Bible
16. Could you give me an analysis of the first Psalm? |
Psalm 1 |
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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. But his delight is in the
law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall
be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit
in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind
driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor
sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of
the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. |
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The man who does not
walk according to the advices of the merciless people, who doesn’t take
pleasure in going round with sinners to scheme evil things and to harm his
neighbour, and who does not take pleasure in scoffing at people, that is, in mocking
at people, as many do, but he takes pleasure in meditating continually on the
Word of God and of course in obeying it for the meditation of the Word of God
must be done in order to practice the commandments of God (which are
righteousness and truth), is blessed, that is, happy. Someone may say: ‘Is that
really true?’ Yes, of course, for I myself have experienced and I still
experience this happiness. And together with me there are many other people
who have experienced and still experience the truthfulness of these words. |
Instead, nowadays it
seems that a man can be happy if he walks in the counsel of the wicked, if he
frequents wicked persons to harm people, and if he mocks at everybody and
everything. But it is a vain appearance, for there is no happiness nor peace
for these people. The prophet Isaiah was right when he said: “There is no
peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21), and therefore there are
no beatitudes for them. They refuse to heed the One who is the spring of all
beatitudes, how can they be happy? Let no one be deceived by the smiles, the
riches, and the fame of the wicked and of the scoffers; for they are not
happy at all, but they are full of troubles, fears, and they have inwardly an
awful feeling of emptiness. |
The righteous is
compared to a tree, but not to any tree planted in any place, but to a tree
planted by the rivers of water, thus to a tree which is able to take on water
continually. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook (Proverbs 18:4), and
the righteous is always by this flowing brook to take on wisdom. This enables
him to renew his strength, even in the midst of the deepest distresses (Psalm
84:7); and to shine as light in the midst of this crooked and perverse
generation. His leaf will never wither, but will be always green. And it’s a
pleasure to look at a tree which never withers because it is planted by the
rivers of water. Furthermore the righteous brings forth his fruit to the
glory of his God, and he brings forth his fruit in due season, that is, in
the season appointed by God just as any fruit-bearing tree brings forth its
fruit in due season. And then, whatever he does prospers, of course whatever
is in the will of God for him, whatever is in the Lord. Counsel and sound
judgment belong to God’s wisdom (Proverbs |
However, while the
righteous are compared to trees planted by the rivers of water, the wicked
are compared to the chaff, therefore to something that disappears because of
a gust of wind. The prophet Isaiah compared the wicked to the troubled sea,
for he says: “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,
whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Isaiah 57:20), in order to explain that
they have no peace in their hearts being tossed by various fears, and that
out of them come only foolishness and perversion instead of fruits of
righteousness. But let us go back to the image of the chaff: it is evident
that as the chaff does not stand before the wind, so the wicked cannot stand
before the judgement of God for they will be condemned and cast into the
eternal fire where they will be tormented for ever, and they will not be able
to stand together with the righteous for their place of destination will be
the eternal fire while the place of destination of the righteous will be the
New Jerusalem, the heavenly city. Outside (this city) are dogs, those who
practice magic arts, fornicators, murderers, idolaters and everyone who loves
and practices falsehood (Revelation |
It cannot be
otherwise, for the way of the wicked leads to eternal destruction and shame,
while the way of the righteous leads to eternal bliss. |
To God who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, be glory
and honour forever. Amen. |