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Psalm One

Psalm 1

Chapter Contents

The holiness and happiness of a godly man. (1-3) The sinfulness and misery of a wicked man The ground and reason of both. (4-6)

Commentary on Psalm 1:1-3

(Read Psalm 1:1-3)

To meditate in God's word is to discourse with ourselves concerning the great things contained in it with close application of mind and fixedness of thought. We must have constant regard to the word of God as the rule of our actions and the spring of our comforts; and have it in our thoughts night and day. For this purpose no time is amiss.

Commentary on Psalm 1:4-6

(Read Psalm 1:4-6)

The ungodly are the reverse of the righteous both in character and condition. The ungodly are not so ver. 4; they are led by the counsel of the wicked in the way of sinners to the seat of the scornful; they have no delight in the law of God; they bring forth no fruit but what is evil. The righteous are like useful fruitful trees: the ungodly are like the chaff which the wind drives away: the dust which the owner of the floor desires to have driven away as not being of any use. They are of no worth in God's account how highly soever they may value themselves. They are easily driven to and fro by every wind of temptation. The chaff may be for a while among the wheat but He is coming whose fan is in his hand and who will thoroughly purge his floor. Those that by their own sin and folly make themselves as chaff will be found so before the whirlwind and fire of Divine wrath. The doom of the ungodly is fixed but whenever the sinner becomes sensible of this guilt and misery he may be admitted into the company of the righteous by Christ the living way and become in Christ a new creature. He has new desires new pleasures hopes fears sorrows companions and employments. His thoughts words and actions are changed. He enters on a new state and bears a new character. Behold all things are become new by Divine grace which changes his soul into the image of the Redeemer. How different the character and end of the ungodly!

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Psalms》

Psalm 1

Verse 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.

Blessed — The Hebrew words are very emphatical: O the blessedness of that man! Counsel - That doth not lead his life according to their counsel or manner of living.

Standeth — Which notes a more settled abode in it.

Way — In their manner of conversation.

Seat — Which notes a constant and resolved perseverance in their wicked courses.

Scornful — Of those who make a mock of sin and scoff at goodness and goodmen. Divers observe a gradation in this verse; the following clause still exceeding the former for standing is more than walking and sitting more than standing; and sinners in scripture use are worse than the ungodly and the scornful are the worst of sinners.

Verse 2

[2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Day and night — Not seldom and slightly but diligently and constantly.

Verse 3

[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.

Whither — His happiness is not short and transitory but like those trees which are continually green and flourishing.

Verse 4

[4] The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Ungodly — Their condition is far different.

Chaff — They are restless and unquiet: their seeming felicity hath no firm foundation but quickly vanishes and flees away as chaff before the wind.

Verse 5

[5] Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Not stand — Not endure the trial.

Judgment — In the great and general judgment of the world.

Verse 6

[6] For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Knoweth — He approves loves and delights in them and therefore will recompence them.

Perish — All their designs and courses shall come to nothing and they shall perish with them.

── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Psalms》

 
Psalm 1 - The Truly Happy Man
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM
 
1) To examine the blessedness of the righteous
in stark contrast to
 the desperation of the wicked
 
2) To note both the negative and positive elements that lead to the
 truly happy life
 
3) To note four examples of parallelism that are indicative of Hebrew
 poetry
 
SUMMARY
 
The first psalm
didactic in style
serves as an appropriate preface to
the entire collection of psalms. Its theme can be described as "The
Truly Happy Man" as it depicts the blessedness
or happiness
of the
righteous man in contrast to the wicked.
 
The blessedness of the righteous man is described first from a negative
perspective
in what he will not do. With the aid of stair-like
progressive parallelism
the truly happy man is depicted as not
allowing himself to be in the presence or under the influence of the
wicked. Instead
he finds delight in meditating day and night on the
law of the Lord. His blessedness is pictured as a healthy
fruitful
tree
nourished by rivers of water. Whatever he does
he prospers (1-
3).
 
The wicked
in stark contrast
are not so blessed. They are like chaff
driven by the wind. In the judgment
they shall not be able to stand. 
Nor shall they be blessed to be in the congregation of the righteous
(4-5).
 
The psalm ends with a contrast between the two "ways." The way of the
righteous is known (blessed
providentially cared for) by the Lord.
The way of the ungodly shall perish
like a trail leading into a swamp
that eventually disappears (6).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN (1:1-3)
 
 A. HIS CHARACTER (1-2)
 1. Described from a negative point of view
 a. Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly 
 b. Nor stands in the path of sinners - Pro 4:14-15
 c. Nor sits in the seat of the scornful - Psa 26:4-5
 2. Described from a positive perspective
 a. His delight is in the law of the Lord - Psa 40:8; 119: 
  47
48; Jer 15:16
 b. In God's law he meditates day and night - Psa 119:97-99
 
 B. HIS PROSPERITY (3)
 1. Like a tree planted by rivers of water - Psa 92:12-15; Jer 17: 
 7-8
 a. That brings forth fruit in its season
 b. Whose leaf shall not wither
 2. Whatever he does shall prosper - Josh 1:7-8
 
II. THE DESPERATION OF THE WICKED (1:4-5)
 
 A. NOTHING LIKE THE RIGHTEOUS (4)
 1. The ungodly are not so (lit.
"Not so
are the ungodly!")
 2. They are like the chaff which the wind drives away - Job 21:
 17-18
 
 B. THEIR SORRY END (5)
 1. The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment
 2. The sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the 
 righteous
 
III. A FINAL CONTRAST BETWEEN THEIR TWO WAYS (1:6)
 
 A. THE LORD KNOWS THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS (6a)
 
 B. THE WAY OF THE UNGODLY SHALL PERISH (6b)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM
 
1) What are the main points of this psalm?
 - The blessedness of the righteous man (1-3)
  - The desperation of the wicked (4-5)
 - A final contrast between their two ways (6)
 
