Psalm 1:5-6
Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners
in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way
of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
If I delight in God's law and meditate on His Word, I am blessed. I will become strong, like a tree planted by streams of water, able to withstand the toughest of storms that blow my way. (Ps 1:2-3) This does not mean that all difficulties will be easy to handle, but I can rest in God and His promises knowing He is still in control and nothing happens to me that He doesn't allow for my molding and shaping.
In contrast, the psalmist notes that I need to stay away from the counsel of the wicked. I am not to imitate them. (Ps. 1:1) The wicked will not be able to stand in the day of judgement no matter how much good they think they did to compensate for their wickedness. They will have no place among the godly. They may be able to "hide" among the righteous while living on this earth, but eventually their true heart will come to light. I don't want to be part of that crowd on Judgement Day. The chaff will be separated from the wheat; the wicked separated from the righteous. In the end the wicked will experience an eternal death. Without Christ's shed blood on the cross, I'd be counted among the wicked, but praise be to God, I am covered with Christ's righteousness! Because of God's gift, I can be counted among the righteous and experience eternal life instead of eternal death.
The psalm ends with "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." The Lord knows my path; He guides and directs me in the way I should go. John 10:14, "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me." 1 Corinthians 8:3, "But whoever loves God is known by God." I'm so thankful for God's leading and guidance in my life. His
ways are perfect. (Psalm 18:30) My ways are flawed. On the contrary, God does not watch over the ways of the wicked. They follow their own paths instead, and their way leads to destruction. It's interesting to note that this psalm begins with the word "Blessed" and ends with the word "perish," indicating the contrasts shown in this psalm.
The righteous: delight in God's law, meditate on God's Word, become strong like a tree with deep roots near the water, the Lord watches over their path
The wicked: blow this way and that in the wind like the chaff, draw upon their own strength which doesn't stand in tough times, will not stand in the judgement, follow their own path which leads to destruction
I don't know about you, but I like the picture that is painted of the righteous much better than the picture of the wicked.
Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners
in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way
of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
If I delight in God's law and meditate on His Word, I am blessed. I will become strong, like a tree planted by streams of water, able to withstand the toughest of storms that blow my way. (Ps 1:2-3) This does not mean that all difficulties will be easy to handle, but I can rest in God and His promises knowing He is still in control and nothing happens to me that He doesn't allow for my molding and shaping.
In contrast, the psalmist notes that I need to stay away from the counsel of the wicked. I am not to imitate them. (Ps. 1:1) The wicked will not be able to stand in the day of judgement no matter how much good they think they did to compensate for their wickedness. They will have no place among the godly. They may be able to "hide" among the righteous while living on this earth, but eventually their true heart will come to light. I don't want to be part of that crowd on Judgement Day. The chaff will be separated from the wheat; the wicked separated from the righteous. In the end the wicked will experience an eternal death. Without Christ's shed blood on the cross, I'd be counted among the wicked, but praise be to God, I am covered with Christ's righteousness! Because of God's gift, I can be counted among the righteous and experience eternal life instead of eternal death.
The psalm ends with "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." The Lord knows my path; He guides and directs me in the way I should go. John 10:14, "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me." 1 Corinthians 8:3, "But whoever loves God is known by God." I'm so thankful for God's leading and guidance in my life. His
ways are perfect. (Psalm 18:30) My ways are flawed. On the contrary, God does not watch over the ways of the wicked. They follow their own paths instead, and their way leads to destruction. It's interesting to note that this psalm begins with the word "Blessed" and ends with the word "perish," indicating the contrasts shown in this psalm.
The righteous: delight in God's law, meditate on God's Word, become strong like a tree with deep roots near the water, the Lord watches over their path
The wicked: blow this way and that in the wind like the chaff, draw upon their own strength which doesn't stand in tough times, will not stand in the judgement, follow their own path which leads to destruction
I don't know about you, but I like the picture that is painted of the righteous much better than the picture of the wicked.
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