Set aside the common perception on the Book of Psalms as mere sources of comfort when facing challenges with your friends.
(By
the way, first read Psalm 1 in your Bible to be able to follow the flow of this
article.)
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The
first Psalm, like the rest of scripture, transcends our daily interactions; it
illustrates the great controversy between good and evil—the forces of Jesus versus
those of the devil in a real-life struggle.
The
psalm presents two opposing groups in the world: the righteous and the ungodly,
which includes sinners and the scornful in one bandwagon. (Verse 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.”
The
psalm makes it clear that there is a group referred to as the “ungodly,” who
create ideas (counsel) and spread them among people, forming a bandwagon of the
ungodly.
Those
who follow the guidance of the ungodly are labeled as sinners and scornful.
The
other group, mentioned right at the start, is the “Blessed.” This group is also
identified as the righteous in verse five and acts in stark contrast to the
bandwagon of the ungodly.
The
psalmist explains that what distinguishes the Blessed from the sinners and the
scornful is their love for spending time in the word of God, referred to as the
law of the LORD. The psalmist states:
“But
his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and
night”, verse two say.
This
verse suggests that while the Blessed find joy in the law of the LORD, the
sinners and the scornful occupy themselves with superficial distractions, such
as television series, films, and government advice disseminated through the
news or the prevailing “follow-the-science” mentality.
Recall
the reason the Athenians failed to recognize God in Acts 17? They “spent their
time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing”, according
to Acts 17:21.
This
reflects the situation of the sinners mentioned in Psalm 1. While the Blessed
delights in following God (even if they do not understand everything), the
others are preoccupied with the distractions set before them by the ungodly.
The
psalm illustrates the blessings bestowed by the Lord on those who find joy in
His word and reject the deceptive ideas of the ungodly. It describes a state
akin to the Garden of Eden, representing the restoration of God's beauty within
oneself.
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.”
In
contrast, the psalm warns of the ungodly, sinners, and scornful individuals who
follow the crowd, comparing them to chaff that is blown away by the wind,
ultimately facing judgment and eternal destruction.
“The
ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the
congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:
but the way of the ungodly shall perish,” declares verses four to six.
The
Prophet Jeremiah echoes this sentiment regarding those who heed the advice of
mere mortals. As mentioned earlier, figures such as your government, professor,
or boss, who claim to influence your life, are simply people or groups of
people.
“Cursed
be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the LORD,” Jeremiah 17:5 warns.
While
some may interpret this as merely trusting friends and neighbors, it extends
far beyond to trusting governments, pharmaceutical companies, and technological
devices.
The
Prophet Jeremiah also contrasts those who follow man with those who follow the
Lord in Psalms 1.
To
those who heed the counsel of men, he states: “For he shall be like the heath
in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the
parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited,” Jeremiah
17:6.
Conversely,
to those who delight in the law of the Lord, he says: “For he shall be as a
tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and
shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be
careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit,”
Jeremiah 17:8.
Conclusion:
We
are living in a world where governments and corporations have collaborated with
entities such as the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the blessing
of their priest in the Vatican, to impose decisions on individuals regarding
every aspect of life, from personal health to the fundamental right of
citizenship.
Where
is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly?
.....................
Faith
Reporters,
Faith ReportersThe
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