2) What is the theme of this psalm?
 - The truly happy man
 
3) What is the style of this psalm?
 - Didactic
i.e.
designed to teach or instruct
 
4) What does the blessed man not do
as described in this psalm? (1)
 - Does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly
 - Does not stand in the path of sinners
 - Does not sit in the seat of the scornful
 
5) What example of parallelism
or thought rhyme
do we find in verse
 one?
 - Stair-like progressive parallelism
 
6) What is the source of delight for the one who is blessed? (2)
 - The law of the Lord
 
7) What does the blessed man do to experience such delight? (2)
 - Meditates in the law of the Lord day and night
 
8) What example of parallelism
or thought rhyme
do we find in verse
 two?
 - Synonymous parallelism
 
9) What will such a blessed person be like? (3)
 - A tree planted by rivers of water
 - That brings forth fruit in its season
and whose leaf shall not
 wither
 
10) What example of parallelism
or thought rhyme
do we find in verse
 three?
 - Synthetic parallelism
 
11) What else is said about this blessed man? (3)
 - Whatever he does shall prosper
 
12) What are the ungodly like? (4)
 - The chaff driven away by the wind
 
13) What will not happen to the ungodly and sinners? (5)
 - They shall not stand in the judgment
 - They shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous
 
14) How are the righteous and the wicked contrasted at the end of this
 psalm? (6)
 - The Lord knows the way of the righteous
 - The way of the wicked shall perish
 
15) What example of parallelism
or thought rhyme
do we find in verse
 six?
 - Antithetical parallelism
 
"THE TRULY HAPPY MAN"
 
 Psalms 1:1-6
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Wherein lies the key to true happiness?
 a. We live in a time where boredom
depression and other forms of
 unhappiness are rampant
 b. Is there some basic principle which determines success in finding
 happiness?
 
2. The Book of Psalms with its very first psalm shares with us a key
 principle that can ensure true happiness...
 a. Notice the very first word of the first psalm - "Blessed..."
 1) The word in Hebrew denotes the idea of "happiness"
 2) The actual force of the Hebrew could be translated "O how very
 happy is the man..."
 b. Therefore this psalm describes "The Truly Happy Man"
 
3. In this lesson
we shall...
 a. Take a close look at the first psalm
 b. Seek to glean the principles necessary for one to truly be happy
 
[The psalm itself can be divided into three sections. The first section
describes...]
 
I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN
 
 A. WE ARE TOLD OF HIS CHARACTER (1-2)
 1. Described first from a NEGATIVE point of view - Psa 1:1
 a. There is value in negative commands or statements
 1) For so much that destroys happiness is the fruit of 
 sinful activity
 2) We ought to appreciate the value of negative commands
 a) They keep us from going astray
 b) They protect from harm and misery
 -- Like restraining walls along a cliff
they keep us
 from getting hurt
 b. Therefore it is said that the truly happy man:
 1) "Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly"
 a) He does not take their counsel as to how to live
 b) He does not follow the advice of those who are sinful
 2) "Nor stands in the path of sinners"
 a) He does not linger where sinners are known to go
 b) For the temptation to go with them would be great
 3) "Nor sits in the seat of the scornful"
 a) He does not join himself with those who ridicule and
 mock those trying to do right
 b) Which sinners often do to fortify their conduct and
 defend their actions
 c. Notice the example of Hebrew poetry in this verse
  1) Hebrew poetry stressed "thought rhyme" rather than "word
 rhyme"
 a) Where the thoughts are somehow related rather than
 just the words
 b) Such thought rhyme was often expressed in various
 forms of "parallelism" (e.g.
synonymous
1:2;
 antithetical
1:6)
 3) Here we find an example of "progressive parallelism"
 (walk
stand
sit)
 d. This verse may be taken to describe the journey one takes
 into sin...
 1) First
one going along with a crowd
 2) Then
taking a stand with the crowd
 3) Finally
reaching a point where sinning is not enough

 mockery is added
 2. His character from a POSITIVE perspective - Psa 1:2
 a. "His delight is in the law of the Lord"
 1) The source of his joy and happiness is the Word of God!
 2) It is truly his "delight" - cf. Psa 119:16
24
35
47
70

  77
92
174; Jer 15:16-17
 3) He preferred it over the counsel of the ungodly!
 b. Therefore
"in His law he meditates day and night"
 1) The word meditate means to "moan
hum
utter
speak

 muse"
  a) The picture is one of a man reading and re-reading
 half aloud to himself
 b) Another word might be "ponder"
 2) This he does with God's word "day and night"
 a) Not implying a monk-like existence
 b) But a concerted interest which goes beyond a casual
 acquaintance
 3) What it means is that this is something...
 a) He does habitually
 b) He takes time to do - setting apart portions of each
 day
 c) He does both day and night
 
 B. WE ARE TOLD OF HIS PROSPERITY (3)
 1. "He shall be like a tree"
 a. This figure of speech is often used in Scripture to 
 describe the righteous - e.g.
Psa 92:12-15; Jer 17:5-8
 b. It had special significance to those living in arid 
 climates (like Palestine)
 2. "Planted by rivers of water"
 a. A picture describing a person whose life is rooted in God's
  word
 b. From which one receives constant nourishment
 3. "That brings forth fruit in its season"
 a. Depicting a life which yields something worthwhile
 b. Providing blessings to himself and others
 4. "Whose leaf also shall not wither"
 a. A tree with roots near a river is not likely to be affected
 in times of drought
 b. So adverse conditions do not affect the fruitfulness of one
 whose strength comes from God's word!
 5. "Whatever he does shall prosper"
 a. The figure of the tree is now left behind
 b. This is a general rule
exceptions may occur for reasons
 which only God knows
 c. But a life of piety will generally be blessed by prosperity
 1) For piety will heed God's directions for success in life
 2) And piety will heed God's warnings concerning things
 that waste life
 
[Such is the character and prosperity of the righteous man; he is truly
happy and a blessing to others because he abides in the Word of God. He
also becomes a monument to God's faithfulness and the value of living
by His word.
 
