Psalm 1:1 (GW)
1 Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers.
Last time around we talked about being blessed. Over the past week or so have you found that true happiness or true joy? It can only be found in Christ and that relationship with Him. This time around I want us to look at seeking counsel. Who do you go to when seeking wisdom? What advice do you get when you get there? Do you seek the advice of several or just one person? Let’s see what this verse is all about.
What I would like to do as we get start this time around is to look at some definitions of words in this verse. So be a little patient with me as we lay some groundwork. This verse starts out by saying the blessing comes to us when we don’t seek the counsel of wicked people. Actually it says follow. In the original Hebrew the word is walk and is translated as go. It refers to our natural activity or movement. It applies to our behavior in daily life. Counsel generally means advice or guidance. However, it sometimes refers to purposes, plans or schemes. And Ungodly is usually translated as wicked. It is the opposite of righteous, and speaks of a person who is guilty of wrongdoing and stands condemned before God. The root word means loose, and refers to those who have loosed themselves from God and have fallen into evil. In this context it is accurately understood as people who have cast off the restraints of God’s Word. They have chosen to live according to their own sinful purposes rather than God’s righteous commands.
So let’s put this together for a moment. It seems quite simple if you break it all down and look at it separately. If your daily routine is to seek advice or guidance from someone who has walked away from God’s plans you are headed for some trouble. Their counsel more than likely has their own plan or their own purpose behind what they are telling you to do. As you go on in this verse you see that the Psalmist is counseling you not to take the path of sinners. According to Scripture, there are two ways that exist in life: the way of righteousness that leads to life and the way of wickedness that leads to death and ends in destruction. There is no middle road. (Matthew 7:13-14).
In choosing that path you are walking the way of sinners. This refers to those who are guilty before God because they disobey God. They miss the mark defined in God’s Word. This individual rebelliously lives outside of God’s limits and willfully sins against God. This path of disobedience to God’s commands is the way of those who do not have a relationship with Him. Its end is death. Romans 6:23 (GW) 23 The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord. If you chose this life you do now know lasting joy. You will not know lasting satisfaction. You will not know lasting contentment. There is no way that you can experience a deep-seated and lasting peace that God alone can give. Instead your experience is a continuous flow of unsettling conflict with others. As a result your life is plagued with guilt because of sin and hurt that you bring to those who love you.
There is only one solution to this. It is not drugs, alcohol or numbing substances. It is not another relationship or something from Wal-Mart. The only solution for this lonely, guilt-ridden life is Jesus Christ. Let me encourage you to stop looking to the world for happiness, for true joy because it can’t give it to you. Only Jesus can give it to you. That’s why He came, that’s why He died on the cross, that’s why He rose again, was to give you life and give it more abundantly. John 10:10 (GW) 10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.” The enemy will try his best to take everything that you have including all your joy. But Christ has come that you might have life. Will you this day turn to Him and give you life to Him? He is waiting to restore your joy and give you new life!!! If you would like to talk with someone about this relationship, please feel free to email me, call the church office, or come to worship service and pull me aside and I would be more than glad to talk with you about a new life in Jesus Christ.
Next time around we will start digging into v. 2. Until then live a happy and blessed life. Enjoy all that the Lord has given you.
Pastor Rob
