Psalm 1:1–2
Memory Verse
Blessed is the high-born man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, and in the way of the sinner, he does not stand, and in the seat of the scoffer, does not sit. Because if he delights in the law of the LORD and in His law he mutters under his breath day and night (Psalm 1:1–2).
Under the Mosaic law, obedience to the law brought health, wealth, and happiness (Deuteronomy 7:15; 28:1–12). The one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, will not stand in the way of the sinner, and refuses to take a seat with the scoffer is blessed because of his obedience to the Mosaic Law. In order to maintain obedience, a Jew was instructed to mutter the law under his breath all day long. This muttering kept the law forefront in the mind of the Jew for the purpose of reminding him to continually abide by it.
For the Christian, things are different. Unlike the Old Testament saints, the New Testament saints possess a saved spirit and eternal life (1 John 5:12; 1 Corinthians 6:17). Israel was promised eternal life in the resurrection (John 11:24). The Christian has the Spirit of the living God, and thus his rules are not written on stone tablets, but on the tables of the heart (1 Corinthians 3:2–3). Therefore, instead of muttering under his breath all day long, the Christian is to frame his mind on the things above and put on Christ as an outer garment (Colossians 3:1–3; Romans 13:14). By putting on Christ as an outer garment, the Christian is aligning his thoughts with God’s opinion of him in Christ. This type of mindset does not require law because it seeks only to fulfill the desires of the Spirit as he takes each step by the Spirit and thus governs the conduct of his life according to the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 18, 25).
When it comes to the instructions from the Psalmist, in contrast to a Jew who mutters under his breath to obey the law and was thus blessed with health, wealth, and happiness, the Christian who sets his mind on things above and walks according to the Spirit will manifest the quality of the righteousness of God he possesses in Christ. This type of lifestyle produces an unruffled mind and a quality of life that reflects the activity of God through the conduct of the New Testament saint. Thus, a Christian with this type of mindset will not walk in the counsel of the wicked, follow the path of the sinner, nor sit in the seat of the scoffer because of who he is in Christ.