What of those who do not delight in the Word of God
who do not receive
the nourishment found in it? In the next two verses we are shown...]
 
II. THE CONDITION OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS
 
 A. THEY ARE NOTHING LIKE THE RIGHTEOUS (4)
 1. The phrase "The ungodly are not so" is more emphatic in the
 Hebrew
 a. Literally
"Not so
are the ungodly!"
  b. Emphasizing that the wicked are not like the righteous
 2. The contrast as illustrated by the Psalmist
 a. He does not even describe them as withering trees
 1) But rather as "chaff which the wind drives away"
 2) Alluding to chaff blown away from wheat as it is tossed
 into the air
 d. The illustration describes a bleak existence
 1) Their life is one of futility (ending in eternal
 separation from God)
 2) Their life is no substantial value
either to be blown
 away and not found
or to be burned (cf. Mt 3:12)
 
 B. THEIR SORRY CONDITION PORTENDS NO GOOD END (5)
 1. "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment"
 a. I understand this may be a Hebraism (Hebrew idiom)
 1) Meaning that the wicked "shall not be able to maintain
 himself"
 2) I.e.
obliged to sit or fall down in shame when 
 convicted of their guilt
 b. The Final Judgment appears to be under consideration
 2. "Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous"
 a. I.e.
in all places where the righteous are assembled
they
 will have no place:
 1) E.g.
where they assemble to worship God
 2) E.g.
where they meet as His friends
 3) E.g.
where they together participate in His favor
 b. But especially
in the last day
when the righteous...
 1) ...shall be gathered together to receive their reward
 2) ...shall be assembled together in heaven
 ...the sinner has no place!
 
[The psalm concerning "The Truly Happy Man" ends with...]
 
III. A FINAL CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO "WAYS"
 
 A. THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS (6a)
 1. The Lord "knows" the way of the righteous
 2. The word "knows" suggests interest in
and care for
the
 person known
 -- One could say: "God himself goes with such a person throughout
 his or her life"
 
 B. THE WAY OF THE UNGODLY (6b)
 1. The way of the ungodly person "shall perish"
 2. I.e.
shall tend toward ruin
 -- His path becomes less defined until it loses itself (like a
 trail that leads into a swamp)
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Is not the end described for the ungodly a true description of those
 who go through life bored
depressed
or otherwise unhappy?
 a. Their lives are listless
 b. With no sense of purpose or direction
gradually unraveling
 
2. Why is this so? Because they...
 a. Heed the counsel of the ungodly!
 b. Do not meditate upon the Word of the Lord!
 
3. If we desire to be "The Truly Happy Man"...
 a. Standing strong like well-nourished tree
bearing fruit at all
 times
 b. With the Lord always at our side
 -- Then the key is to delight and meditate in the Word of the Lord

 and not heed the counsel of sinners!
 
In whose counsel do you delight? That found in God's word
or that 
provided by the ungodly in this world? If you seek true happiness
let
the Lord be your counselor
and His word your guide!

－－《Executable Outlines》

Psalm 1

Exposition
Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings
Hints to the Village Preacher
Other Works

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TITLE. This Psalm may be regarded as THE PREFACE PSALM having in it a notification of the contents of the entire Book. It is the psalmists's desire to teach us the way to blessedness and to warn us of the sure destruction of sinners. This then is the matter of the first Psalm which may be looked upon in some respects as the text upon which the whole of the Psalms make up a divine sermon.

DIVISION. This Psalm consists of two parts: in the first (from verse 1 to the end of the 3rd) David sets out wherein the felicity and blessedness of a godly man consisteth what his exercises are and what blessings he shall receive from the Lord. In the second part (from verse 4 to the end) he contrasts the state and character of the ungodly reveals the future and describes in telling language his ultimate doom.

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EXPOSITION

Verse 1. "BLESSED"—see how this Book of Psalms opens with a benediction even as did the famous Sermon of our Lord upon the Mount! The word translated "blessed" is a very expressive one. The original word is plural and it is a controverted matter whether it is an adjective or a substantive. Hence we may learn the multiplicity of the blessings which shall rest upon the man whom God hath justified and the perfection and greatness of the blessedness he shall enjoy. We might read it "Oh the blessednesses!" and we may well regard it (as Ainsworth does) as a joyful acclamation of the gracious man's felicity. May the like benediction rest on us!
Here the gracious man is described both negatively (verse 1) and positively (verse 2). He is a man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. He takes wiser counsel and walks in the commandments of the Lord his God. To him the ways of piety are paths of peace and pleasantness. His footsteps are ordered by the Word of God and not by the cunning and wicked devices of carnal men. It is a rich sign of inward grace when the outward walk is changed and when ungodliness is put far from our actions. Note next he standeth not in the way of sinners. His company is of a choicer sort than it was. Although a sinner himself he is now a blood-washed sinner quickened by the Holy Spirit and renewed in heart. Standing by the rich grace of God in the congregation of the righteous he dares not herd with the multitude that do evil. Again it is said "nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." He finds no rest in the atheist's scoffings. Let others make a mock of sin of eternity of hell and heaven and of the Eternal God; this man has learned better philosophy than that of the infidel and has too much sense of God's presence to endure to hear His name blasphemed. The seat of the scorner may be very lofty but it is very near to the gate of hell; let us flee from it for it shall soon be empty and destruction shall swallow up the man who sits therein. Mark the gradation in the first verse:

 He walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly

 Nor standeth in the way of sinners

 Nor SITTETH in the SEAT of SCORNFUL.

