Many are familiar with the opening words of Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.” But sadly, the 3 things that this verse famously promises blessing for, are just what many — even Christian — people do NOT do:
— “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked” Too many of us are indeed listening to the advice and counsel of the world, instead of the word of God. Where are you getting the input for your life’s direction; for the next decision you have to make?
— “nor stand in the path of sinners” If sin was judged today like it was in Sodom, many Christians would be consumed in the punishment, because they are standing right there in the path of sinners, doing the same things!
— “nor sit in the seat of scoffers” – this is in fact where too many of us dwell: we sit and scoff, and criticize. We criticize the world, and the government, and the church, and our relatives, our neighbors — who is safe from the scoffers’ aim? Many of us would have to admit there is a chair with our name on it in “Scoffers Row.”
The sad thing is, we are missing the blessing of God as a result, for Psalm 1:1 clearly teaches that the man who is blessed does NOT do these things!
