Please explain Psalm 1:1. What does it mean to be blessed? What does it mean to be ungodly? Who are the sinners? What is the difference between the ungodly and the sinner?
Psalm 1:1 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It says, “Psalms 1:1, “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.” Notice in this verse that we have three actions: walk, stand, and sit. We also have three groups of people: ungodly, sinners, scornful.
First, let’s look at what it means to be blessed. Simply put, it means to be happy. In fact, this Hebrew word ‘esher’ is translated “HAPPY” 18 times in the Old Testament. For example, Proverbs 3:13 says, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” It is the same word as being blessed. In the New Testament in the Beatitudes, the Lord speaks of those who are blessed. (Matthew 5:3-11). That Greek word, ‘makarios’, also means to be happy.
So, Psalm 1:1 says “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…” To ‘walk’ gives the idea of how one behaves. 3 John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” This is speaking of one behaving according to the truth of the Word of God. In this instance, the ‘ungodly’ man is simply one who does not have God in his life. SO, we will be happy if we do not follow the advice (council) of unsaved people, especially if they try to advise us in spiritual matters.
“…nor standeth in the way of sinners.” This goes beyond walking, here one has stood still. Perhaps he has stopped to consider more the ‘way (path) of sinners’. Perhaps he has stopped walking to enjoy the company of sinners and join in their behavior. In this instance, the ‘sinners’ are those who not only do no good, they do evil. They are actively involved in wicked behavior. SO, we will be happy if we do not follow the advice of the ungodly or stand in the path where sinners travel.
“…nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” This is worse than walking or standing, this is ‘sitting’ or becoming comfortable in the “seat of the scornful.” In this instance, the ‘scornful’ are those who not only do no good, or do evil things, they go so far as to scorn, mock, or ridicule, those who are godly and eschew evil. SO, we will be happy if we do not follow the advice of the ungodly, or stand in the path where sinners travel, or sit in the seat of those who ridicule believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 1:1, we learn where not to walk, or stand, or sit. We may then ask: where should I walk, stand, or sit? The scripture is not silent on this.
WALK – Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”
STAND – Galatians 5:1, “STAND fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
SIT – Ephesians 2:5-6, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us SIT together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (332.2)