When men are living in sin they go from bad to worse. At first they merely walk in the counsel of the careless and ungodly who forget God—the evil is rather practical than habitual—but after that they become habituated to evil and they stand in the way of open sinners who wilfully violate God's commandments; and if let alone they go one step further and become themselves pestilent teachers and tempters of others and thus they sit in the seat of the scornful. They have taken their degree in vice and as true Doctors of Damnation they are installed and are looked up to by others as Masters in Belial. But the blessed man the man to whom all the blessings of God belong can hold no communion with such characters as these. He keeps himself pure from these lepers; he puts away evil things from him as garments spotted by the flesh; he comes out from among the wicked and goes without the camp bearing the reproach of Christ. O for grace to be thus separate from sinners.
And now mark his positive character. "His delight is in the law of the Lord." He is not under the law as a curse and condemnation but he is in it and he delights to be in it as his rule of life; he delights moreover to meditate in it to read it by day and think upon it by night. He takes a text and carries it with him all day long; and in the night-watches when sleep forsakes his eyelids he museth upon the Word of God. In the day of his prosperity he sings psalms out of the Word of God and in the night of his affliction he comforts himself with promises out of the same book. "The law of the Lord" is the daily bread of the true believer. And yet in David's day how small was the volume of inspiration for they had scarcely anything save the first five books of Moses! How much more then should we prize the whole written Word which it is our privilege to have in all our houses! But alas what ill-treatment is given to this angel from heaven! We are not all Berean searchers of the Scriptures. How few among us can lay claim to the benediction of the text! Perhaps some of you can claim a sort of negative purity because you do not walk in the way of the ungodly; but let me ask you—Is your delight in the law of God? Do you study God's Word? Do you make it the man of your right hand—your best companion and hourly guide? If not this blessing belongeth not to you.

Verse 3. "And he shall be like a tree planted"—not a wild tree but "a tree planted " chosen considered as property cultivated and secured from the last terrible uprooting for "every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up:" Matthew 15:13. "By the rivers of water;" so that even if one river should fail he hath another. The rivers of pardon and the rivers of grace the rivers of the promise and the rivers of communion with Christ are never-failing sources of supply. He is "like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;" not unseasonable graces like untimely figs which are never full-flavored. But the man who delights in God's Word being taught by it bringeth forth patience in the time of suffering faith in the day of trial and holy joy in the hour of prosperity. Fruitfulness is an essential quality of a gracious man and that fruitfulness should be seasonable. "His leaf also shall not wither;" his faintest word shall be everlasting; his little deeds of love shall be had in remembrance. Not simply shall his fruit be preserved but his leaf also. He shall neither lose his beauty nor his fruitfulness. "And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Blessed is the man who hath such a promise as this. But we must not always estimate the fulfillment of a promise by our own eye-sight. How often my brethren if we judge by feeble sense may we come to the mournful conclusion of Jacob "All these things are against me!" For though we know our interest in the promise yet we are so tried and troubled that sight sees the very reverse of what that promise foretells. But to the eye of faith this word is sure and by it we perceive that our works are prospered even when everything seems to go against us. It is not outward prosperity which the Christian most desires and values; it is soul prosperity which he longs for. We often like Jehoshaphat make ships to go to Tarshish for gold but they are broken at Ezion-geber; but even here there is a true prospering for it is often for the soul's health that we would be poor bereaved and persecuted. Our worst things are often our best things. As there is a curse wrapped up in the wicked man's mercies so there is a blessing concealed in the righteous man's crosses losses and sorrows. The trials of the saint are a divine husbandry by which he grows and brings forth abundant fruit.

Verse 4. We have now come to the second head of the Psalm. In this verse the contrast of the ill estate of the wicked is employed to heighten the coloring of that fair and pleasant picture which precedes it. The more forcible translation of the Vulgate and of the Septuagint version is— "Not so the ungodly not so." And we are hereby to understand that whatever good thing is said of the righteous is not true in the case of the ungodly. Oh! how terrible is it to have a double negative put upon the promises! and yet this is just the condition of the ungodly. Mark the use of the term "ungodly " for as we have seen in the opening of the Psalm these are the beginners in evil and are the least offensive of sinners. Oh! if such is the sad state of those who quietly continue in their morality and neglect their God what must be the condition of open sinners and shameless infidels? The first sentence is a negative description of the ungodly and the second is the positive picture. Here is their character — "they are like chaff " intrinsically worthless dead unserviceable without substance and easily carried away. Here also mark their doom — "the wind driveth away;" death shall hurry them with its terrible blast into the fire in which they shall be utterly consumed.

Verse 5. They shall stand there to be judged but not to be acquitted. Fear shall lay hold upon them there; they shall not stand their ground; they shall flee away; they shall not stand in their own defence; for they shall blush and be covered with eternal contempt.
Well may the saints long for heaven for no evil men shall dwell there "nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." All our congregations upon earth are mixed. Every Church hath one devil in it. The tares grow in the same furrows as the wheat. There is no floor which is as yet thoroughly purged from chaff. Sinners mix with saints as dross mingles with gold. God's precious diamonds still lie in the same field with pebbles. Righteous Lots are this side heaven continually vexed by the men of Sodom. Let us rejoice then that in "the general assembly and church of the firstborn" above there shall by no means be admitted a single unrenewed soul. Sinners cannot live in heaven. They would be out of their element. Sooner could a fish live upon a tree than the wicked in Paradise. Heaven would be an intolerable hell to an impenitent man even if he could be allowed to enter; but such a privilege shall never be granted to the man who perseveres in his iniquities. May God grant that we may have a name and a place in his courts above!

