| FEATURE ARTICLE |
| LESSON ONE: BLESSED IS THE MAN! |
| From the Commentary on the Psalms By Matt Ravenhouk |
Psalm 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.
2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3: And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his
season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4: The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5: Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the
righteous.
6: For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
This Psalm is pure dynamite in a very small package. This Psalm contains the key to prospering in every area of life. Nobody wants to be
cursed by God: We all want to be blessed, and this is the key to securing God's blessings.
It begins with a very powerful three-fold statement:
(1) The man who would be blessed by God must never under any circumstances take the advice of an ungodly person, no matter how
highly esteemed or powerful that person may be. Which brings up the question of who are the ungodly? The ungodly are those who refuse
to follow Jesus Christ, and accept him as Lord of their lives. Many books abound that were written by famous philosophers, from the
ancients Plato and Aristotle, to the present day pundits of a multitude of philosophies which run the gamut from politics, sociology, and
psychology, to financial investment and self-improvement techniques, and even religious advice by the likes of such widely recognized
people as Norman Vincent Peale, and Robert Schuller. Indeed, the theater (And we use that term purposely) of modern day Christianity
abounds with those who pass themselves off as angels of light, but are really pundits of perfidy.
There are the usual gang of Pentecostal/Charismatic Bozos which flourish in the courts of Trinity Broadcasting Network, licking the boots
of perverts and charlatans such as Paul Crouch, Oral Roberts, Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes, Crefloe A. Dollar, and Freddy K. Price; and then
there the Lone Rangers such as Robert Tilton, Bishop Earl Paulk, and Ted Haggard. All of them are ungodly men who seek only to gain
financial wealth, and social prestige. Their god is their belly; they mind earthly things; their glory is their shame; and they are in fact,
enemies of the Cross of Christ.
How can the reader know? Just examine their fruits. Check out their lifestyles. Are they living in lavish splendor from the donations of their
sycophantic followers? Are they adulterers, whoremongers, or homosexuals? Are they secretive and dishonest in their financial
accountability? Are they preaching a Gospel that is different than that taught in the pages of Scripture, and do they offer esoteric
"interpretations" of God's Word? If the answer to any of the above is yes, then they are ungodly, and their advice must be rejected out of
hand.
The secular pundits are obviously off-limits to the believer who desires God's blessings. Why take the advice, or imitate the lifestyle of an
atheist, an agnostic, or a pagan? The greatest advice ever given to man can be found in the pages of the Bible: It is God's written Word,
and all of the advice given in any of the other books of the Bible can be found in the Psalms.
(2) The man who would be blessed by God must never "stand in the way of sinners." What business does a man of God have going to
night clubs and bars, where filthy conversation, lust, and blasphemous music pervade the atmosphere, and whoredom is in the uppermost
minds of the patrons of those cesspools? It has nothing at all to do with drinking a couple of beers, or a cocktail, or downing a shot of good
whiskey. God is not going to send you to hell because you downed a shot of Old Grandad, and chased it with a Heineken. It is the act of
immersing one's self in the ambience of what is essentially a meeting place for whores and the men who seek them. And besides all of
that, there is a definite difference between "drink," and "drunk." As the apostle Paul stated, "Moderation in all things" is the key: Not
excess.
King Solomon had something to say on this issue, which we would be well to heed.
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who
hath redness of eyes?
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things." (Proverbs 23:29-33)
From the phrases "go to seek mixed wine," and "Thine eyes shall behold (stare at) strange women," it is obvious that Solomon wasn't
talking about having a couple of beers at home, but in a tavern, or inn. Christians are not to stand in the way of sinners. That same
injunction applies to sporting events, the theater, or the movies. What has advancing a bag of pigskin 100 yards down a field, or watching
a group of chorus boys prance around a stage, or observing Angelina Jolie hump Brad Pitt have to do with the Kingdom of God?
Please note that when you watch someone commit fornication, and look on in interest, you are giving your tacit approval to that conduct.
You become a participant in that sin. Do not stand in the way of sinners.
(3) The one who would be blessed by God must not sit in the seat of the scornful. Ever. When you sit on the School Board, or join the PTA,
you are giving approval to that which God sees as an abomination. The children are not to be sent to Public School for indoctrination, but
are to be raised by their parents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). When you participate in that system, you are
sitting in the seat of the scornful.
