Psalms 1:4

1:4

In the Septuagint it is stated, “Not so the ungodly, they are not so” driving home the point with emphasis that they are different from and unlike the just described Godly man. The Amplified spells it out in this way, “Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]”, which leaves little room for doubt as to who and why. Two of my commentaries took care to point out the emphasis placed upon this line in the Septuagint which would lead me to believe that it is more than likely a more accurate translation or at the very least gives it better or more appropriate emphasis.

“The ungodly are not so…”:
• In this verse the contrast of the ill estate of the wicked is employed to heighten the coloring of that fair and pleasant picture which precedes it. We are hereby to understand that whatever good thing is said of the righteous is not true in the case of the ungodly. Mark the use of the term “ungodly”… these are the beginners in evil… the least offensive of sinners. If such is the sad state of those who quietly continue in their morality, and neglect their God, what must be the condition of open sinners and shameless infidels? Here is their character: “they are like chaff”, intrinsically worthless, dead, unserviceable, without substance, and easily carried away. Here, also, mark their doom: “the wind drives away”, death shall hurry them with its terrible blast into the fire in which they shall be utterly consumed. CHS
• The Psalmist might, with propriety, have compared the ungodly to a tree that speedily withers, as Jeremiah likens them to the heath which grows in the wilderness (Jer. 17:6). But not reckoning this figure sufficiently strong, he debases them by employing another, which represents them in a light still more contemptible: and the reason is, that he does not keep his eye on the prosperous condition of which they boast for a short time, but his mind is seriously pondering on the destruction which awaits them, and will at length overtake them. Although the ungodly now live prosperously… they shall become like chaff; for when the Lord has brought them low, He shall drive them hither and thither with the blast of His wrath. The Holy Spirit teaches us to contemplate with the eye of faith, what might otherwise seem incredible; for although the ungodly rise high, and appear to great advantage… we may rest assured that he will be even as chaff or refuse, whenever God chooses to cast him down from his high estate, with the breath of His mouth. JC
• [The ungodly] are led by the counsel of the wicked, in the way of sinners, to the seat of the scornful; they have no delight in the law of God, nor ever think of it; they bring forth no fruit but grapes of Sodom. In particular, the righteous are like valuable, useful, fruitful trees… they (the wicked) are “like the chaff which the wind drives away”, the very lightest of the chaff… [which] is not capable of being put to any use. They are… of no worth at all in God’s account, how highly soever they may value themselves. They have no substance in them… they are easily driven by temptation. The wrath of God will drive them away in their wickedness. MH


Personal Summary:

As in verses 1 and 2 we see a contrast between the negative (vs.1) and the positive (vs.2) of the Godly man’s walk. So here we see a division in the first half (vs. 1-3) and the second half (vs.4-6) of chapter one. The first half deals with the Godly man who lives to God’s glory and according to His will. He delights in the things of God, he constantly meditates upon them, and he is rewarded with spiritual prosperity. Vs. 4 begins the division and we see the ungodly man now described and in a couple of verses the opposite promise is given, but nonetheless a promise to the wicked.
It has never ceased to amaze me that people in the world, including many professing Christianity, will somehow try to blame God for the wicked man’s fate and condemnation. As if God has not done everything to save wicked men deserving of His wrath. In fact it seems it would be far more appropriate if God would strike each of us from the face of the earth at every moment of every day if based solely on our actions. It is far more amazing that God saves even one of us; not that he condemns any of us. Abraham Kuyper says in his “Stone Lectures”, “The sovereignty of God is and remains, for Calvinism, its unchangeable point of departure.” How wonderfully true this is in this matter and in all things generally. Thank the Lord He has allowed us to see this! We must have faith that not only is this true but will never cease to be true. God will, in His sovereignty, save some from their sins and lead them to live Godly lives, and He will likewise punish others for their sin, and He will do both in perfect righteousness.
Sometimes in our Christian walk it can seem as if we are losing the battle temporarily. Sometimes our focus is not on the Lord and His ways but on the temporal material things. We allow ourselves to covet what the world has. I now barely have a car that runs. It would be easy for me to start coveting the cars that my neighbors drive. Or the houses that friends live in. We have all done it and unfortunately may well do it again. But when our focus is on the Lord we see the futility of what the lost man has. Yes, they may indeed win the material battle here on this earth. And why wouldn’t they? They care for nothing more than what will satisfy their own selfish desires and lusts. They will do anything to get ahead in the world. Morality to them is spelled out by success and is only as good as it will afford them that success. But in the end they are blown away like the chaff. They cannot take what they have with them and I imagine it is a fear beyond measure when they stand in front of the Lord and have to give account as to why they lived their lives for sin and worldly gain and despised Him every step of the way. Yet the Godly man lives for different ends. We live to grow spiritually and to please and glorify God. We are most destitute when we feel our lives pulling away from God rather than drawing near Him. We are most satisfied and full when we are learning and growing and drawing near to Him. He is our very sustenance. And we with David, in the end, will say, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psa. 16:11)