Verse 6. Or as the Hebrew hath it yet more fully "The Lord is knowing the way of the righteous." He is constantly looking on their way and though it may be often in mist and darkness yet the Lord knoweth it. If it be in the clouds and tempest of affliction he understandeth it. He numbereth the hairs of our head; he will not suffer any evil to befall us. "He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10.) "But the way of the ungodly shall perish." Not only shall they perish themselves but their way shall perish too. The righteous carves his name upon the rock but the wicked writes his remembrance in the sand. The righteous man ploughs the furrows of earth and sows a harvest here which shall never be fully reaped till he enters the enjoyments of eternity; but as for the wicked he ploughs the sea and though there may seem to be a shining trail behind his keel yet the waves shall pass over it and the place that knew him shall know him no more for ever. The very "way" of the ungodly shall perish. If it exist in remembrance it shall be in the remembrance of the bad; for the Lord will cause the name of the wicked to rot to become a stench in the nostrils of the good and to be only known to the wicked themselves by its putridity.
May the Lord cleanse our hearts and our ways that we may escape the doom of the ungodly and enjoy the blessedness of the righteous!

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EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Whole Psalm. As the book of the Canticles is called the Song of Songs by a Hebraism it being the most excellent so this Psalm may not unfitly be entitled the Psalm of Psalms for it contains in it the very pith and quintessence of Christianity. What Jerome saith on St. Paul's epistles the same may I say of this Psalm; it is short as to the composure but full of length and strength as to the matter. This Psalm carries blessedness in the frontpiece; it begins where we all hope to end: it may well be called a Christian's Guide for it discovers the quicksands where the wicked sink down in perdition and the firm ground on which the saints tread to glory.—Thomas Watson's Saints Spiritual Delight 1660.
This whole Psalm offers itself to be drawn into these two opposite propositions: a godly man is blessed a wicked man is miserable; which seem to stand as two challenges made by the prophet: one that he will maintain a godly man against all comers to be the only Jason for winning the golden fleece of blessedness; the other that albeit the ungodly make a show in the world of being happy yet they of all men are most miserable.—Sir Richard Baker 1640
I have been induced to embrace the opinion of some among the ancient interpreters (Augustine Jerome etc.) who conceive that the first Psalm is intended to be descriptive of the character and reward of the JUST ONE i.e. the Lord Jesus.—John Fry B.A. 1842

Verse 1. The psalmist saith more to the point about true happiness in this short Psalm than any one of the philosophers or all of them put together; they did but beat the bush God hath here put the bird into our hand. John Trapp 1660

Verse 1. Where the word blessed is hung out as a sign we may be sure that we shall find a godly man within. Sir Richard Baker.

Verse 1. The seat of the drunkard is the seat of the scornful. Matthew Henry 1662-1714

Verse 1. "Walketh NOT....NOR standeth....NOR sitteth " etc. Negative precepts are in some cases more absolute and peremptory than affirmatives; for to say "that hath walketh in the counsel of the godly " might not be sufficient; for he might walk in the counsel of the godly and yet walk in the counsel of the ungodly too; not both indeed at once but both at several times; where now this negative clears him at all times. Sir Richard Baker.

Verse 1. The word (Heb) haish is emphatic that man; that one among a thousand who lives for the accomplishment of the end for which God created him. Adam Clarke 1844

Verse 1. "That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." Mark certain circumstances of their differing characters and conduct. I. The ungodly man has his counsel. II. The sinner has his way; and III. The scorner has his seat. The ungodly man is unconcerned about religion; he is neither zealous for his own salvation nor for that of others; and he counsels and advises those with whom he converses to adopt his plan and not trouble themselves about praying reading repentance etc. etc.; "there is no need for such things; live an honest life make no fuss about religion and you will fare well enough at last." Now "blessed is the man who walks not in this man's counsel " who does not come into his measures nor act according to his plan.
The sinner has his particular way of transgressing; one is a drunkard another dishonest another unclean. Few are given to every species of vice. There are many covetous men who abhor drunkenness many drunkards who abhor covetousness; and so of others. Each has his easily besetting sin; therefore says the prophet "Let the wicked forsake HIS WAY." (Isaiah 55:7) Now blessed is he who stands not is such a man's WAY.
The scorner has brought in reference to himself all religion and moral feeling to an end. He has sat down—is utterly confirmed in impiety and makes a mock at sin. His conscience is seared and he is a believer in all unbelief. Now blessed is the man who sits not down in his SEAT. Adam Clarke.

