Psalm 1 - Godliness versus Ungodliness

Written by

Pastor D. G. Thomas

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” - Psalm 1

Psalm 1 was written by David, who was the king who ruled Israel for forty years from 1011 B.C. to 971 B.C. For the first seven and half years of his rule, David reigned in Hebron over the tribe of Judah, and for the last thirty years of his rule he reigned in Jerusalem over all the tribes of Israel (2 Samuel 5:5, 1 Kings 2:11, 1 Chronicles 3:4). God had testified to prophet Samuel of David being “a man after God’s own heart, who will do all His will” (1 Samuel 13: 14, Acts 13:22). And David lived up to this testimony all his life. Nearly half of the 150 Psalms in the Old Testament was composed by David. In Psalm 1, David compares the blessedness of living a godly life and the wretchedness of living an ungodly life. From this psalm, we will learn about

1. what it means to be godly and ungodly;

2. meditating the word of God day and night, which is an essential part of living the godly life;

3. having a form of godliness but denying the power to living a godly life; and,

4. the blessings of God on the godly.

Godly versus ungodly

A life without God cannot be called godly. When we say God, we must remember we are talking about the God of the bible – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the one and only true, living God who created the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them. We cannot expect our life to be a godly life, if we don’t love, fear, and worship the true living God who created us; if we don’t believe and obey His words; and, if we don’t want to live according to His will. Ungodly people don’t care about God. They live a life alienated from God and are deprived of His wisdom, knowledge, and truth. They don’t fear God. They don’t seek the counsel of God. They do whatever it seems right in their own eyes, which are usually unacceptable to Him. Some of them may profess to know God, but in their works, they deny Him and His power to live a godly life. They would not seek to live to glorify God; instead, they live for their own glory and are unthankful. They willfully choose to be wicked and do evil to others.

A godly person, on the other hand, delights in God’s Word and meditates on it day and night. He delights in obeying God’s commands, in seeking God through prayer and fasting, in worshipping and fellowshipping with God, and in doing His will. A godly person does not follow the wicked counsels of the world, nor desires the sinful pleasures of men and women, but only desire to please God. Such a person would love others and seek to help and bless others. A godly person would only want to do good to others and not evil. He loves God and loves his neighbors.

There were people who lived godly lives during the old testament period. These people worshipped and called upon the true living God. God raised the Jews to be a godly nation on this earth. He separated them from all other nations to Himself and gave them the Law through the hand of Moses. Under the old covenant, a Jew would be considered living a godly life if he or she is living by the Law and worships the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, not all the Jews lived godly lives under the old covenant. The blessings on their life depended on whether they kept God’s commandments or not, since God had warned them that He put before them a blessing and a curse after He gave them the Law.

Meditating the word of God day and night is an essential part of living the godly life

David, like many other old testament saints, was a godly man. Why? He always delighted in God’s laws. He had no deceit in himself. He loved and worshipped God and enjoyed communing with God. He always longed to be in God’s presence. Having the presence of God in his life was very important to David. He also experienced trouble from ungodly (wicked) people. But in all his trials, there is one thing that kept David from going insane. And that is, he was a man who meditated on God’s word, day and night (not once in a while, when he felt like it, but day and night). Because he focused his mind on God’s word daily, his heart always rejoiced in God and delighted in Him. When trouble came, he was quick to lift his hands, mind, eyes, and heart to God and ask for help. He was not moved or quickly shaken by the troubles he faced because his delight was always in meditating on God’s word day and night. The Hebrew word used for the word 'meditate' in Ps 1:2 is transliterated as ‘hagah’, which means to ponder (think carefully) while speaking the words to oneself in a low, barely audible voice. We let the words roll in our minds like how the raffle tickets are rolled in a raffle drum.

What do you and I do when we face troubles in life? Don’t we get stressed, discouraged, anxious, and depressed? God’s word teaches us to overcome the troubles of life and to stand above our circumstances, no matter how bad the situation seems to be. This is possible if we practice meditating on God’s word day and night, because meditating the word of God renews our mind and enables us to focus on God and trust Him throughout the day. As it is written, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” (Ps 125:1).