The same thing applies to joining political parties, secret and non-secretive fraternal organizations, so-called civic-minded associations.
They are all abominations to God. The arrogant, high-minded jerks that inhabit those organizations believe that they, rather than God,
know what is best for humanity. When you sit in the seat of the scornful, you become scornful in the eyes of God. There are a multitude of
Scripture Passages which condemn associations, organizations, and political parties. We do not have the space to go into all of them
now, but here's two for your consideration:
"Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." (Proverbs
11:21)
"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."
(Proverbs 16:5)
In verse 2 of our text, we are told that the one who would be blessed by God should delight himself in the Word of God, and God's Word
should be on his mind day and night. Christians ought to love and enjoy the Word of God, for it is health to thy navel, and marrow to thy
bones (Proverbs 3:8). The one who would be blessed ought to meditate on God's Word day and night, and apply his precepts to his
everyday life.
In verse 3 we are told that the one who delights in God's Word will flourish as a well-watered tree, and never dry up. He will bear fruit at
the proper time, and not only that, but every thing he does will prosper.
In verses 4 through 6, we are told that the ungodly are nothing but dry chaff, tossed about and carried away by every wind of change. At
the judgment seat of Christ, before which all must appear, those who did what was right in their own eyes, and disregarded God's Word
shall not stand. They will be found guilty, and condemned to an eternity of wallowing in regret, tormented by the sins of their misspent life,
never to receive the blessings of God. Theirs is an eternity of utter hopelessness. As long as one is alive, he can always cry out in sincerity
to God for mercy and forgiveness, and God will respond in the affirmative. God will deliver the one who repents, not only in the life to come,
but in this one too. But once the spirit passes to the other side, there is no more opportunity for repentance; no more opportunity to receive
mercy; and no hope for any existence other than an eternity of utter despair.
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the
kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13:28)
The ungodly will not stand in the judgment, nor will they partake of the eternal blessings of the congregation of the righteous.
In verse 6, we are told that God knows the way of the righteous. He watches over them in every step they take through life. He guides
them, and delivers them from all evil. He knows everything that goes on in their lives. But the way of the ungodly shall perish. The wages
of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23
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.
2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3: And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his
season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4: The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5: Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the
righteous.
6: For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
This Psalm is pure dynamite in a very small package. This Psalm contains the key to prospering in every area of life. Nobody wants to be
cursed by God: We all want to be blessed, and this is the key to securing God's blessings.
It begins with a very powerful three-fold statement:
(1) The man who would be blessed by God must never under any circumstances take the advice of an ungodly person, no matter how
highly esteemed or powerful that person may be. Which brings up the question of who are the ungodly? The ungodly are those who refuse
to follow Jesus Christ, and accept him as Lord of their lives. Many books abound that were written by famous philosophers, from the
ancients Plato and Aristotle, to the present day pundits of a multitude of philosophies which run the gamut from politics, sociology, and
psychology, to financial investment and self-improvement techniques, and even religious advice by the likes of such widely recognized
people as Norman Vincent Peale, and Robert Schuller. Indeed, the theater (And we use that term purposely) of modern day Christianity
abounds with those who pass themselves off as angels of light, but are really pundits of perfidy.
There are the usual gang of Pentecostal/Charismatic Bozos which flourish in the courts of Trinity Broadcasting Network, licking the boots
of perverts and charlatans such as Paul Crouch, Oral Roberts, Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes, Crefloe A. Dollar, and Freddy K. Price; and then
there the Lone Rangers such as Robert Tilton, Bishop Earl Paulk, and Ted Haggard. All of them are ungodly men who seek only to gain
financial wealth, and social prestige. Their god is their belly; they mind earthly things; their glory is their shame; and they are in fact,
enemies of the Cross of Christ.
How can the reader know? Just examine their fruits. Check out their lifestyles. Are they living in lavish splendor from the donations of their
sycophantic followers? Are they adulterers, whoremongers, or homosexuals? Are they secretive and dishonest in their financial
accountability? Are they preaching a Gospel that is different than that taught in the pages of Scripture, and do they offer esoteric
"interpretations" of God's Word? If the answer to any of the above is yes, then they are ungodly, and their advice must be rejected out of
hand.
