Shalom,

Today we want to begin to look at Psalm 1. Here is the entire Psalm:

Ps 1:1-6 (KJV)
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.

The first half of this Psalm talks about the blessings of the person who chooses to do things God's way and the last half tells about those who do not. Verse 1 starts with "Blessed", the Hebrew word, 'esher, which means: blessed, happy, happiness, is the man that "walketh", the Hebrew word, halak, which means: to walk, to live, to move, to proceed, have manner of life, NOT "in the counsel of", the Hebrew word, 'etsah, which means: counsel, advice, purpose, "the ungodly", the Hebrew word, rasha', which means: morally wrong, an actively bad person, a guilty one, a wicked man, one that did wrong, nor, "standeth", the Hebrew word, 'amad, which means: to stand, to remain, to take one's stand, to become a servant to, to stop moving or doing, to delay, to continue, "in the way of", the Hebrew word, derek, which means: a road trodden, a course of life, a mode of action, sinners, nor "sitteth", the Hebrew word, yashab, which means: to dwell, to remain, to abide, to have one's abode, "in the seat of", the Hebrew word, mowshab, which means: an assembly, a dwelling place, "the scornful", the Hebrew word, luwts, which means: to scorn, to talk arrogantly, to boast, to mock, to deride. Remember that the person is blessed who does NOT do these things! The next verse tells us what we SHOULD do instead.

"But" is the two Hebrew words, kiy & 'im, which together mean: but rather, instead, "his delight", the Hebrew word, chephets, which means: pleasure, desire, a valuable thing, purpose, longing, is "in the law of", the Hebrew word, towrah, which means: a precept or statute, the law, instruction, of the LORD (Jehovah) and in this law "doth he meditate", the Hebrew word, hagah, which we have lookd at before. It means: to murmur, to ponder, to imagine, to speak, to study, to talk, to utter, day and night. That's all of the time! If the Bible is telling us to do something, God has given us the ability to carry it out! Let's look at these two verses in the Amplified Bible:

Ps 1:1-2 (Amplified)
1BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

I really like how the Amplified Bible reads in these verses. It is very clear what we are not supposed to be doing. Don't spend time around these types of people, whether they are believers or unbelievers! You can share the Good News of the Gospel with them, but you and I should NOT be spending time continually in the presence of these people. Instead, we should be doing what the second verse says, spending time in God's Word, in prayer, praise and worship, and in fellowship with the Lord and with like-minded believers! Verse 3 will tell us what the results of obeying this commandment are!

We'll continue with verse 3 in our next post. In the meantime, keep meditating on these verses until you get a Holy Spirit revelation of how you can obey this command! What adjustments do you need to make in your own individual life so that you can walk in verse 3? Make them! You'll be so glad you did!

Shalom in Him!