To live a godly life, it is essential to meditate the word of God day and night and delight in doing His commandments. A person who does not delight in God’s word cannot live the godly life. To live a godly life in the new testament (present) times means to live under the new covenant, which is to live according to the commandments of Jesus Christ and the will of the Father God. As a Christian (follower of Christ), we are more privileged than the old testament saints of God. We not only have the word of God but also the Holy Spirit, who is our Helper and Comforter. Having become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we should establish the practice of meditating on God’s word day and night. Because, under the new covenant, God says, “I will put My laws into their hearts, and their minds I will write them.” (Hebrews 10:16). Under the old covenant, God wrote the commandments with His own finger on tablets of stone. Under the new covenant, He will write His commandments with His own finger not on stones but in our minds. That is, the Holy Spirit, who is the finger of God (Luke 11:20), will write the word of God in our minds and hearts. When we meditate on God’s word, our minds get renewed and the word sinks deep into our hearts and becomes like a law in our hearts. Then our hearts will be governed and directed by God’s word.

When we go through life, there will always be problems that try to take away our peace and strength: stress, temptations, tribulations, persecutions, sickness, failures, discouragements, etc.. Things may not go in the way we want. During such times, we normally focus on the trials and meditate on negatives of life. We get anxious, discouraged, and depressed. We fail to see things from God’s perspective. But as a child of God, we should not be like children who are tossed up and down by the waves and storms of this life. Satan wants to discourage and destroy us. He wants us to feel miserable and depressed. Everything he wants us to experience is opposite to what God wants us to have. Satan wants us to live a wretched life, while God wants us to live a blessed life. Satan wants us to feel wretched and dismayed by our weakness and adversities of life. God wants us to be filled with His love and joy. God wants us to overcome. God wants us to be strong, courageous, and bold. It is not God’s will for anyone of His children to live in fear, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness under the stresses of life in this world. The devil is evil. He is a liar. He attacks our mind and wants to bring it down. He wants to bring us into captivity to do his will instead of God’s will.

Oftentimes, our battles against sin, doubt, and demonic attacks begin in our minds. Hence, we need to train ourselves to meditate on God’s word, even when we are stressed and when we face troubles. We should shift our focus towards God instead of focusing on ourselves, on our enemies, and on our circumstances. When we focus on things that are pure, lovely, and on reports that are good, virtuous, and praiseworthy, none of the troubles that we go through will have the power to rule our minds. Instead, the peace of God will rule your heart and minds. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3). We should be able to pray and sing to the Lord instead of being anxious and weary. The wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of God will comfort us and strengthen our faith. The devil only wants to distract us. So, next time when we face a trial or an attack, let’s go and humble ourselves before God and meditate on His word. Let’s pray and worship before Him. Each time the devil tries to attack us, we have now trained ourselves to go to God and meditate on His word. But as David says, let’s train ourselves to meditate on God’s word day and night, not only during the time of troubles, but also when we are not going through any troubles. Let us always be mentally and spiritually prepared to overcome the troubles of our lives and not get overwhelmed and shaken by them, by consistently and steadfastly abiding in God’s word. The word of God is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).

Many times, we get defeated in our battles because our unrenewed (carnal) minds have a hard time agreeing with the truths and ways of God. We don’t have the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and the faith that we need to fight and overcome those battles. Meditating the word of God changes us from being carnally minded people to spiritually minded people. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)” By the renewal of our minds, we get transformed to be like Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2) who overcame sin, the devil, the world, and eventually death. No matter what trouble comes our way, we will be able to walk with a sound and peaceful mind. When the devil comes and speaks lies to our minds, we can immediately take the sword of the Spirit – the word of God to strike down those lies. We will be able to lift the shield of faith that you obtain from meditating God’s word to fight against the fiery darts of the enemy. As Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”(John 8:31, 32). And that’s how we attain success and victory in our lives. Thus, to live a godly life, we need to be spiritually minded. Spiritually minded people set their mind on the things of God and not on the things of this life. As it is written, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, you also will appear with Him in glory. (Col 3:1-4)" We become spiritually minded by meditating and delighting in God’s word.

Therefore, those who desire to live a godly life must develop the art of meditating on God’s word day and night and live by the word. In doing so, we will reap life, grow in the grace and knowledge of God, and receive blessings from God. By the grace of God, we will be able to then have our mind stayed on God through the word, prayer, and singing psalms and hymns to the Lord while we go about our daily activities. And finally, we will prosper and have good success in our lives.