The secular pundits are obviously off-limits to the believer who desires God's blessings. Why take the advice, or imitate the lifestyle of an
atheist, an agnostic, or a pagan? The greatest advice ever given to man can be found in the pages of the Bible: It is God's written Word,
and all of the advice given in any of the other books of the Bible can be found in the Psalms.
(2) The man who would be blessed by God must never "stand in the way of sinners." What business does a man of God have going to
night clubs and bars, where filthy conversation, lust, and blasphemous music pervade the atmosphere, and whoredom is in the uppermost
minds of the patrons of those cesspools? It has nothing at all to do with drinking a couple of beers, or a cocktail, or downing a shot of good
whiskey. God is not going to send you to hell because you downed a shot of Old Grandad, and chased it with a Heineken. It is the act of
immersing one's self in the ambience of what is essentially a meeting place for whores and the men who seek them. And besides all of
that, there is a definite difference between "drink," and "drunk." As the apostle Paul stated, "Moderation in all things" is the key: Not
excess.
King Solomon had something to say on this issue, which we would be well to heed.
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who
hath redness of eyes?
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things." (Proverbs 23:29-33)
From the phrases "go to seek mixed wine," and "Thine eyes shall behold (stare at) strange women," it is obvious that Solomon wasn't
talking about having a couple of beers at home, but in a tavern, or inn. Christians are not to stand in the way of sinners. That same
injunction applies to sporting events, the theater, or the movies. What has advancing a bag of pigskin 100 yards down a field, or watching
a group of chorus boys prance around a stage, or observing Angelina Jolie hump Brad Pitt have to do with the Kingdom of God?
Please note that when you watch someone commit fornication, and look on in interest, you are giving your tacit approval to that conduct.
You become a participant in that sin. Do not stand in the way of sinners.
(3) The one who would be blessed by God must not sit in the seat of the scornful. Ever. When you sit on the School Board, or join the PTA,
you are giving approval to that which God sees as an abomination. The children are not to be sent to Public School for indoctrination, but
are to be raised by their parents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). When you participate in that system, you are
sitting in the seat of the scornful.
The same thing applies to joining political parties, secret and non-secretive fraternal organizations, so-called civic-minded associations.
They are all abominations to God. The arrogant, high-minded jerks that inhabit those organizations believe that they, rather than God,
know what is best for humanity. When you sit in the seat of the scornful, you become scornful in the eyes of God. There are a multitude of
Scripture Passages which condemn associations, organizations, and political parties. We do not have the space to go into all of them
now, but here's two for your consideration:
"Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." (Proverbs
11:21)
"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."
(Proverbs 16:5)
In verse 2 of our text, we are told that the one who would be blessed by God should delight himself in the Word of God, and God's Word
should be on his mind day and night. Christians ought to love and enjoy the Word of God, for it is health to thy navel, and marrow to thy
bones (Proverbs 3:8). The one who would be blessed ought to meditate on God's Word day and night, and apply his precepts to his
everyday life.
In verse 3 we are told that the one who delights in God's Word will flourish as a well-watered tree, and never dry up. He will bear fruit at
the proper time, and not only that, but every thing he does will prosper.
In verses 4 through 6, we are told that the ungodly are nothing but dry chaff, tossed about and carried away by every wind of change. At
the judgment seat of Christ, before which all must appear, those who did what was right in their own eyes, and disregarded God's Word
shall not stand. They will be found guilty, and condemned to an eternity of wallowing in regret, tormented by the sins of their misspent life,
never to receive the blessings of God. Theirs is an eternity of utter hopelessness. As long as one is alive, he can always cry out in sincerity
to God for mercy and forgiveness, and God will respond in the affirmative. God will deliver the one who repents, not only in the life to come,
but in this one too. But once the spirit passes to the other side, there is no more opportunity for repentance; no more opportunity to receive
mercy; and no hope for any existence other than an eternity of utter despair.
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the
kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13:28)
The ungodly will not stand in the judgment, nor will they partake of the eternal blessings of the congregation of the righteous.
In verse 6, we are told that God knows the way of the righteous. He watches over them in every step they take through life. He guides
them, and delivers them from all evil. He knows everything that goes on in their lives. But the way of the ungodly shall perish. The wages
of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23
