The Benefits of Adoration (Continued)
"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," (Psalm 1:1). This opening verse of the Psalms introduces the entire book and presents a stark contrast between two types of people recognized by God, each with distinct life principles.
The Godly vs. The Ungodly
The godly are characterized by righteousness, love, obedience to God's word, and separation from fellowship with the world (vv. 1-2). The ungodly represent the ways and counsel of the world; they do not abide in God's word, are cynical about God, and mock what is holy. Consequently, they have no part in the assembly of God's people (vv. 4-5).
Those who delight in God and His word have a root system that draws life from God and prospers. The ungodly are like chaff blown away by the winds of God's judgments; they have no part in God's kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9) and will perish (v. 6). This separation between these two kinds of people will exist throughout redemptive history and into eternity.
Walking in Righteousness
Psalm 1:1 emphasizes the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The righteous can be distinguished by their lifestyle and associations (v. 1) and by the things in which they delight (v. 2). No person can experience God's blessing without turning from harmful or destructive associations (v. 1) to become rooted and established in God's word (v. 2). Only then are they "like a tree planted by the rivers of water" (v. 3).
Delighting in God's Law
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). You can learn how to follow God by meditating on His Word. Meditating means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself how you should change so that you will live as God wants you to live. Knowing and meditating on God's word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what He says.
This "law of the Lord" refers to all of Scripture: the first five books of Moses, the Prophets, and the other writings. The more we know of the whole scope of God's word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily decisions. "His delight is in the law." Those who are blessed by God not only turn from evil but also build their lives around the instruction of the Lord.
