How blessed is the person, who does not take the advice of the wicked, who does not stand on the path with sinners and who does not sit in the seat of mockers. But he delights in the LORD’s instruction, and meditates in his instruction day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither. He will prosper in everything he does. But this is not the case with the wicked. They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not escape judgment, nor will sinners have a place in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will be destroyed. Psalm 1, ISV
General characteristics:
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The wicked: Individuals who actively rebel against God by pursuing sinful desires
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The Sinner: Anyone, all humans, who fall short of God’s standards due to our sin nature
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The Righteous: Those who seek to follow God’s will living by living in faith and in accord with God’s moral standards.
| Attribute | Wicked | Sinner | Righteous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship with God | Actively reject and rebel against God | Fall short of God’s standards | Seek to follow God’s will |
| Behavior | Pursue sinful desires, act unjustly | May commit sins but are not defined by them | Live by faith, embody moral integrity |
| Consequences | Face judgment and separation from God | Need redemption and forgiveness | Receive God’s blessings and favor |
The Mocker:
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Lack of Respect | Mockers show contempt for wisdom and divine truth. |
| Resistance to Instruction | They often reject wise counsel and correction from others. |
| Scornful Attitude | Mockers ridicule those who seek righteousness and wisdom. |
The Righteous:
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delight in the Lord’s instruction
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meditate in his instruction day and night
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will be like a tree planted by streams of water
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yielding fruit
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leaves do not wither
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prosper in everything he does.
The Wicked and Sinners
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are like chaff that the wind blows away.
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will not escape judgment, nor will sinners
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have no place in the assembly of the righteous.
Finally:
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will be destroyed.
Short, simple and stark.
Psalm 1 presents an “unpopular” side of the God. The side addressing, “God is a loving God, how could He?” It is true: God is loving, holy, righteous, merciful and just with a demanding standard. God’s standard is holy living and serving. For a just and righteous God failure to to meet the standard requires judgment; sin and wrong needs judgment. God’s judgment is not like human judgment which is corrupted by sin and susceptible to bias and error. God’s judgment is in accord with his character, righteous, unbiased and based on His immutable standard. Can anyone meet God’s standard?
Paul addresses this question directly in Romans 7.13-25, wrestling with challenges of knowing right versus doing right. Paul acknowledges the Law (God’s standards) is spiritual and good in bringing recognition of sin as sin. Paul is struggling with not doing what wants and acting out evil rather than good. He then recognizes the internal conflict as both good and evil exist in his being. The evil, embodied in the term sin, causes Paul to act contrary to his intentions. There is a fascinating image here of good and evil wrestling to control Paul’s actions and speech.
*** For I delight in the Law of God in my inner being, but I see in my body a different principle waging war with the Law in my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin that exists in my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is infected by~~ death? Thank God through Jesus the Messiah,~~ our Lord, because with my mind I myself can serve the Law of God, even while with my human nature I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7.22-25, ISV)***
Paul is clear without Jesus, he cannot control his behavior. The same good and bad in our being struggle exist for everyone. Sin has bent our lives beyond self correction. The world, apart from the apprentices of Jesus, is heading toward judgment and destruction.
God knows what is going on in our lives and in our world. He sees the trajectory of our lives, moving toward righteousness or wickedness. God also provides deliverance from His judgment through the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
What are you doing to help lost souls escape judgment?
I’m open to comments.
Blessings
Soli Deo Gloria