Skip to main content

The Appearance of What's Right

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. (Psalm 1:1, ESV)


Classic Commentary


In the Hebrew, the word blessed is a plural noun, ashrey (blessednesses), that is, all blessednesses are the portion of that man who has not gone away, etc.; as though it were said, "All things are well with that man who," etc.


If a man has found that pearl of great price, to love the law of God and to be separate from the ungodly, all blessednesses belong to that man, but if he does not find this jewel, he will seek for all blessednesses and will never find one! For as all things are pure unto the pure, so all things are lovely unto the loving, all things good unto the good; and, universally, such as you are yourself, such is God himself unto you, though he is not a created being.


The word counsel is without doubt here to be received as signifying decrees and doctrines, seeing that no society of men exists without being formed and preserved by decrees and laws. David, however, by this term strikes at the pride and sinful recklessness of the ungodly. First, because they will not humble themselves so far as to walk in the law of the Lord, but rule themselves by their own counsel. And then he calls it their "counsel," because it is their prudence, and the way that seems to them to be without error. For this is the destruction of the ungodly - their being prudent in their own eyes and in their own esteem, and clothing their errors in the garb of prudence and of the right way. For if they came to men in the open garb of error, it would not be so distinguishing a mark of blessedness not to walk with them.


But David does not here say, "in the folly of the ungodly," or "in the error of the ungodly;" and therefore he admonishes us to guard with all diligence against the appearance of what is right, that the devil transformed into an angel of light not seduce us by his craftiness. And he contrasts the counsel of the wicked with the law of the Lord, that we may learn to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, who are always ready to give counsel to all, to teach all, and to offer assistance unto all, when they are of all men least qualified to do so.


A Thought to Keep


Carefully examine your motives when you assume something looks or feels right. The counsel of God starts with His Word.


For the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ[GreaterLOVE/Martin Luther@AdaptedfromCharlesH.Spurgeon'sthetreasuryofDavid,Psalm1:1]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

W'afa m'animguase, de kɔ asennua no so - PAN 679

1. W'afa m'animguase, de kɔ asennua no so De sesaa N'anuonyam de maa me W'afa me mmusubɔ de kɔ asennua no so De sesaa abrabɔ pa de maa me Chorus: M'asomdwoe a m'anya yi Efiri asennua no so na εbaeε Masomdwoe a manya yi Efiri asennua no so na εbaeε 2. W'afa m'afodi no de kɔ asennua no so De seseaa bembu de maa me W'afa me nkoayε de kɔ asennua no so De sesaa adehyedi maa me 3. Nnebɔneyεfo a εnnε, yeanya nkwagye yi Efiri asennua no so na εbaeε ɔsoro kwan no a abue, ama yεn nnε da yi Efiri asennua no so na εbaeε PAN 679 EUNICE JOHNSON
Post a Comment
Read more

Who Decided Which Book Went into the Bible

Just about everyone wants to know how the sixty-six books got chosen to be in the Bible. Why these sixty-six? Why not a few more (or a few less)? Why these books and not others? In Persecution in the Early Church Herbert Workman tells the story of a Christian who was brought before the Roman governor of Sicily during the last great persecution of the church. His crime? Possessing a copy of the Gospels. The governor asked , “Where did these come from? Did you bring them from your home?” The believer replied, “ I have no home, as my Lord Jesus knows .” The governor asked his prisoner to read a portion of the Gospels. He chose a portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:  “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ” Next he read from Luke:  “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ” At this, the judge ordered the prisoner taken away—to his death. Under Roman law new religi...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Know with Certainty the Plans God Has for You

All around the prophet Jeremiah, the whole world seemed to be falling apart. His home, his nation, his people—everything continued to slip away. But right in the midst of this dark time, God gave a promise that still fills us with hope today: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Perhaps you have come face to face with the sorrow that Jeremiah felt. Perhaps you, too, know what it’s like to see everything fall apart all around you. You know the pain, the uncertainty. But do you know the promise? God gave this pledge to the people of Israel who lived in exile, but it’s no less true to any of us who follow Jesus. He does have a plan and purpose for us that—while not always easy—is assuredly for our good and His glory (Romans 8). So, how can we know this plan He has for us? And how can we walk confidently in it? Listen Up Before God gave this famous promise, He warned the p...
Post a Comment
Read more