The Happy Happy kjv@Psalms:1

Contemplations of this modern age in the light of "tree planted by rivers of water" happiness.

(by Randy Pritts)

If there is anything that could be said about this current time and age, it would be that this time is not a particularly happy time for most people. Sure, we each can find our moments and glimpses of happiness somewhat where we can, but "tree planted by rivers of water" type lasting happiness is far from us. Need I spend time prosecuting the multitude of current evidences? Are you willing to take on the defense against these evidences to prove to me that this generation is in fact happy?

Perhaps it is as simple as the psalmist here in Psalm 1 states: we have been listening too much to ungodly counsel, we have walked the path of sinners, we have taken our seat among the scornful. If this is indeed so, should it be any surprise why we are so unhappy or how it is we became as a whole generation so unhappy? There is only one stage beyond this unhappiness, when not even God is willing to keep this all from caving in on us unsupported. I ask you: how much unhappiness amounts to being enough?

Having studied the Psalms and human nature as much as I have, I would go as far as to say that the ungodly are purposely inflaming our cultural and societal unhappiness for their own deceptive purposes. It is not that the root causes thereof do not need to be addressed, it is that the means with which they intend to resolve these ills intentionally cuts the psalmist's tree at the trunk and replaces the living water with a driving wind. Does the remaining chaff ever find its happiness? The ungodly counsel is counsel that is absent of any counsel that may have been given by God. The ungodly advice is the advice too often listened to; even by Jews and Christians during these unhappy times.

The path of sin allows for numerous individual directions. Its well trodden road is more like a wide field trampled down in every direction by a herd's frantic stampede. Sin is much more than not measuring up to ten simple commandments, it is not measuring up to being a child of God. When sinners get stirred up by ungodly counsel they become willing to do most anything, whether legal or illegal, moral or immoral. Not only will they see it as being right in their own eyes, some will even do it thinking that in so doing they are doing service to God. It is a very dangerous path that sinners are on when they align and console with the counsel of the ungodly.

Then there is the seat. The ungodly, the sinner, they become both judge and jury over the otherwise sound and just. This is when the saint must realize just how far this social disease has gotten. When right is wrong and good is evil, when no matter what the just say or do it is racist or bigoted or unacceptable or blasphemous, when the unjust stand in vicious judgment over the just and the sinner joins right along then you know that unhappiness for everybody is most certain and impending.

What is the psalmist's answer? One simple word: Torah, to place considerable value to it, to ponder more than you or ever any Pharisee has day and night. Not to become legalist. No, the law is only a part of Torah and rarely are legalists happy themselves or a happy influence upon society. Torah is God making unconditional promises, God establishing HIS merciful redemptive plan, collecting a people who were not a people to carry the Torah torch forward. Torah is about man in light of this God and man's constant failings, failing even with all the trappings of an established religion and a dedicated nation, leading us to the realization of our severe need for a redeeming messiah. Torah is seed from which sprouts the additional writings of prophets and psalmists then the gospel and epistles and revelations. He that keeps himself from the ungodly/sinful/scornful influences all around us is he that delights and meditates this same Torah day and night. By so doing this man becomes like a "tree planted by rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper". Blessed is this man. Blessed are these men. Because of these few but mighty men blessed then is that family and nation.

"The ungodly are not so". They will prove themselves to be exactly what they are, chaff. For a time they had convinced themselves that under their reign and supervision everyone else would become happy. For the time they were convinced that inflaming our unhappiness would lead to where we'd make their reign to be so. What they are able to cut and tear down they are not able to build back up. Only the Christ projected forward by Torah is all that. So friend we must consider Psalm 1 and what it is trying to tell us to contemplate:

kjv@Psalms:1:1 @ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

kjv@Psalms:1:2 @ But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

kjv@Psalms:1:3 @ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

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

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

kjv@Psalms:1:6 @ For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Happy Happy kjv@Psalms:1

Contemplations of this modern age in the light of "tree planted by rivers of water" happiness.

Randy Pritts is the author of the "Back to the Psalms Series" audio project and the upcoming 2020 book "Foundations Of The Like Precious Faith Series". Follow Randy at his website likepreciousfaith.us which features a wide variety of original and classic Christian content, bible translations, dictionaries, indexes, and other public domain resources for the modern "like precious faith" believer's ongoing edification.