Please explain Psalm 1:1-2.
Let’s read those verses. Psalm 1:1-2 says, “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. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” The word ‘blessed’ is the same as the word ‘happy’. While many people, even Christians, are looking for the key to happiness, these verses give us instruction that will lead us to happiness.
Three actions are mentioned here: walking, standing, and sitting.
Three types of people are mentioned here: ungodly, sinners, and scornful.
As believers, we will be happy if we do not walk, or live, according to the advice of the ungodly, or unsaved people. Where should we look for counsel? We look into the Word of God! Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” We also seek the Godly counsel of fellow believers. Proverbs 11:14 says “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.” When Godly counsel points us in the direction of the scriptures, we follow it and find happiness there.
Next, we are warned against standing in the way of sinners. The walk now turns into standing. This indicates the action of becoming still and acting according to the principles of sinners. ‘Sinners’ is used here to denote more than people who are not saved. These people are actively living in obvious sin. Solomon would later write in Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” For the believer, we cannot find happiness if we are following the ways of those who love sin. Micah 3:2 warns us against those, “Who hate the good, and love the evil…”
Finally, we are warned against sitting in the seat of the scornful. In these declining actions and persons, standing becomes sitting. This speaks of becoming relaxed, at home, and joining in with the scornful. The scornful are of greater evil that the ungodly or the sinners. These are people who actively mock the Lord and His truths. These are people who move against the Lord and His people. Speaking of mockers, the Lord Jesus revealed a truth concerning Himself and His crucifixion in Luke 18:32, “For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on.” These are men of hatred for the Lord, His truths, His ways, and His people. How dishonoring to think that some of the Lord’s people would try to be a part of them by joining in their shameful activities.
In contrast to all these things, we learn in verse 2 that happiness is found when we delight ourselves in the principles of God’s Word; when we spend time in thought and meditation on His Word; when we value His word as Job said in Job 23:12, “…I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” True happiness cannot be found in the world. All the world has to offer is fleeting pleasures that lead to destruction. Psalm 37:4 tells us to, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” When we truly find our delight in the Lord, the desires of our hearts change. We begin to desire the things that please and honor the Lord. When we do that, the Lord promises to “give thee the desires of thine heart.” (168.9)