Psalms 1:1
Blessed is the man that awalketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the 1scornful.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
a:
Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
2 Chronicles 22:3-22:5 3. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 4. Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction. 5. ¶He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.
Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Proverbs 4:14 ¶Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Micah 6:16 ¶For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
Psalms 6:7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
Psalms 26:3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
Psalms 26:4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
Psalms 119:115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
Jeremiah 15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.
1:
Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
PSALM 1
THE ARGUMENT
This Psalm was put first as a preface to all the rest, as a powerful persuasive to the diligent reading and serious study of the whole book and of the rest of the Holy Scripture, taken from that blessedness which attends upon the study and practice thereof.
The godly blessed, Psa 1:1. Their delight in God’s law, Psa 1:2. Their fruitfulness, Psa 1:3. The wretched course and condition of the ungodly, Psa 1:4-6.
The Hebrew words are very emphatical, Blessedness belongs to that man, or, Oh the blessedness of that man Thrice blessed is that man; who is here described negatively, and in the next verse positively.
i.e. that doth not lead his life according to their counsel, or course, or manner of living; that doth not associate himself with them, nor follow their evil instigations or examples. Walking notes choice of it, and continuance or process in it; otherwise good men do sometimes step aside into an evil action. For the explaining of the phrase, see Gen 49:6 2Ch 22:3-5 Pro 1:15 4:14 Mic 6:16.
which notes a more settled abode, hardness, and obstinacy in it.
i.e. in their course or manner of conversation; in the practice of those things which they choose and use to do; which is called a man’s way, Psa 5:8 25:4 2Pe 2:2,15.
emphatically so called here, as also Psa 26:9 Ecc 9:2 Mat 26:45 Luk 7:37 Joh 9:16,31, who give up themselves to the power and practice of sin, making it their great business and their delight.
which notes their association or incorporation of themselves with them; a constant and resolved perseverance in their wicked courses, with great content and security; and a great proficiency and eminency in the school of wickedness, and an ability and readiness to instruct others therein. Of the scornful; of those who are not only diseased, but reject, despise, and scorn all remedies; who make a mock of sin, and of God’s threatenings and judgments against sinners; who deride all wholesome reproofs and counsels, and make it their trade to scoff at goodness and good men. Divers have observed a gradation in this verse; the following clause still exceeding the former, for standing is more than walking, and sitting more than standing. And
or course may seem to be worse than the counsel or design, and the seat is worse than the way; and sinners, in Scripture use, are worse than the ungodly, and the scornful are the worst of sinners. But I would not lay great stress upon such observations.