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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. 
2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
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. 
4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The psalmist uses a pictorial illustration to demonstrate the radical difference between the godly and the ungodly.  The godly is pictured as a green and fruitful tree by the side of a river, and the ungodly as a heap of chaff.

Much has been said about the godly in the first two parts of our article.  Let us now consider the state of the ungodly.  One writer describes the ungodly man as someone who “is unconcerned about religion; he is neither zealous for his own salvation, nor for that of others: and he counsels and advises those with whom he converses to adopt his plan, and not trouble themselves about praying, reading, repenting, etc.  There is no need for such things; just live an honest life, make no fuss about religion, and you will fare well enough at last.”  There is no thought of eternal consequences. 

Interestingly, in the Latin Vulgate, verse 4 starts with a double negative: “Not so the ungodly, not so!”  It draws the attention of the reader back to the first three verses about the blessedness of the godly.  The godly person is happy.  Not so, the ungodly.  The godly person delights and meditates in the Word of God.  Not so, the ungodly.  The godly person is like a tree by the rivers of water - strong, stable, fruitful.  Not so, the ungodly.  In other words, the godly and the ungodly have two starkly different lifestyles and destinies.

The ungodly – like chaff

The psalmist likens the ungodly to chaff – the husk that remains when the grain is taken out of an ear of corn.   Enlarging on the sad state of those without God, the psalmist adds that the nature of chaff is so light and unstable that the wind easily blows it away.  This is an appropriate illustration of the destiny of the ungodly.  In contrast to the tree mentioned in verse 3, a heap of chaff has no roots; it is prey of the slightest breeze - flimsy, fragile and useless.  Exposed to the wind, the tree stands firm while the chaff is blown away.  Like the chaff,  the ungodly are intrinsically worthless – “like dry and worthless chaff driven off by the wind, of no value to the farmer - a substance which he is anxious only to separate wholly from his grain, and to get out of his way” – Albert Barnes. 

“Would you value them?  Would you weigh them?  They are like chaff, of no worth at all in God’s account, how highly soever they may value themselves.  Would you know the temper of their minds?  They are light and vain; they have no substance in them, no solidity; they are easily driven to and fro by every wind and temptation, and have no steadfastness.  Would you know their end?  The wrath of God will drive them away in their wickedness, as the wind does the chaff, which is never gathered nor looked after more” – Matthew Henry.  Mark their doom: “which the wind driveth away” – “death shall hurry them with its terrible blast into the fire in which they shall be utterly consumed” – The Treasury of David. 

In the same way, under God’s scrutiny, the righteous will stand, but the wicked will not.  This brings to mind the parable of the wise and foolish builder as told by Jesus:  “And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matt. 7: 26-27).

The wicked will not endure or withstand the test of judgment.  The judgment here does not refer only to the last day.  It means that, at any time reckoning is made, the ungodly will be condemned, “for the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”  They will hear the Lord’s sharp rebuke: “I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7: 23).  What strong words!  What a dreadful separation from the gracious Saviour!

Conclusion

Think through this apt description of the ungodly by C H Spurgeon: “The ungodly man is one who does not have an eye to God in his daily business, who lives in this world as if there were no God; while he attends to all the outward ceremonies of religion, he never goes to their core, never enters into their secret heart and their deep mysteries.  He sees the sacraments, but he sees not God therein; he hears the preaching, he comes up to the house of prayer, into the midst of the great congregation, he bows his head, but there is no present Deity to him, there is no manifest God.  There is no hearing of His voice, there is no bowing before His throne.” 

Does this describe our spiritual state?  Do we have “an eye to God in our daily business”?  Do we live “in this world as though there were no God”?  Do we merely attend to the outward ceremonies of our faith?  Do we come into God’s sanctuary but have no fear of Him?  Is there a “hearing of His voice”?  Is there a “bowing before His throne”?  Are we zealous for our own salvation?  Are we concerned about our eternal destiny?  Brethren, may we not be reckoned among the ungodly, the scoffers and the scorners.  Only two ways!  Which way are we taking?  May we choose that ONE way that leads to blessedness and eternal life!

- Pastor