"The ungodly are NOT so"

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;
 ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 ³ 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.
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
         But the way of the ungodly shall perish.     -Psalm 1



David declares the beauty of the person who submits themselves to God... likens their strength to a tree planted by rivers of water. That is one strong tree! A tree with nourishment for it's very being.. Roots extending mightily downward, branches expanding mightily upward and outwards. Lush, green leaves housing creatures from ants to squirrels to birds... And at the height of the current maturity cycle producing fruit capable of making more like itself. What a powerful comparison David makes to a righteous person with that tree. But if we look at another writing of David, the picture looks a little different:

Psalm 73
¹ Truly God is good to Israel,
         To such as are pure in heart.
 ² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
         My steps had nearly slipped.
 ³ For I was envious of the boastful,
         When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
       
 ⁴ For there are no pangs in their death,
         But their strength is firm.
 ⁵ They are not in trouble as other men,
         Nor are they plagued like other men.
 ⁶ Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
         Violence covers them like a garment.
 ⁷ Their eyes bulge with abundance;
         They have more than heart could wish.
 ⁸ They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
         They speak loftily.
 ⁹ They set their mouth against the heavens,
         And their tongue walks through the earth.
       
 ¹⁰ Therefore his people return here,
         And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
 ¹¹ And they say, “How does God know?
         And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
 ¹² Behold, these are the ungodly,
         Who are always at ease;
         They increase in riches.
 ¹³ Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
         And washed my hands in innocence.
 ¹⁴ For all day long I have been plagued,
         And chastened every morning.
       
 ¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
         Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
 ¹⁶ When I thought how to understand this,
         It was too painful for me—
 ¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
         Then I understood their end.
       
 ¹⁸ Surely You set them in slippery places;
         You cast them down to destruction.
 ¹⁹ Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
         They are utterly consumed with terrors.
 ²⁰ As a dream when one awakes,
         So, Lord, when You awake,
         You shall despise their image.
       
 ²¹ Thus my heart was grieved,
         And I was vexed in my mind.
 ²² I was so foolish and ignorant;
         I was like a beast before You.
 ²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You;
         You hold me by my right hand.
 ²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel,
         And afterward receive me to glory.
       
 ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You?
         And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
 ²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail;
         But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
       
 ²⁷ For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
         You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
 ²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God;
         I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
         That I may declare all Your works.

Here we see David setting forth the anguish and sometimes confusion from choosing the Way of the righteous. Being in a storm and being blown fiercely by internal forces as well as external. And he realizes to whom he should turn  for his strength and his answers.

The ungodly however are not so!!!!  When the day of judgment arises (and not just the day when Christ returns and all will be judged, but the day when life wraps back around to bring a person into account) the ungodly are found to be dried up, without sustenance or resource, not rooted. Like chaff would be in a raging storm, so are the ungodly. David reveals that they are on a "slippery" place...He says they will be consumed by terrors..  He says God Himself will cast them down to destruction.

If you have been so wise to choose the Way of the righteous, don't think you won't feel like David on some occasions. Looking over and seeing the ungodly and saying to yourself  "They got it goin on!". But understand the benefit of where you are standing; planted by the rivers. When the storm comes you will be not only be better prepared but will also be able to provide security for others. You will be nourished to your very soul and the Lord will know your way and help you along it.

The ungodly are not so....