PSALM 1:4-6 - THE UNGODLY PERISH

PSALM 1:4-6

THE UNGODLY PERISH

Psalm 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Susie: The first three verses of Psalm 1 described the blessed, godly person. Verse 4 begins the abrupt contrast of the ungodly person, the unredeemed. This person is compared to chaff.

Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language

CHAFF, noun

1. The husk, or dry calyx of corn, and grasses. In common language, the word is applied to the husks when separated from the corn by thrashing, riddling or winnowing. The word is sometimes used rather improperly to denote straw cut small for the food of cattle.

2. Refuse; worthless matter; especially that which is light, and apt to be driven by the wind. In scripture, false doctrines, fruitless designs, hypocrites and ungodly men are compared to chaff Psalms 1:4; Jeremiah 23:28; Isaiah 33:11; Matthew 3:12.

Susan: When wheat or barley were tossed into the air during threshing, the worthless part would fall away and scatter in the wind. No one bothered to recover it because it had no value.

Susie: The ungodly person, the one who does not follow the Lord’s will and ways, has no purpose of eternal significance in this world. This person may even have worldly importance, do many good works, and seem to make a difference. But only what is done through the power of the Holy Spirit is everlasting.

Psalm 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Susan: The ungodly, the unbelievers, cannot stand up to God’s judgment because they do not have a defense or an advocate. The Christian has The Advocate, Jesus Christ, the son of the Most-High God, Elohim, presenting the fact that He personally purchased their redemption. His blood washed away their guilt.

Susie: As we were discussing this, Susan pointed out that the ungodly are separated from the righteous. They cannot stand among Christ’s congregation. Jesus described this:

Matthew 25:32-33 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Susie: Following Jesus, abiding in God’s word, is therefore paramount. It is literally the difference between life and death, fulfillment and meaninglessness, heaven or hell.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Psalm 1:6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Susan: There is not one thing that the Lord does not know. Moreover, this implies intimate knowledge. There is not one part of me that God is not intimately acquainted with, inside or out. He is familiar with those parts that must be pruned to preserve fruitfulness.

Susie: God sees past our outward façade, and sees into our very core.

1 Samuel 16:7b . . . for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Susie: God also knows the way of the righteous, those covered by the righteousness of Jesus, because He plans and guides each step of our lives.

Susan: Since I do not have feet, I would say God drives each choice and decision I make.

Susie: The ungodly (and no one can be godly apart from the saving work of Jesus) shall perish! Does that mean they cease to exist?

Susan: No, unfortunately it does not mean they cease to exist. They do have an eternal existence, but it is completely without God, without the Source of life and light.

Susie: Wow! Because God is the source of all that is good (James 1:17), they will live forever with a total absence of anything good, anything comforting, anything cheerful. Some translations say they will be “doomed” which is an apt description of the unbelievers’ eternity.

QUESTIONS

1.   Why is “chaff” a fitting metaphor for those who do not believe in and trust Jesus Christ?

2.   Are you certain you will have Jesus as your Advocate when the day of judgment comes? Explain how you can be certain.

3.   Does this passage encourage you to tell others about God’s saving grace? What would you say to them?

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