The Way of the Righteous (Ps. 1:1-6, 19:7-10) Blessed The Lord blesses/favors/makes happy the righteous (Ps. 1.1, 5:12, 106:3, Prov. 8:32, Luke 11:28, James 1:25, Rev. 1:3, 22:7 & 14, He also blesses their children, Prov. 20:7) God blesses us by maintaining an intimate relationship with us (Ps. 1:6) When the psalm says that the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, it literally says, “the Lord knows the way of the righteous.” It is the Hebrew word that denotes knowing in the sense of having a relationship. The same word is used when the Bible speaks of the way a married couple know each other. (Ex. 33:17, Jer.24:7, Lev. 26:12) By contrast, the ungodly man is like “chaff” (Ps. 1:4, 35:5, Job 21:18, Isa. 5:24, 17:13, 29:5, 41:15, Dan. 2:35, Hos. 13:3, Matt. 3:2, Luke 3:17 ), unanchored, unguided and unprotected and therefore subject to being “blown away” by the “wind”, the invisible influences of this world, i.e. Satan. (Ps. 82:5, John 8:34, 8:44, 12:35, Eph. 2:1-3) Walk/Stand/Sit (Ps 1:1) There is a progression implied here. We walk/behave in a way that leads us to take a stand and thereafter, perhaps as a consequence, to sit/abide in a particular place. (Zech. 3:7) Walks Heb.halak (verb), "to go, walk, behave" (Vine) Counsel Heb.’etash, "the plan, advice, advisement" (Strong) Whose counsel/advice should we follow? We are not suppose to walk according to the counsel/advice of the wicked (Prov. 1:15, Micah 6:16, 1 Chron. 10:13) We are suppose to walk according to the counsel/advice of God? (Ps. 33:11, 128:1, Judges 18:5, 20:18 & 23, 1 Sam. 14:37, Prov. 19:21, Isa. 28:29, 46:10, Jer. 32:19, Heb. 6:17) Where do we find the counsel/advice of God? In Gods Law/Word We are called to “delight” in God’s Law/Word (Ps. 1:2, 40:8, 112:1, 119:15,16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 174, Isa. 58:2, Rom. 7:22) To delight means to desire, and place value on. We are called to “meditate” on God’s Law/Word (Ps. 1:2, 63:6, 119:15, 16, 23, 48, 78, 148, Josh. 1:8) What are the benefits of seeking God’s counsel/advice?
Life (Ps. 19:7, Matt. 4:4, Deut. 5:33, Ezek. 33:15, John 8:12) “reviving the soul." or "restoring the life". Wisdom (Ps. 19:7) Joy (Ps. 19:8) Peace (Gal. 6:16) Mercy (2 Chron. 6:14, Gal. 6:16) Rest (Jer. 6:16) We should also walk:
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humbly with God (Micah 6:8) as Christ walked (1 John 2:6) in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16 & 25, Rom. 8:1 & 4) in newness of life (Rom. 6:4) honestly (Rom. 13:13, 1 Thess. 4:12, 3 John 1:4) by faith, not sight (2 Cor. 5:7) in good works (Eph. 2:10, Col. 1:10) worthy of the vocation in which we were called (Eph.4:1, 1 Cor. 7:17) in love (Eph. 5:2) as children of the light (Eph. 5:8) circumspectly (Eph. 5:15) Stand Heb.’amad, "to take one’s stand or to stand upright" (Vine) Way Heb.derek, "a path, a road, a manner of life or mode of action" (Vine) Whose way should we take a stand for/in? We are not suppose to take a stand for/in the way of sinners (Ps. 1:1) We are suppose to take a stand for/in God’s way (Jer. 6:16, Phil. 1:27, 4:1, Acts 5:20, 1 Cor. 15:1, 16:13, Gal. 5:1, Eph. 6:13-14, Col. 4:12, 2 Thess. 2:15) Sits Heb.yashab, "to abide, remain" (Vine) Where should we sit/abide? We are told not to sit/abide in the seat of mockers (Ps. 1:1, Jude 17-21, 1 Cor. 15:33) We are told to sit/abide in Christ (John 15:4-10, 1 John 2:27-28)