Meditations - (No. 6)
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Psalm 1 gives us a solemn portrait of the ways of both the godly and the
ungodly; it also shows us God's righteous dealings with them. Blessing is bestowed on one who is walking
uprightly before Him. But on the other, that
is, the ungodly: the curse and condemnation.
[*"In His law doth he meditate day and night" v2b--To the
Christian, this implies "All Scripture" comprising both
the Old and New Testaments. "All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: v17.
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
2 Timothy 3:16,17.
The divine principles regarding separation from evil stand the same for God's
people in all ages; This is true even under the new
covenant of grace. (See II Cor. 6:11-7:1; Gal. 6:2.) Why, one of the great objects of the Gospel
is that "..our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave
Himself for our sins, that He might deliver from us this present evil world,
according to the will of God and our Father:" Gal. 1:3-4. (See also Eph. 1:4.) For this reveals to us the very character of
God as manifested in His Son: "..the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..." (I Tim. 3:16); Also, I John 1:5b
"God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all."&c--which
has been perfectly and gloriously revealed in the Person of the Son of God the
Lord Jesus Christ. “For such an High
Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:26.]
The Psalmist sets forth here the conduct of the godly man who is blessed by God
in all his ways (v1-3), and also contrasts him with the ungodly and their
ways. In a very assertive manner, the
Spirit of God declares: "Not so the ungodly, not so..." (1:4, LXX),
but the sinner who puts his trust in the blood of Christ for his salvation can
take courage, “for the Lord
knoweth the way of the righteous.” And thus we have
to learn, it is by God's sovereign decree that a man receives either blessing
or condemnation*. The ungodly who always seem prosperous on earth, in the end are brought
to utter calamity and sudden destruction.
v4. "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away."
"This" says Spurgeon, "shows the
vehement tempest of death, which sweeps away the soul of the
ungodly." And,
moreover, v5. "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the
judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the
righteous." But the godly man has
great consolation: v6 "For the LORD knoweth the
way of the righteous:"--He restores his soul, and leads him in the paths
of righteousness for His Name's sake (Psalm 23)--Jehovah is his light and his
salvation (Psalm 27); "but" on
the contrary, the Scripture declares: "the way of the ungodly shall
perish." (Matt. 7:13,14).
[*"The just shall live by faith" --Even in the Old Testament times, men were needed to be justified by faith as the example of Abraham shows (Galatians 3)--See also Hebrews 11. The basis for the remission of sins for the Old Testament saints as well as for saints in the present Gospel dispensation is given in Romans 3:25-26 as the apostle speaks of Christ, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." v26 "To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Also, Galatians 2:16"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Therefore, it is now Christ or judgment--"He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only Begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:18-19).]
This Psalm has been regarded by some commentators as the “Preface” to entire Psalter. This Psalm has also been styled as - "the Psalm of Psalms" in the same manner, the Canticles is called--"the Song of Songs." It is perhaps rightly so regarded, for therein lies the divine secret of the godly man's true and lasting happiness, as he with the divine approbation chooses to pursue godliness as opposed to the way of the ungodly--a great and important principle of faith--which is enlarged and magnified in the rest of the Psalms. Therefore we may also remark here, that this little Psalm contains divine wisdom (not man's), to direct God's people, in all ages,--to flee not only from the ways of the world and its corruptions, but to pursue a life of righteousness, godliness and faith &c. ( I Tim. 6:11,12; Titus 2:11-12)--a life worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27-29). In short, it has in its little casket, the heavenly treasure, which reveals the eternal blessedness and felicity of a man in Christ.
But at this point, one may enquire: Why is this theme concerning “man” taken up in the very first Psalm? And how is it, a man who has sinned and come short of the glory of God is considered: Blessed? And one may also enquire, not with a carnal mind, but with deep humility, and with adoring joy, contemplating Psalm 8, "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" Concerning whom, Bildad, the Shuhite (Job 25), wondering about how a man can be justified with God, (and furthermore, we may also observe here, that he having no knowledge of the secret counsels of God, according to Psalm 8, Psalm 24, Phil. 2 and Heb. 2 &c. concerning the Man Christ Jesus, Who was to be "crowned with glory and honour" far above angels, in virtue of His death), declared that he is "a worm"*--this is true indeed as far as man in himself is concerned--"whose breath is in his nostrils" (Isaiah 2:22)--and moreover, so insignificant and small when compared to that vast creation around him, and besides, being so utterly lost in his fallen condition. But yet, we find to our great comfort and wonder, that God in His infinite love, kindness and mercy was ever mindful of him (in Christ), so that His wonderful grace could be displayed. (For instance, see Psalm 16:2-3, Proverbs 8:31 which reveal Christ's goodness toward the saints that are in the earth, and His delights were with the sons of men;) Hence therefore, these brief considerations, in light of Scriptures, must ever produce in our inmost souls, nothing but deepest gratitude and everlasting worship of God.
