Hundred and twentieth Psalm Hundred and twenty-seventh Psalm . Hundred and forty-fifth Psalm . Hundred and forty-seventh Psalm Hundred and forty eighth Psalm Hundred and fiftieth Psalm Table of Psalms suggested for Sabbath reading Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Festivals. Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Passover . Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Pentecost Table of Psalms suggested for reading on New Year Table of Psalms suggested for reading on the Day of Mote on PSALM I. 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 describes a good man, who steadily Ps. 1. resists being tempted by bad example to do what he knows to be wrong, and who is helped to do right by ever keeping the law of God in his mind. By imagery (that is, description by comparison) the Psalmist suggests the thought that just as the ever-flowing water of the river brings strength to the tree to bear foliage and fruit, so the constant efforts of a man who tries always to do what is right produces in him the ripe fruit of goodness and wisdom. By the same imagery the contrast of the ungodly man is shown; he is compared to the chaff, the dry husk of the grain that is blown away and lost. "The ungodly man shall not stand in the judgment," because he has no principles of conduct; therefore he has no power to judge others. "Sinners shall not stand in the congregation of Mote on the righteous;" but God does not account those Ds. I. sinners who are sorry for their wrong-doing, and try hard to do better. "The way of the ungodly shall perish," but not necessarily the ungodly themselves; for as Isaiah the prophet said, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." The Psalmist says that the deeds of the wicked shall be like chaff, which is lost. Thus, if the wicked man persists in his evil way he sees the goodness of God prevail against him. And if he repents of his wickedness, to see that it has perished is his comfort and his reward. |