Let’s also not forget that those who desire to live godly lives (in Christ Jesus) in the present times will be persecuted. As it is written, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12).” From the scriptures, we can see that living a godly life according to Christ is not easy but possible by the grace of God and by the power of the Spirit of Christ in us. Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unbelievers and suffered persecution from those who did not believe the gospel. But, Paul being a godly person always had the joy and peace from God in whatever situation he was in. And he was able to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7).

Having a form of godliness but denying the power to live a godly life in Christ Jesus

Many ungodly men and women are rising these days and walking contrary to the ways of God. There are people who call themselves Christians and go to church but willfully sin and live in an ungodly manner. These are people who have a form of godliness but deny the power to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. We must remember what God’s word says, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away. (3 Timothy 3:1-5).” The characteristics of a godly person would be the exact opposite of the ungodly characteristics of men described in the above verses. We must remember that God has given us the power to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. As it is written in 2 Peter 1:2-4, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Thus, those who are in Christ Jesus can live godly lives. So, let us not be like those who have a form of godliness but deny the power to live a godly life.

Blessings of God on the godly

In his life, David observed that a godly person receives the blessings of God and prospers in whatever he does. When it says ‘whatever he does,’ it is understood that a godly person will not desire nor do those things that are not pleasing to or approved by God. It means he does what is right in God’s eyes because he knows God’s will and keeps God’s commandments. He directs his steps according to the wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the truths that he obtains from meditating on the word of God day and night. His heart’s desire will be always to please God. Thus, he will always prosper in whatever he does because God is with him and for him. Abraham, David, and Daniel are notable examples. A godly person will be unmoved and is like a tree that is planted by the rivers of water, which will bear fruit all year and whose leaves does not wither, even in times of famine and drought; because, he draws and lives his life out from God - the fountain of living waters. If we live a godly life, we will stand and not wither away. We will be fruitful and will prosper in whatever we do. Our spirit, soul, and body will prosper. We will prosper and have good success in our personal life, family life, church life, and work life. Just as what God said to Joshua before he led Israel to cross over Jordan to occupy the Promised Land: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)."

Prosperity doesn’t mean we have to be wealthy. But we will be contented with what God gives us. “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but he is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content (1 Timothy 6:3-8).”

The ungodly people are like the chaff, which the wind drives away. Their end is not going to be good. They will perish in their ways and they will have no share with the inheritance of the saints of God. There are people who choose to live ungodly (or wicked) lives to achieve whatever their heart may desire, such as wealth, position, power, strength, etc. in this world. Those who walk wickedly may appear strong and invincible because their judgement is not speedily executed. But their glory is like the flowers of the field, which fades away. They will wither away in the time of shaking, drought, and famine.

Thus, if we want to be blessed by God, we must live a godly life. We must stop taking counsel from wicked and ungodly people, stop following the sinful ways of the world and stop sitting in the company of scornful people. Today, it is easy to obtain ungodly counsel, worldly wisdom, and sinful ideas from books, internet, movies, and social media. These all operate through lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. But we must not be of this world. The world has its own wisdom, ideals, and ways. But Jesus said, “the ways of the world are evil.” Our ways should not be directed by what the world around us says, but instead by what God’s word says. As it is written in Isaiah 28:29, “The Lord of hosts is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.” Those who seek His counsel and guidance will flourish. But those who live by ungodly counsel and in ungodly ways will perish.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us desire and seek to live godly lives like the old and new testament saints of the bible. Let’s exercise ourselves unto godliness by meditating on God’s word day and night and doing it, so that we will be fruitful and successful in whatever we do. As it is written, “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. (1 Timothy 4:7,8)” And let us remember, not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (into the likeness of Christ) by the renewing of our mind, so that we may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)." If we live an ungodly life, we will perish; we will be like the chaff that the wind drives away; we won’t be able to stand in the day of judgment nor in the congregation of the righteous. If we live godly, we will enjoy a blessed and peaceful life, and at the end inherit eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us pray and ask God to help us live the godly life.

Praise the Lord Jesus!

Glory to God!

Hallelujah!