Verse 1. In the Hebrew the word "blessed" is a plural noun ashrey (blessednesses) that is all blessednesses are the portion of that man who has not gone away etc.; as though it were said "All things are well with that man who " etc. Why do you hold any dispute? Why draw vain conclusions? If a man has found that pearl of great price to love the law of God and to be separate from the ungodly all blessednesses belong to that man; but if he does not find this jewel he will seek for all blessednesses but will never find one! For as all things are pure unto the pure so all things are lovely unto the loving all things good unto the good; and universally such as thou art thyself such is God himself unto thee though he is not a creature. He is perverse unto the perverse and holy unto the holy. Hence nothing can be good or saving unto him who is evil: nothing sweet unto him unto whom the law of God is not sweet. The word "counsel" is without doubt here to be received as signifying decrees and doctrines seeing that no society of men exists without being formed and preserved by decrees and laws. David however by this term strikes at the pride and reprobate temerity of the ungodly. First because they will not humble themselves so far as to walk in the law of the Lord but rule themselves by their own counsel. And then he calls it their "counsel " because it is their prudence and the way that seems to them to be without error. For this is the destruction of the ungodly—their being prudent in their own eyes and in their own esteem and clothing their errors in the garb of prudence and of the right way. For if they came to men in the open garb of error it would not be so distinguishing a mark of blessedness not to walk with them. But David does not here say "in the folly of the ungodly " or "in the error of the ungodly;" and therefore he admonishes us to guard with all diligence against the appearance of what is right that the devil transformed into an angel of light do not seduce us by his craftiness. And he contrasts the counsel of the wicked with the law of the Lord that we may learn to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing who are always ready to give counsel to all to teach all and to offer assistance unto all when they are of all men least qualified to do so. The term "stood" descriptively represents their obstinacy and stiff-neckedness wherein they harden themselves and make their excuses in words of malice having become incorrigible in their ungodliness. For "to stand " in the figurative manner of Scripture expression signifies to be firm and fixed: as in Romans 14:4 "To his own master he standeth or falleth: yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand." Hence the word "column" is by the Hebrew derived from their verb "to stand " as is the word statue among the Latins. For this is the very self-excuse and self-hardening of the ungodly—their appearing to themselves to live rightly and to shine in the eternal show of works above all others. With respect to the term "seat " to sit in the seat is to teach to act the instructor and teacher; as in Matthew 23:2 "The scribes sit in Moses' chair." They sit in the seat of pestilence who fill the church with the opinions of philosophers with the traditions of men and with the counsels of their own brain and oppress miserable consciences setting aside all the while the word of God by which alone the soul is fed lives and is preserved. Martin Luther 1536-1546.

Verse 1. "The scornful." Peccator cum in profundum venerit contemnet—when a wicked man comes to the depth and worst of sin he despiseth. Then the Hebrew will despise Moses (Exodus 2:14) "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?" Then Ahab will quarrel with Micaiah (1 Kings 22:18) because he doth not prophecy good unto him. Every child in Bethel will mock Elisha (2 Kings 2:23) and be bold to call him "bald pate." Here is an original drop of venom swollen to a main ocean of poison: as one drop of some serpents' poison lighting on the hand gets into the veins and so spreads itself over all the body till it hath stifled the vital spirits. God shall "laugh you to scorn " (Psalm 2:4) for laughing Him to scorn; and at last despise you that have despised him in us. That which a man spits against heaven shall fall back on his own face. Your indignities done to your spiritual physicians shall sleep in the dust with your ashes but stand up against your souls in judgment. Thomas Adams 1614.

Verse 2. "But his will is in the law of the Lord." The "will " which is here signified is that delight of heart and that certain pleasure in the law which does not look at what the law promises nor at what it threatens but at this only; that "the law is holy and just and good." Hence it is not only a love of the law but that loving delight in the law which no prosperity nor adversity nor the world nor the prince of it can either take away or destroy; for it victoriously bursts its way through poverty evil report the cross death and hell and in the midst of adversities shines the brightest. Martin Luther.

Verse 2. "His delight is in the law of the Lord."—This delight which the prophet here speaks of is the only delight that neither blushes nor looks pale; the only delight that gives a repast without an after reckoning; the only delight that stands in construction with all tenses; and like AEneas Anchyses carries his parents upon his back. Sir Richard Baker.

Verse 2. "In His law doth he meditate." In the plainest text there is a world of holiness and spirituality; and if we in prayer and dependence upon God did sit down and study it we should behold much more than appears to us. It may be at once reading or looking we see little or nothing; as Elijah's servant went once and saw nothing; therefore he was commanded to look seven times. What now? says the prophet "I see a cloud rising like a man's hand;" and by-and-by the whole surface of the heavens was covered with clouds. So you may look lightly upon a Scripture and see nothing; meditate often upon it and there you shall see a light like the light of the sun. Joseph Caryl 1647.

Verse 2. "In His law doth he meditate day and night."—The good man doth meditate on the law of God day and night. The pontificians beat off the common people from this common treasury by objecting this supposed difficulty. Oh the Scriptures are hard to be understood do not you trouble your heads about them; we will tell you the meaning of them. They might as well say heaven is a blessed place but it is a hard way to it; do not trouble yourselves we will go thither for you. Thus in the great day of trial when they should be saved by their book alas! they have no book to save them. Instead of the Scriptures they can present images; these are the layman's books; as if they were to be tried by a jury of carvers and painters and not by the twelve apostles. Be not you so cheated; but study the gospel as you look for comfort by the gospel. He that hopes for the inheritance will make much of the conveyance. Thomas Adams.

Verse 2. To "meditate " as it is generally understood signifies to discuss to dispute; and its meaning is always confined to a being employed in words as in Psalm 32:30 "The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom." Hence Augustine has in his translation "chatter;" and a beautiful metaphor it is—as chattering is the employment of birds so a continual conversing in the law of the Lord (for talking is peculiar to man) ought to be the employment of man. But I cannot worthily and fully set forth the gracious meaning and force of this word; for this "meditating" consists first in an intent observing of the words of the law and then in a comparing of the different Scriptures; which is a certain delightful hunting nay rather a playing with stags in a forest where the Lord furnishes us with the stags and opens to us their secret coverts. And from this kind of employment there comes forth at length a man well instructed in the law of the Lord to speak unto the people. Martin Luther.

Verse 2. "In his law doth he meditate day and night." The godly man will read the Word by day that men seeing his good works may glorify his Father who is in heaven; he will do it in the night that he may not be seen of men: by day to show that he is not one of those who dread the light; by night to show that he is one who can shine in the shade: by day for that is the time for working—work whilst it is day; by night lest his Master should come as a thief and find him idle. Sir Richard Baker.

Verse 2. I have no rest but in a nook with the book. Thomas a Kempis 1380-1471.

