Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 1
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." — Psalms 1:1-3 (ASV)
To meditate on God's word is to converse with ourselves about the great things contained in it, with intense mental focus and unwavering concentration. We must have constant regard for the word of God as the rule for our actions and the source of our comforts; and keep it in our thoughts night and day. For this purpose, no time is unsuitable.
"The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 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 1:4-6 (ASV)
The ungodly are the reverse of the righteous, both in character and condition. As it says, The ungodly are not so (Psalms 1:4); they are led by the counsel of the wicked, in the way of sinners, to the seat of the scornful. They have no delight in the law of God; they bring forth no fruit but what is evil.
The righteous are like useful, fruitful trees. In contrast, the ungodly are like the chaff that the wind drives away—the dust that the owner of the threshing floor desires to have driven away, as it is of no use.
They are of no worth in God's account, however highly they may value themselves. They are easily driven to and fro by every wind of temptation. The chaff may be, for a while, among the wheat, but He is coming, whose fan is in his hand, and who will thoroughly purge his floor. Those who, by their own sin and folly, make themselves like chaff, will be found to be so before the whirlwind and fire of Divine wrath.
The doom of the ungodly is fixed. However, whenever the sinner becomes aware of this guilt and misery, he may be admitted into the company of the righteous by Christ, the living way, and become in Christ a new creature. He has new desires, new pleasures, hopes, fears, sorrows, companions, and employments. His thoughts, words, and actions are changed.
He enters a new state and bears a new character. Behold, all things are become new by Divine grace, which changes his soul into the image of the Redeemer. How different the character and end of the ungodly!
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