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BLESSED IS THE GODLY MAN (PSALM 1)
The craziest thing happened in Hong Kong on Christmas Eve, 2014. A security van and spilled 35 million Hong Kong dollars or US$4.5 million into the eight lanes highway near the city’s financial district, but nearly $2 million was missing. Pedestrians and motorists got into a mad scramble for the 500-dollar and 1000-dollar bills from the van. A said, “There were 20 or 30 people picking up cash from the road on Christmas Eve. They looked like school kids who knew they were being naughty, but thought: “This is once in a lifetime thing.’ Everyone had the same look on their face.”
With media’s support police arrested a 43-year-old businessman and a 36-year-old cosmetologist and a 23-year-old man in Ap Lei Chau. The police Chief Inspector said, “We found the money stored under the bed at their homes. Police also arrested By some account, an estimated HKD6.3 million had been handed in the day after Christmas by 38 different people, with one person reportedly handed in HKD2 million.
Forward two months later at about 9.45 p.m. another interesting episode played out in Tai Po when a mentally ill man threw 49 HK$1,000 notes out of a flat in the building. This time, however, no one was seen picking up the money. Instead people only stood beside the banknotes, taking photographs. Onlookers watch in amazement before police officers arrive to investigate.
“Don't pick 'em up!” one witness was heard shouting as a reminder.
One onlooker later placed the money in a paper box, ready for the police. Others picked up notes, scrubbing them as if to check they were real, then put them back on the ground.
The first psalm in the Psalmist collection is one of the most popular Psalms in the Bible. It has the characteristics of a poem and is rich in imageries, parallelism, repetitions, contrast of two things and progression of three things. Most of all it is a song of praise to the Lord and the introduction of the Psalms in its entirety. Most obvious is contrast between the godly and the ungodly people’s character, their choices and consequences.
Would you consider yourself to be lucky finders of money or unlucky not to be there on Christmas Eve? Would you retain or return the money if you have the chance? What kind of a person are you? How does it govern your choices? Why does your relationship with the Lord matter?
Sin Has No Advantage
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
An elderly man was driving his Buick down the freeway when his cell phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, “Hubby, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on 280. Please be careful!”
“It's not just one car,” said Herman. “It's hundreds of them!”
Many people do not know they are going the wrong way, many do not feel so, and worse, many more do not care.
The term “blessed” is a popular Psalmist expression. A majority, 26 of its 45 Hebrew expressions, are found in the Psalms, five of which is placed as the first Hebrew word of the chapter (Ps 1:1, 32:1, 41:1, 119:1, 128:1), a stylish literary device and title heading not employed in other books.
The blessedness of Psalm 1 is more preventive and less passive. It is both activity and attitude, within and without. Surprisingly, the word “blessed” in Psalm 1:1 is not a verb or a noun, but an interjection like “Aha!”
It implies the disposition we have, direction we take and the decision we make. People are wicked, sinners and mockers from the causes they know, the choices they make and the consequences upon others.
Walk Sit Stand
Sojourn with Others Supported by them Share with them
Socialize with them Shaped by them Surrounded by them
Mobility Merge Mindset
Go Stop Rest
Path Place Partnership
The three verbs walk, stand and sit (dwell) are all introduced by the “not” negation in Hebrew - not walk, not stand, and not sit. The first verb is not to sojourn with others, the second is not to support with them, and the third is not to share with others. We are not to socialize with them, shaped by them or surrounded with them. In movement wise, the first depiction “walk” is the mobility, the second “stand” is to merge, and the third “sit” is the mindset. Another way to put it is to go, stop and rest, or start, stop and stay; not to be in the same path, place or platform or partnership with them.
The noun “in step” (v 1) is the “talk,” traditionally translated as counsel (Deut 32:28), advice (2 Chron 10:14) or purpose (Ezra 4:5). The second – the way - is the “track” and the third “in company” is the “team,” translated as dwelling ( Gen 10:30), habitations (Gen 36:43) and assembly (Ps 107:32). One is pedestrian, the other is pausing and the last is permanent. The last (“in company”) is more than an assembly, it is an abode or dwelling (yashab).
Why? The ungodly is mentioned four times in the chapter (vv 1, 4, 5, 6). They are the transgressors, tyrants, terrorists, tricksters and troublemakers or tempters. The six characteristics of the ungodly in the psalms are: persecute the poor (Ps 10:2), (2) persecute the righteous (Ps 11:2), deny God (Ps 10:4), (4) disobey His word (Ps 115:93), (5) boastful (Ps 10:3) and (6) deceitful (Ps 109:2). The mocker (v 1) is more than an action, it is a lifestyle. It is sometimes translated as interpreter (Gen 42:23), ambassadors (2 Chron 32:31), derision (Ps 119:51), mocker (Prov 20:1), teachers (Isa 43:27), scorners (Prov 1:22). It is a school of thought, a fixed mindset, an understanding of things. Without God, there is no sin, no Savior and no judgment.
Verse two begins with a reason “ki” in Hebrew or “for” in English. The reason that the Psalmist is guided by the law of the Lord. The delight (v 2) is desire (2 Sam 23:5), pleasure (Job 21:21), willingly (Prov 31:13) and acceptable (Eccl 12:10). The key verb is meditate, which means utter (Job 27:4), imagine (Ps 2:1), speak (Ps 35:28), talk (Ps 71:24), study (Prov 15:28), mutter (Isa 8:19), mourn (Isa 16:7), roaring (Isa 31:4). Mediation does not refer to inhaling, chanting or introspection, but devotion to God’s word, digging into God’s word, digesting it for yourself, and deepening your relationship with Him. Fill with God’s word, not free from God’s word.
