The Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked
This first psalm contrasts the righteous and the wicked.
First do all, the psalmist lays out what a righteous life looks like (1-3). The one who is blessed is the one is is in a right relationship with God, and derive his satisfaction from that fact. The psalmist next gives a threefold increase in intensity in these clauses. The “ungodly,” are those that are unbelievers and thus outside the covenant. “Sinners” refers to those that intentionally or ignorantly fail to obey God. “Scoffers” are those that ridicule the things of God and heap scorn on those who obey the truth (1). The righteous man does not “walk,” or live his life in the according to the wisdom of this world. He does not stop and “stand” in the path the sinners take, pondering their ways and their pleasures. He does not “sit” with scoffers by joining with them and being identified with them (1). Brethren, the point is to show that if people take their spiritual guidance from the world instead of God’s word, they will gradually look more and more like the world and be entangled by it. The wisdom of this world is antithetical to God’s wisdom. Don’t look for solutions to your problems among unbelievers that cannot understand spiritual truth (1 Cor 2:14) You have what you need for life and godliness in the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:3).
To remain faithful to God the righteous person must live in accord with God’s word (2). God’s word is a true delight, like sweet honey, it is water for the thirsty soul. There is only two choices, the wisdom of this world and God’s wisdom. Only one produces the blessed life of sweet fellowship with God. We shall examine this more closely next week.