Psalm 1 Question

Godly Life Essentials

V1. What is the counsel of the wicked? What is the way of sinners? What is the seat of scoffers? Can you provide some examples from modern life?

Taking "counsel" means seeking advice. The counsel of the wicked doesn't merely refer to an apparently "wicked" person but encompasses anything that is not godly. Such advice can come from anywhere, for example, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, and various other sources. Social media includes a vast amount of worldly and ungodly information. This information may lead you astray or gradually influence your mindset without you even realizing it. It does this insidiously through videos, movies, popular songs, and advertisements. I'm not suggesting you completely abandon social media, but it's essential not to spend too much time on it. Unsubscribe from any ungodly content, and don't seek entertainment on social media, as it can be a trap set by the wicked. They also provide their advice!

"Standing in the way of sinners" refers to engaging in sinful behavior and adopting a sinful lifestyle. This includes cursing, excessive drinking, and becoming addicted to video games. A sinful lifestyle doesn't always involve doing bad things; it can also mean living in an ungodly manner. Many worldly individuals live this way, including many Christians. Wasting your life in pursuit of worldly pleasures is sinful. If the purpose of your life is not to glorify God, then you are, in essence, standing in the way of sinners.

"Sitting in the seat of scoffers" refers to associating with bad company (those who scoff and have no fear of God). "Sitting" here means "associating" or "remaining with." We all encounter negative influences in our lives, but godly people maintain fellowship with other godly individuals. Ungodly people often associate with scoffers. Christians are called to be separate from the world and avoid fellowship with scoffers. When you enter a new school or class, be cautious about who you become close to. While you may still work with them on your studies or group projects, avoid imitating their ungodly behavior. You can always share the gospel with them, but if they persist in refusing it and continue with an ungodly lifestyle, it's best to distance yourself from them.

V2. What is the law of God? Is it merely a set of rules? Why should we meditate on the Law of the LORD every day?

Generally, when people think about "law," they easily recall the rules of the law. Moses gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments and the law. However, the term "the Law of God" truly refers to "teaching, instruction, or guidance." The Law of God doesn't just encompass the laws of Moses but the entire message of Bible. It has a much broader sense; the Law of God is meant to guide believers' souls, not just their behavior.

From verse 1, it's evident that the wicked seek counsel from evil, and their guidance is driven by the lust of their flesh or the desires of their human nature. However, godly believers don't trust in themselves, nor do they seek advice from a purely human perspective. Instead, they eagerly seek counsel in the Word of God, and their minds dwell in the Word of God, which is the source of their godly life. Every behavior is simply a reflection of the inner mind. If someone's mind is consumed by wicked thoughts, their lifestyle will reflect that wickedness.

English Standard Version (Proverbs Chapter 23)

7  for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.

But the godly ones allow their minds to dwell in the Word of God. They meditate on it every day and night, recognizing that meditation is a process of studying. It's not just about hearing the Word of God but also delving into it through study. Without the practice of meditating on the Word, we may not understand the Word of God, let alone obey the Word. Meditation on God's Word helps us apply it to every aspect of our lives. We hear the Word, we study the Word, and we obey the Word. Consequently, godly behavior is manifested from our godly minds.

V3. Can you imagine the picture of a flourishing tree? What are the characteristics of the tree? V4-6, what is chaff? What is the difference between the end of the wicked and the righteous?

The main character of such a tree is vibrant life, strong and firm compared to grass or chaff. Such a tree has a long-term life, and its roots are extremely large, so much so that even storms or floods cannot destroy it. This is a picture of godly individuals who depend on God and will never be ashamed on the Day of the Lord. Furthermore, God plants and nourishes this tree with His mighty hand. It is God who plants them by the stream. Those who love God's Word and walk in His truth will be preserved and taken care of by God. They will lack nothing to their benefit(even though they may face trials, it is also for their benefit). They are blessed and will find true meaning and happiness in this life. Moreover, they will inherit the kingdom of God in the future and never be separated from their Lord.

However, the chaff is light and worthless. In the "OpeningUp Commentary," it is described as:

Opening Up Psalms The Wretchedness of the Ungodly Person (vv. 4–6)

The psalmist’s mention of chaff takes us back to the farming techniques of that time. The farmer would place the wheat he had harvested on a stone threshing floor and drive his oxen around it so that their hooves would separate the grain from the husks. He would then use a kind of fork or shovel to pitch the grain and the chaff in the air. The grain would fall to the floor to be preserved and the chaff would be blown away.

The wicked seek pleasure in this life and may enjoy their fleshly desires for a short time. God may be patient with them, waiting for that they may turn away from evil one day. However, if they persist in accumulating their evil deeds, there will be a day of vengeance.

On the day of judgment, the Lord will separate the godly from the ungodly. He will usher the godly into the eternal Kingdom of God and cast the wicked into the lake of fire, where they will burn forever as punishment for their sins.

Life is like a vapor, suddenly disappearing. The wicked seek to fulfill their fleshly desires, finding temporary pleasure for a few hours. However, their entire lives are filled with fear and conflict. They must be wary of others seeking revenge, and they live in suspicion of everyone, trusting no one. They betray others and are also betrayed themselves, never finding peace in their hearts. Nevertheless, the suffering they endure in this life is much easier than what awaits them in hell.

Additional Question about Scripture

Why does the scripture is so important for Christians?(John 17:17)

Throughout the long history of the Church, one of the most significant and enduring battles has been about truth, particularly centered around the Scripture. Many godly martyrs have given their lives for the sake of truth. For example, William Tyndale, who worked tirelessly to translate the Scripture into the English language so that every Englishman could read it for themselves, paid the ultimate price. He was burned at the stake by the Catholic Church for translating the Holy Scripture. However, his work continued through others, and later, a significant portion of the King James Version (KJV) is based on his translations.

Why does the devil hate a scripture translator? Why is the devil so afraid of allowing people to read and understand the scripture? Jesus has given the answer a long time ago.

We all know the saints need to be sanctified by the holy Spirit, and we must have a godly life, this is the result of God’s good work on us. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

All churches know that we need the work of the Holy Spirit, but not all know throught what the Spirit accomplishes this work . Many believers proclaim that they only need the Spirit to fill them up, instead of studying the scripture; this is a terrible mistake. A believer will not be sanctified by the Holy Spirit without the truth. Just as Lord said:

John 17:17 LSB

“Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

The Holy Spirit is also referred to as 'the Spirit of truth' (John 14:17, John 15:26, John 16:13). The Spirit sanctifies us through the truth, and what is written in the Scripture is the truth. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a hyper feeling, but the love of truth and a desire to obey God's commandments, and furthermore, He empowers us to walk in the truth. This concept has been neglected by the majority of churches today. They deny the authority of the Scripture, and the result is that they will not be sanctified by the Spirit. They become really weak and ungodly in their spiritual life and are unable to bear fruits for the LORD.

That is why truth does matter. Many martyrs were willing to die for translating the Scripture because souls cannot be saved without faith in Christ. Without faithful preachers or the reading of Scripture, people can never know the way of salvation. Even if people know Christ, they cannot be sanctified by the Spirit without truth. A true Christian understands the priceless of Scripture; they would rather sacrifice everything than lose it.