When There Are Two Paths to Choose. Part 2.
In Psalm 1, we find two different men; the Blessed Man (which we learned is a picture of Jesus), and the wicked man. We already went into detail about the Blessed Man (You can find that article HERE). So let’s dig deeper and take a look at a different sort of person and how we can choose which nature we are going to follow.
THE WICKED MAN
1. Is Blown Away By Every Wind of Doctrine.
In verse 4, the ungodly are compared to chaff:
“Chaff is the outer shell (or husk) that must be removed to get at the valuable kernels of grain inside. Chaff is very light and is carried away by even the slightest wind, while the good grain falls back to the earth. Chaff is a symbol of a faithless life that drifts along without direction.” — Life Application Bible
The ungodly—those who neglect meditating on the Word of God—are like chaff, carried away by every wind of doctrine they hear. But let’s be honest: the “ungodly” described in Psalm 1 isn’t just the unsaved. It can be you and me as well. How often have we been blown about, lacking direction, because we’ve failed to spend time meditating on and learning God’s Word for ourselves?
The ungodly—those not rooted in God’s Word—don’t know right from wrong. They cling to the latest “Christian” trend, only to find themselves drifting into a life of spiritual death. But God’s truth is not like shifting winds. Right and wrong are clearly defined in His Word, which never changes with the times, the trends, or the teachers.
Let this be a reminder to us all: our foundation must be the unchanging Word of God. When we are rooted in Him, we won’t be carried away like chaff, but will stand firm, bearing the fruit of a blessed and grounded life.
2. Has No Hope of Eternal Life.
Verse 5 shifts our focus to what happens to the ungodly. While the blessed become fruitful—planted in the Word, thriving by the rivers of living water, and prospering in their relationship with God—the ungodly are not so.
Their outcome is clear: they perish. Eternal life does not await them; instead, they are lost, separated from God forever.
Jesus echoes this truth in Matthew 7:13-14:
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The path of the ungodly is wide and easy, but it leads to destruction. The narrow path—the path of the blessed—is one of obedience and devotion to God’s Word. It’s not always easy, but it is the way that leads to life.
Psalm 1 calls us to examine which path we are walking. Are we planted and thriving by the streams of living water, or are we drifting like chaff, destined to perish? Let us choose to walk the narrow way, rooted in the Word and delighting in the Lord.
In Psalm 1, we are presented with two people, two natures, and two destinies. As Christians, we often become confused and unsettled when we try to live in both natures—straddling the line between righteousness and ungodliness. But there’s no middle ground.
The Lord knows the way of the righteous because the happy and blessed one is someone who has a deep relationship with God Almighty. We know Him, and He knows us. But the ungodly? They perish.
My Friends, be mindful of what you allow into your ears. Guard your ear-gate carefully. Be discerning about who you let counsel you and who you go to for Biblical teaching and understanding.
The only way to truly walk the path of the righteous is to learn the Word of God for yourself. As Acts 17:11 reminds us, we are to examine the Scriptures daily. Study the Word. Meditate on it. Ponder it. Think about it from day to night. Let it saturate your heart and mind.
I encourage you to cultivate a deep relationship with our Heavenly Father. This is where true happiness and blessing are found. This relationship will keep you grounded and secure, protecting you from being swept away by every new wind of doctrine. And most importantly, this relationship will keep you from perishing.
