abuses of the church. In his later years, he was often opposed by both church and civil authorities. When he died in 1384, England largely remained in spiritual darkness. In 1415, the Church declared Wycliffe a heretic, and called for the destruction of his writings, and the removal of his remains from the church cemetery. In 1428, his bones were dug up and burned. Did Wycliffe see the blessings of God in this life? Not nearly as much as we would expect based on a simplistic reading of Psalm 1. But we may be certain, he received his eternal reward. Beyond that, there certainly were blessings that followed from his faithfulness in the physical world. In the centuries that followed, England would lead the way in theological and spiritual renewal, and God blessed this nation abundantly. Those blessings spread far beyond that little island off the coast of Europe. Many of the blessings of liberty and prosperity that we still enjoy here in America trace their roots back to the theological developments of England in the centuries that followed the labor of John Wycliffe.
When we fail to see the harvest we desire, remember that our Lord knows. When we faithfully labor for decades and fail to see the fruit, remember, our Lord knows. When this verse seems to be reversed, never lose sight of eternity. The way of the ungodly will not stand in the day of judgment, but the way of the righteous cannot fail on that day. Also, never lose sight of the fruits of faithfulness in this life that may not be immediately visible. Stories like that of Wycliffe are incredibly common in history. Many have labored in faith for a lifetime, and seen very little fruit. But, brothers and sisters, God keeps his word. The harvest will come. The Lord knows. The Lord guides. The Lord upholds. The Lord guarantees the lasting blessings that come to those who walk in his way of life.
Conclusion
As we draw to a conclusion this morning, let us remember that the wicked only ever temporarily succeed. The righteous only ever temporarily fail. We must not expect immediate results from righteous living. Sometimes it takes generations for the seed sown with tears to be reaped with joy. There may be many promises of blessings to the righteous that we will not see fulfilled in this life. Let us not lose heart in trying times. Our God will keep his word, even if we do not live to see him do so. But there is also a life beyond the grave. There is a final judgment. And our God knows our deeds. Though the wicked prosper for a time, his end is the fires of hell. We should not envy his fleeting pleasures or his temporary successes. But as for the righteous, our God knows our deeds. Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows us, saves us, and guides us in the way of life, both now, and eternally. Eternal blessings await those who walk in our Lord’s way of life.
