Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
An Explanation
There are two approaches to life. Two standards for what we do. Each of these two options has its own Master. The beginning of Psalm 1 paints for us a picture of a blessed man, and a cursed man.
The Cursed Man
What is a cursed man? First, he is under the curse. He is a man who lives in a fallen world with a fallen nature. Second, he consumes the fruit of the curse. He takes counsel from the wicked, those who break God's Law. Third, he furthers the curse. He lives the "way of sinners," going about his life without obedience to God. Lastly, he enthrones sin. He makes himself (the scoffer) and his judgments lord over God and His judgments.
The cursed man is spiritually in rebellion against God. In this picture, he is also ethically at odds with God's standards. The cursed man is not meek, or harnessed, under God (Matthew 5:5). This is why the cursed man is not rooted, permanent, or able to persevere through the judgment of God (Psalm 1:3-6).
The Blessed Man
We can get distracted by the arguments of what being "blessed" is, but the main point is the character of the blessed man. The blessed man is rooted in the Law of God. He is inseparable from his covenantal God, so he finds joy in His commandments. God’s Law shapes the man’s desires, goals, and conduct.
Obedience to God is why this man, unlike the cursed man, is reckoned meek. In Matthew 5:9, the word ”meek” is also used for a harnessed horse, a horse under its master. This man is blessed because he is ”mastered” by God. This man is obedient to God’s Law, and as the ”meek” of the Lord, he shall inherit the Kingdom of God. The blessed man will be planted, fruitful, and will be refined by the judgment of God (Psalm 1:3-6; James 1:2-5, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).
Application
As God’s people, we should be intimately familiar with God’s Law. We should devote time to the subject.
And in our work to do the Law of God, we should be hopeful that it will directly impact the future of the Kingdom of God. Our confidence is in the sovereignty of God, so we know that His Word, regarding the historical impact of our obedience, will not return void.
Do not take counsel from the wicked. Do not walk in the works of sinners. Or enthrone their scoffing of God, make their disobedient-wisdom the norm.
Do not use government schooling. It is funded by theft via taxation, teaches a moral system contrary to God’s, and its existence violates the limited roles God delegated to the State.
Do not partake of any voluntary programs that are funded by progressive taxation, which punishes others for having more. That is the essence of envy.
May our endeavors to be the blessed-and-harnessed people of God be our joy, and thanks be to God our efforts will impact the Kingdom of God.