Verse 2. "Meditate." Meditation doth discriminate and characterise a man; by this he may take a measure of his heart whether it be good or bad; let me allude to that; "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he." Proverbs 23:7. As the meditation is such is the man. Meditation is the touchstone of a Christian; it shows what metal he is made of. It is a spiritual index; the index shows what is in the book so meditation shows what is in the heart. Thomas Watson's Saints' Spiritual Delight.

Verse 2. Meditation chews the cud and gets the sweetness and nutritive virtue of the Word into the heart and life: this is the way the godly bring forth much fruit. Bartholomew Ashwood's Heavenly Trade 1688.

Verse 2. The naturalists observe that to uphold and accommodate bodily life there are diverse sorts of faculties communicated and these among the rest:
1. An attractive faculty to assume and draw in the food;
2. A retentive faculty to retain it when taken in;
3. As assimilating faculty to concoct the nourishment;
4. An augmenting faculty for drawing to perfection.
Meditation is all these. It helps judgment wisdom and faith to ponder discern and credit the things which reading and hearing supply and furnish. It assists the memory to lock up the jewels of divine truth in her sure treasury. It has a digesting power and turns special truth into spiritual nourishment; and lastly it helps the renewed heart to grow upward and increase its power to know the things which are freely given to us of God. Condensed from Nathaniel Ranew 1670.

Verse 3. "A tree."—There is one tree only to be found in the valley of the Jordan but too beautiful to be entirely passed over; the oleander with its bright blossoms and dark green leaves giving the aspect of a rich garden to any spot where it grows. It is rarely if ever alluded to in the Scriptures. But it may be the tree planted by the streams of water which bringeth forth his fruit in due season and "whose leaf shall not wither." A. P. Stanley D.D. in "Sinai and Palestine."

Verse 3. "A tree planted by the rivers of water."—This is an allusion to the Eastern method of cultivation by which rivulets of water are made to flow between the rows of trees and thus by artificial means the trees receive a constant supply of moisture.

Verse 3. "His fruit in his season."—In such a case expectation is never disappointed. Fruit is expected fruit is borne and it comes also in the time in which it should come. A godly education under the influences of the divine Spirit which can never be withheld where they are earnestly sought is sure to produce the fruits of righteousness; and he who reads prays and meditates will ever see the work which God has given him to do; the power by which he is to perform it; and the times places and opportunities for doing those things by which God can obtain most glory his own soul most good and his neighbour most edification. Adam Clarke.

Verse 3. "In his season." The Lord reckons the times which pass over us and puts them to our account: let us therefore improve them and with the impotent persons at the pool of Bethesda step in when the angel stirs the water. Now the church is afflicted it is a season of prayer and learning; now the church is enlarged it is a season of praise; I am now at a sermon I will hear what God will say; now in the company of a learned and wise man I will draw some knowledge and counsel from him; I am under a temptation now is a fit time to lean on the name of the Lord; I am in a place of dignity and power let me consider what it is that God requireth of me in such a time as this. And thus as the tree of life bringeth fruit every month so a wise Christian as a wise husbandman hath his distinct employments for every month bringing forth his fruit in his season. John Spencer's Things New and Old 1658.

Verse 3. "In his season." Oh golden and admirable word! by which is asserted the liberty of Christian righteousness. The ungodly have their stated days stated times certain works and certain places; to which they stick so closely that if their neighbours were perishing with hunger they could not be torn from them. But this blessed man being free at all times in all places for every work and to every person will serve you whenever an opportunity is offered him; whatsoever comes into his hands to do he does it. He is neither a Jew nor a Gentile nor a Greek nor a barbarian nor of any other particular person. He gives his fruit in his season so often as either God or man requires his work. Therefore his fruits have no name and his times have no name. Martin Luther.

Verse 3. "His leaf also shall not wither." He describes the fruit before he does the leaf. The Holy Spirit himself always teaches every faithful preacher in the church to know that the kingdom of God does not stand in word but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20. Again "Jesus began both to do and to teach." Acts 1:1. And again "Which was a prophet mighty in deed and word." Luke 24:19. And thus let him who professes the word of doctrine first put forth the fruits of life if he would not have his fruit to wither for Christ cursed the fig tree which bore no fruit. And as Gregory saith that man whose life is despised is condemned by his doctrine for he preaches to others and is himself reprobated. Martin Luther.

Verse 3. "His leaf also shall not wither." The Lord's trees are all evergreens. No winter's cold can destroy their verdure; and yet unlike evergreens in our country they are all fruit bearers. C. H. S.

Verse 3. "And whatsoever he doeth [or maketh or taketh in hand] shall prosper." And with regard to this "prospering " take heed that thou understandest not a carnal prosperity. This prosperity is hidden prosperity and lies entirely secret in spirit; and therefore if thou hast not this prosperity that is by faith thou shouldest rather judge thy prosperity to be the greatest adversity. For as the devil bitterly hates this leaf and the word of God so does he also those who teach and hear it and he persecutes such aided by all the powers of the world. Therefore thou hearest of a miracle the greatest of all miracles when thou hearest that all things prosper which a blessed man doeth. Martin Luther.

Verse 3. A critical journal has shown that instead of "Whatsoever it doeth shall prosper " the rendering might be "Whatsoever it produceth shall come to maturity." This makes the figure entire and is sanctioned by some MSS. and ancient versions.

Verse 3. (last clause). Outward prosperity if it follow close walking with God is very sweet; as the cipher when it follows a figure adds to the number though it be nothing in itself. John Trapp.

