THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Psalm 1:1-6
1 How 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 scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the
law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be
like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit
in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he
prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the
wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the
way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
We read
about the council of the ungodly, and the ungodly will not be standing
at the day of judgment.
Then it is quite amazing to
think about who it was that entered the scene and showed to be the ones
this Psalm talks about - when Jesus revealed Himself in Israel as the
only purest and holiest - it was those who
in the peoples eyes - and also their own - seemed to take really serious
and actually did what we read about in this Psalm as the way to
beatitude; namely to have their delight in the law of the LORD, And in
His law meditate day and night.”
(v.2). The chief priest and the Pharisees, the oldest in the
congregation of Israel and those who sat in the high council.
Those were the ungodly! But because of the spiritual
darkness people live in and without any light from above, it is
impossible to unveil this. Those kind of people are known as pious and
holy above all to this day. But when “the true Light which enlightens
every man, came into the world,” (John
1:9), the truth was revealed.
Jesus and the self righteous spirit does not go together. They
contradict like darkness and light, fire and water! And you know that
darkness and light cannot fill a room at the same time. The one pushes
the other out. Have you ever experienced what happens if you take
something glowing hot against water, there will simply be like an
explosion.
That is exactly how the meetings between Jesus and these people
developed.
Jesus sais this about those who strive with the law: “Did not Moses give
you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law?”
(John 7:19).
No one of you! Not one! They can therefore
not be called the law doers, and especially not fulfillers
of the law. These people, then and now, strive with the law. It
is what they are and do, that is taken as strive or not strive.
The goal is to win God’s blessing and therefore salvation for your own
soul, by something of your own! This is always the sign. It is either
something a person is trying to achieve on his own, believing that it is
still something good and godly in the human being itself, or by God’s
help develop this goodness in him, or that God lays down something in a
person which God allows.
The last one of these roads that will lead us astray, is probably
the one who is closest to us or the one easiest to be led by.
That which will be a blessing and a salvation for us, is already
long ago been fulfilled on the heavenly altar, before we could even
think about good or evil, or anything at all, it is a tricky thought for
us. But that is how it is, so does the Word testify!
“How 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
scoffers! ” (v.1).
Yes, it is true. This also
speaks of those who sin against the law.
Wordly people who do not care about anything concerning His Kingdom.
Just, mocking and despises it. We see this happen every day, - but we
must not forget that these are also those who mock the Gospel!
This is dangerous to forget, because you can soon let yourself be
impressed by visible godfear, which might as well be from man itself,
and even worse, the devil! (2 Cor.
11:15).
Listen to what happened at the foot of the cross: “In the same way
the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were
mocking Him.“ (Matt.27:41).
“In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were
mocking Him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot
save Himself.” (Mark 15:31).
“And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let
Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”
(Luk. 23:35).
Is there any doubt where any of these belong? No - they belong
at home in the council of the ungodly, in the way of sinners,
sitting in the seat of the scornful.
The antichristian forces are highly active, where nobody would
naturally think that they are. You have to have eyes to see with, to
discover it.
How about you, are you mocking Jesus? You would probably back off
with getting a question like this and responding: “No, for goodness
sake! Him I will praise and exalt!” No, you probably will not mock like
these did. But, are you mocking Jesus by counting or adding something of
your own next to Him
Jesus sais in an accusation: “If I do not do the works of My Father,
do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me,
believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the
Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”
(John10:37-38).
To reject or to underestimate Jesus works, is the
same as to reject and underestimate Him! We will understand what it
means to reject and underestimate His works, when it clearly sais that
His works were a substitution.
It is not possible to
understand this Psalm clearly or any other scripture of God clearly
either, without Jesus restive works revealed to you
What does it mean when the Psalmist sais: “For
the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will
perish.” (v.6). Jesus has
already told you that clearly: “I
am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father
but through Me.(John
14:6).
Here you have the way of the righteous! He knows you who cling to
Jesus, you who have all your comfort in Him and His works! You who say:
“My salvation I do not know, without you the lamb of God, only in your
righteousness is all my shame hidden!”
And you know where all shame and guilt is hidden, you will
find a completely righteous man. But this shame and guilt has not been
hidden by you being better or righteous, but only by His
righteousness. which is given unto you!
Now you see
who the promises in this Psalm is about. Who is like a tree, planted by
running creek, who gives their fruit in due season and its leaves do not
wither. Who wants happiness in all that he does? It is you who do
not know in your need no other way then the Way to Jesus Christ, and Him
alone! Have faith and receive what is being preached
Look also to those who is standing outside the faith in Jesus!
Nothing will be left standing!
E.K.
Holy Bible New American Standard Version
Translator:Benedicte Holtan Smart |