The important things is the verb “planted,” which will result in verse three has two that’s, The four important verbs in verse 3 is planted, yield (productive), (not) wither and prospers. Planted is source, yield is seasonal, prosper is success. It is before, during and after. The planting is by rivers (plural) of water (plural). The verb plant is introduced to the Bible. It implies being grounded. The leaf is more than leaf, it includes branches. People want results rather than roots, but the Bible stresses the foundation before the fruit. Wither means fade (2 Sam 22:46), cometh to nought (Job 14:18) and falling (Isa 34:4). Prosper means mightily (Judg 14:6), profitable (Jer 13:7), good (Jer 13:10), break out (Amos 5:6).
Sin Has No Assurance
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. (Psalm 1:4)
The ungodly or wicked refers to the first instance (v 1). The verb “blows away” is translated as thrusteth him down (Job 32:13), driven away (P s 68:2) or tossed to and fro (Prov 21:6). It means to be cut, cleared and cast out. What is chaff? I like eating peanuts except for one part, the husks. Chaff is the dry, scaly protective casings or husks of the seeds of cereal grain or grass. Chaff (singular) are the husks of corn or other seed separated that are removed by beating, winnowing or threshing. It is good for nothing but to be thrown away, tossed out, and turned away. It is synonymous for things that are worthless, weightless and waste – dirt, debris and dross.
The process of loosening the chaff from the grain so as to remove it is called threshing – traditionally done by milling or pounding. Separating remaining loose chaff from the grain is called winnowing – traditionally done by repeatedly tossing the grain up into a light wind which gradually blows the lighter chaff away. This method typically utilizes a broad, plate-shaped basket or similar receptacle to hold and collect the winnowed grain as it falls back down. (Wikipedia)
Ornithologists commonly measure birds' feathers as a proportion of total body weight. According to Cobb-Vantress, a 5-pound broiler chicken's feathers weigh about 74 grams or 2.6 ounces, or 3.3 percent of its body weight. Since that chicken has some 9,000 feathers, each one weighs about 0.0082 grams (0.00028925 ounces.). (Ask.com)
The verb “blow away” (v 4) is translated as shaken ( Lev 26:36), driven (Job 13:25), thrust him down (Job 32:13), tossed to and fro (Prov 21:6), specifically, on top of wind blown away, is likened to a leaf driven to and fro (Job 13:25), smoke is driven away (Ps 68:2) and river objects be driven away (Isa 19:7). Spring and winter is the best time to see leaves float and flutter, dive and dip, to the condition and course of the wind. It brings a new meaning to the phrase “blowing in the wind.” In Ma Wan island, where I live, leaves shiver, shake, shudder and sway to the wind, never still, static or silent. Sometimes they even sing.
Sin Has No Authority
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:5-6)
What are people busy with in USA in April and May in Hong Kong? It is tax season. A staff asked a few times , “Has the church come out with our tax statement yet?” There is a reason why people say death and taxes are unavoidable. I had to pay taxes in Hong Kong and USA, so I had to get my files ready. A friend who did our filing for 14 years abruptly resigned just last month, so we had to find a new one, which means more anxiety this year. My dear wife saw my determination his year and asked, “Why are you so organized this year?” I replied, “I put off what I can put off!”
In truth, God’s judgment is delayed and deferred, but designed and destined.
Stand (v 5) is translated as made sure (Gen 23:17), arose (Gen 24:10), perform (Gen 26:3), arose (Gen 24:10), life (Deut 22:4), succeed (Deut 25:6), remain (Josh 2:11), and continue (1 Sam 13:14). It means no ability to withstand, survive, sustain or struggle resist, bear, endure. The opposite is drop, fall or no support
No destruction is more powerful permanent and painful. Blessed is the first word in the psalm, but perish is the last, what a contrast.
There are two out of 10 psalms that end with “perish” as the last word, but both of them agree the same thing – the wicked will perish. Ps 112:10 says, “The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will “come to nothing” (NIV) or “perish” (KJV). Putting the verb “perish” as the last word in Psalms make the destiny of the wicked or ungodly definitive, drastic and dire.
Contrast wicked and righteous:
Ps 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Ps 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
Ps 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
Ps 58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Ps 75:10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Ps 125:3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
Ps 129:4 The Lord is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
The Ungodly The Godly
everlasting fire (Matt 25:41), everlasting punishment (Matt 25:46),
eternal damnation (Mark 3:29), everlasting destruction (2 Thess 1:9)
eternal judgment (Heb 6:2). eternal life (Mark 10:30), everlasting habitations (Luke 16:9),
eternal in the heavens (2 Cor 5:1),
everlasting consolation (2 Thess 2:16),
eternal glory (2 Tim 2:10), eternal salvation (Heb 5:9), eternal redemption (Heb 9:12), eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15), everlasting covenant (Heb 13:20),
everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:11)
In other words, the wicked have no good death, happy ending or endgame, but eternal death, endless dying and evermore damnation for them. They won’t end well, won’t end on a good note, a high note or a positive note. Three words await them: bad, sad and dread. Their fate is everlasting fire (Matt 25:41), everlasting punishment (Matt 25:46), eternal damnation (Mark 3:29), everlasting destruction (2 Thess 1:9) and eternal judgment (Heb 6:2), rather than eternal life (Mark 10:30), everlasting habitations (Luke 16:9), everlasting consolation (2 Thess 2:16), eternal glory (2 Tim 2:10), eternal salvation (Heb 5:9), eternal redemption (Heb 9:12), eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15), everlasting covenant (Heb 13:20), everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:11) for the godly!
Conclusion: The ungodly man’s greatest adversary is with God, not men. He is already judged, but the sentence is yet to be carried out. In His judgment and punishment there is no escape, no excuse and no endurance. Are you led by His commands, the spirt and your conscience in your attitude and behavior and choices before others?
