John Calvin Commentary Psalms 1:5-6

"Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish." — Psalms 1:5-6 (ASV)

In the fifth verse, the prophet teaches that a happy life depends on a good conscience, and that, therefore, it is not surprising if the ungodly suddenly fall from the happiness they fancied they possessed. And there is implied in the words a kind of concession; the prophet tacitly acknowledges that the ungodly please and enjoy themselves, and triumph during the reign of moral disorder in the world, just as robbers revel in the woods and caves when beyond the reach of justice.

But he assures us that things will not always remain in their present state of confusion, and that when they have been reduced to proper order, these ungodly persons will be entirely deprived of their pleasures and feel that they were infatuated when they thought themselves happy. We now see how the Psalmist pronounces the ungodly to be miserable, because happiness is the inward blessing of a good conscience.

He does not deny that before they are driven to judgment, all things go well for them; but he denies that they are happy unless they have substantial and steadfast integrity of character to sustain them, for the true integrity of the righteous manifests itself when it eventually comes to be tried.

It is indeed true that the Lord daily executes judgment by making a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, but because this is done only partially in this life, we must look higher if we desire to behold the assembly of the righteous, which is mentioned here.

Even in this world, the prosperity of the ungodly begins to pass away whenever God manifests the signs of his judgment (for then, being awakened out of sleep, they are forced to acknowledge, whether they want to or not, that they have no part with the assembly of the righteous). But because this is not always accomplished, nor with respect to all people, in the present state, we must patiently wait for the day of final revelation, in which Christ will separate the sheep from the goats.

At the same time, we must maintain it as a general truth that the ungodly are consigned to misery, for their own consciences condemn them for their wickedness. Whenever they are summoned to give an account of their life, their sleep is broken, and they perceive that they were merely dreaming when they imagined themselves to be happy, without looking inward to the true state of their hearts.

Moreover, as things here appear to be driven about at the mercy of chance, and as it is not easy for us, in the midst of the prevailing confusion, to acknowledge the truth of what the Psalmist had said, he therefore presents for our consideration the grand principle that God is the Judge of the world.

Granting this, it follows that it must be well with the upright and the just, while, on the other hand, the most terrible destruction must impend over the ungodly. According to all outward appearance, the servants of God may derive no advantage from their uprightness; but as it is the unique office of God to defend them and take care of their safety, they must be happy under his protection.

And from this we may also conclude that, as he is the certain avenger of wickedness, although for a time he may seem to take no notice of the ungodly, yet eventually he will visit them with destruction. Instead, therefore, of allowing ourselves to be deceived by their imaginary felicity, let us, in circumstances of distress, always keep before our eyes the providence of God, to whom it belongs to settle the affairs of the world and to bring order out of confusion.