Verse 4. "Chaff." Here by the way we may let the wicked know they have a thanks to give they little think of; that they may thank the godly for all the good days they live upon the earth seeing it is for their sakes and not for their own that they enjoy them. For as the chaff while it is united and keeps close to the wheat enjoys some privileges for the wheat's sake and is laid up carefully in the barn; but as soon as it is divided and parted from the wheat it is cast out and scattered by the wind; so the wicked whilst the godly are in company and live amongst them partake for their sake of some blessedness promised to the godly; but if the godly forsake them or be taken from them then either a deluge of water comes suddenly upon them as it did upon the old world when Noah left it; or a deluge of fire as it did upon Sodom when Lot left it and went out of the city. Sir Richard Baker.

Verse 4. "Driveth away " or tosseth away; the Chaldee translateth for "wind " "whirlwind." Henry Ainsworth 1639.
This shows the vehement tempest of death which sweeps away the soul of the ungodly.

Verse 5. "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment " etc. And may not a reason also be conceived thus why the ungodly can never come to be of the congregation of the righteous: the righteous go a way that God knows and the wicked go a way that God destroys; and seeing that these ways can never meet how should the men meet that go these ways? And to make sure work that they shall never meet indeed the prophet expresseth the way of the righteous by the first link of the chain of God's goodness which is his knowledge; but expresseth the way of the wicked by the last link of God's justice which is his destroying; and though God's justice and his mercy do often meet and are contiguous one to another yet the first link of his mercy and the last link of his justice can never meet for it never comes to destroying till God be heard to say Nescio vos "I know you not " and nescio vos in God and God's knowledge can certainly never possibly meet together. Sir Richard Baker.

Verse 5. The Irish air will sooner brook a toad or a snake than heaven a sinner. John Trapp.

Verse 6. "For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." Behold how David here terrifies us away from all prosperous appearances and commends to us various temptations and adversities. For this "way" of the righteous all men utterly reprobate; thinking also that God knoweth nothing about any such way. But this is the wisdom of the cross. Therefore it is God alone that knoweth the way of the righteous so hidden is it to the righteous themselves. For his right hand leads them on in a wonderful manner seeing that it is a way not of sense nor of reason but of faith only; even of that faith that sees in darkness and beholds things that are invisible. Martin Luther.

Verse 6. "The righteous." They that endeavour righteous living in themselves and have Christ's righteousness imputed to them. Thomas Wilcocks 1586.

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HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER

Verse 1. May furnish an excellent text upon "Progress in Sin " or "The Purity of the Christian " or "The Blessedness of the Righteous." Upon the last subject speak of the believer as BLESSED—
1. By God;
2. In Christ;
3. With all blessings;
4. In all circumstances;
5. Through time and eternity;
6. To the highest degree.

Verse 1. Teaches a godly man to beware (1) of the opinions (2) of the practical life and (3) of the company and association of sinful men. Show how meditation upon the Word will assist us in keeping aloof from these three evils.
The insinuating and progressive nature of sin. J. Morrison.

Verse 1. in connection with the whole Psalm. The wide difference between the righteous and the wicked.

Verse 2. THE WORD OF GOD.
1. The believer's delight in it.
2. The believer's acquaintance with it.
We long to be in the company of those we love.

Verse 2. I. What is meant by "the law of the Lord."
II. What there is in it for the believer to delight in.
III. How he shows his delight thinks of it reads much speaks of it obeys it does not delight in evil.

Verse 2. (last clause). The benefits helps and hindrances of meditation.

Verse 3. "The fruitful tree."
I. Where it grows.
II. How it came there.
III. What it yields.
IV. How to be like it.

Verse 3. "Planted by the rivers of water."
I. The origination of Christian life "planted."
II. The streams which support it.
III. The fruit expected from it.

Verse 3. Influence of religion upon prosperity.—Blair.
The nature causes signs and results of true prosperity.
"Fruit in his season;" virtues to be exhibited at certain seasons— patience in affliction; gratitude in prosperity; zeal in opportunity etc.
"His leaf also shall not wither;" the blessing of retaining an unwithered profession.

Verses 3 4. See No. 280 of "Spurgeon's Sermons." "The Chaff Driven Away."
Sin puts a negative on every blessing.

Verse 5. The sinner's double doom.
1. Condemned at the judgment-bar.
2. Separated from the saints.
Reasonableness of these penalties "therefore " and the way to escape them.
"The congregation of the righteous" viewed as the church of the first-born above. This may furnish a noble topic.

Verse 6. (first sentence). A sweet encouragement to the tried people of God. The knowledge here meant.
1. Its character.—It is a knowledge of observation and approbation.
2. Its source.—It is caused by omniscience and infinite love.
3. Its results.—Support deliverance acceptance and glory at last.

Verse 6. (last clause). His way of pleasure of pride of unbelief of profanity of persecution of procrastinating of self-deception etc.: all these shall come to an end.

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WORKS UPON THE FIRST PSALM

The Way to Blessedness: a Commentary on the First Psalm. By PHINEAS FLETCHER. London. 1632

A Discourse about the State of True Happiness delivered in certain Sermons in Oxford and at Paul's Cross. By ROBERT BOLTON. London. 1625

David's Blessed Man; or a Short Exposition on the First Psalm directing a Man to True Happiness. By SAMUEL SMITH preacher of the Word at Prittlewell in Essex. 1635 [Reprinted in Nicol's Series of Commentaries.]

Meditations and Disquisitions upon the First Psalm of David.—Blessed is the Man. By SIR RICHARD BAKER Knight. London. 1640 [The same volume contains Meditations upon "Seven Consolatorie Psalms of David " namely 23 27 30 84 103 and 116.]

The Christian on the Mount; or a Treatise concerning Meditation; wherein the necessity usefulness and excellency of Meditation are at large discussed. By THOMAS WATSON. 1660.

── C.H. Spurgeon《The Treasury of David》