[* I may also note that the Lord Jesus in His extremity on the cross called Himself, "I am a worm, and no man" (Psalm 22:6)--this was not because of His human nature, (for He "the Second Man" was "the Lord from heaven" unlike the first man and his posterity, who are earthy (I Cor. 15:47-48))--but because of His state of humiliation, and hence, as John Gill remarks, "on account of the opinion that men of the world had of him;" The next clause in the same verse also supports this view, that when He had become "a reproach of men, and despised of the people" (See also Isaiah 53:2-4, if further proof is needed.) But this was all due to, when He suffered and died for our sins on the cross, to deliver us from the slavery of sin and death, yea, even to raise us, who are mean and corrupt in our own fallen condition, above angels. This all the more shows to what lowest depths of humiliation that the Son of God did descend from His heavenly glories, to redeem man lost in the world.]
Oh! then, to the praise of that superlative goodness, mercy, and love of God in Christ toward sinful men, that it makes us to bow our heads in deep humility, and thus being lost in wonder and admiration of the marvels of the love of God, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ--to know even this: that His delights were with the sons of men (Proverbs 8); and that God so loved the world (John 3:16) &c. which reveal therein the source and spring of this great love of God in Christ for man, a sinner who is utterly undeserving of any goodness and mercy from his Creator. But yet, we find this great revelation, "For God so loved the world", and the splendour and greatness of His divine love was demonstrated (to the wonder and astonishment of all creation) when He sent His only Begotten Son, the Son of His love into this world of darkness and woe, to suffer, and to die on the cross for sinners; so "that whosever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." This is in essence, the Gospel of the grace of God.
Now, the blessed man, of whom this Psalm speaks, is seen not only separated from the world and its sinful pleasures, but he is seen separated unto God, therefore he lives “in His law doth he meditate day and night.” See Romans 6:11-13. But in order for us to properly apprehend the character of the godly man portrayed in this Psalm, faith must look beyond the godly men of old, to fix its gaze upon none other than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself--the Author and Finisher of (our) faith (Heb 12:1,2.) In Him alone, we find all the moral perfections fully and perfectly displayed to the glory of God. It is He, Who was God from past eternity (John 1, Philippians 2 &c.) stooped so low to assume human nature, and yet without sin, lived a perfect and holy life upon earth, glorifying His Father through His complete submission and obedience to Him in all things; thus, He alone could say, even in the hour of deepest distress anticipating the Cross, --“not My will, but Thine, be done” (Luke 22:42)--to the everlasting and perfect delight of His Father; and consequently, He alone--the Righteous One--the Holy One--"Who knew no sin," II Cor. 5:21--has rightfully merited all the blessings from God, and in virtue of accomplishing the will of God in His death, He has been raised from among the dead by the glory of the Father, to be exalted to enjoy the "pleasures for evermore" at the right hand of God. (see Psalm 16.) Hence, here too, we must observe the blessedness of the godly man given in v3 "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." rightfully belong to Jesus the Son of man, which was realized at first in His own blessed and glorious Person during His first advent (although not observed by the world sunken in sin and deep misery), except His own, and which will also be seen gloriously at His second advent. But meanwhile, as far as the believers are concerned, we can also enjoy these blessings (not by merit, but by the grace of Christ, and in virtue of our union with Him), in doing the will of God and glorifying Him through our bodies. See Romans 12:1-2.
The principle thing, therefore, for us to consider here is the life of our Lord Jesus Christ in full communion of the Father. He is the Son of God, and also the Son of man seen walking uprightly upon the earth, under the government of God. Therefore God gives testimony of Him more than once, “This is my well beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” He is the only One who did merit God’s favour and blessings, for living a perfect life of holiness, submission and obedience to God in all things. While in stark contrast, in Adam--"all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3.) But Christ's delight was in doing the will of God: "I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8.) "...My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34.) See also Hebrews 10:7-9.
God desires that we ever fix our gaze upon His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 12), contemplating the greatness of His Person--His Being--His worth--His finished work, and His present position at the right hand of God. May the Holy Spirit Who alone can give us a deep apprehension of the ever blessed and glorious Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in His word, also grant us delight in doing the will of God, and grace to walk "even as He walked" I John 2:6.
- Luke [Feb. 10, 2015]
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