The following instructions are a series of three parallel statements, all in the negative form; “walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,” “nor stands in the path of a sinner,” “nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalms 1:1). At first, it appears that these are similar, but C.H. Spurgeon would disagree.
He describes the three lines as a “gradation,” a series of downward steps into a sinful life.[1] Furthermore, in the Commentary Critical Explanatory on the Whole Bible, the authors agree by stating “counsel … way … seat—With their corresponding verbs, mark gradations of evil, as acting on the principles, cultivating the society, and permanently conforming to the conduct of the wicked.”[2]
Walks
According to James Swanson, the Hebrew word used for “walks” is defined as “go, travel, i.e. make linear motion to another place…”[3] One could assume that while one is in the process of travelling, he has not yet arrived at his destination.
The man has listened and surrounded himself with the counsel or advice of the sinner. He has not settled, but he is listening.
Stands
The first verb in the next line is “stands” and is defined as “be in a stance in which the body is vertical and straight, and so not bowed or prostrate.”[4] It appears that while the man is standing, he has not bowed down to the sinner or their way of life. He is now standing in the path, or way, of the sinner, as translated in the New International Version (NIV).
Sits
The next verb, “sits,” is defined as “inhabit, dwell, live, stay, i.e., be in a place for any period of time, usually implying a longer amount of time…”[5] By this definition, there appears to be a more permanent settling of the man with the scornful.
The man has now placed himself in the seat of the scornful. This gives the sense that the man has now settled and identified with the scornful and partakes in the mocking. While some might view these lines as having the same meaning, there is progression as stated by Spurgeon and others.
After the psalmist tells the man what not to do, he then goes on to describe the positive actions of a blessed man.
Delight in the Law
A blessed man finds his delight in the law of the LORD (Psalm 1:2). The Hebrew word for delight means to “take pleasure or enjoyment in something.”[6]
The blessed man does not consider the law a burden, but a delight. It is not a weight that he is under, but something that he sees value in and enjoys. According to Susan Gillingham, “It is one thing to be in the law, another to be under the law. Whoso is in the law, acteth according to the law; whoso is under the law, is acted upon according to the law; the one therefore is free, the other a slave.”[7]
It is this freedom that leads to the action stated in the next line.
Hunger for the Law
This delight causes a sort of hunger for the law. It is a thirst that cannot be quenched. The man meditates in the law (Psalm 1:2). In the Hebrew, meditate means “ponder, give serious thought and consideration to selected information, with a possible implication of speaking in low tones reviewing the material.”[8]
The law is not just read or skimmed like one might read any other book, it is treated differently. The psalmist sees value that is worthy of his time and gives its content serious thought. He rests his mind upon the words of the law. He considers its instruction and tries to commit it to memory. He does this day and night. Not for five minutes in the morning, but day and night, the entire day.
While the man in Psalms Chapter One appears to be doing this out of delight, elsewhere in Scripture it is an imperative.
In Joshua Chapter One verse eight, God tells Joshua that “…you shall meditate in it [the law] day and night…” God took it one step further and attached a promise and result to it; “then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8).” We see this pattern in Psalms 1, with the verse immediately following.
To be continued in part 4 of series.
References
[1] C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David: Psalms 1-26, vol. 1 (London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers, n.d.), 1.
[2] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 346.
[3] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament)(Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Susan Gillingham, Psalms through the Centuries: A Reception History Commentary on Psalms 1–72, ed. John Sawyer et al., vol. 2, Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries (Hoboken, NJ; West Sussex, UK: Wiley Blackwell, 2018), 16.
[8] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament).
Dan Buteau has been married for the last 33 years and is a father of four adult children. He is also a grandfather to five children. He serves as a Pastor at a church in southern Maine. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Math Studies from Granite State University and he is currently a Master’s of Theology student at Liberty University. In addition, Dan served in the United States Marine Corps for four years and is retired from a 25-year career in law enforcement. He has a hunger and thirst for the Word of God and is continuing to obey the calling of his Savior, Jesus Christ, as he carries out the Great Commission.
