Drawn in by the Counsel of the Wicked

The Psalmist wrote:

   Psalm 1:1 (NIV) ¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
You must pay attention when the Bible tells you that a person is blessed when he does or doesn't do something. There is no need to draw attention to something unless it is unusual. A blessing in itself implies that there is a special favor on the person because he or she has avoided or committed to something.

 In this case the person blessed is one who did not walk in the counsel of the wicked. This must mean that it is easy or likely to walk in this counsel. It must mean that it takes some effort to avoid the counsel of the wicked..

The counsel of the wicked is popular. It is accepted as the norm in a fallen world. Denying this counsel makes you an oddball. It sets you against those who have accepted this counsel as normal.

The counsel of the wicked is often couched in godly terms. Many godly people are duped by the counsel of the wicked because it is often a thin layer of truth stuffed with a lie. It takes godly discernment to distinguish the truth from the lies. The counsel of the wicked says something like, "God wants His church to grow. (Truth) We need to stop telling people they are sinners in need of Jesus if we want to see them in our church. (A lie from the pit of hell)."

Continuing to walk in the counsel of the wicked will lead the person to stand in the way of the sinners. Standing represents a value that has been established. It is an identifier that has been given to that person. It is seen by the defense of the wicked counsel. It is much like an attorney who defends his or her client. He stands to defend the client even if the client is guilty.He needn't prove innocence. All he needs to do is bring doubt into the equation. Thus, we have the acceptance of the counsel of the wicked.

After making his case the one who has stood in the way of sinners will set on the governing counsel of those who create the counsel of the wicked. He mocks those who will stand for righteousness. He makes the righteous appear ridiculous because there are so few who refuse to walk in the counsel of the wicked. He makes his own way righteous by the standard of those who sit with him.

How can anyone discern that counsel is wicked? The Psalmist answers this too:

Psalm 1:2 (NIV) ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
It seems to me that having a time alone with the Lord and His word each day will keep us from falling into the trap of the counsel of the wicked. Taking delight in God's word will result in reading and meditating on it. It will become a part of the individual.

Though the Psalmist does not state the reverse, the one who walks in the counsel of the Lord is blessed. He stands with the righteous and sits with those who give godly counsel. This godly counsel will look like foolishness to those who do not possess the spirit of God. It will be life to those who receive it into their hearts.

So, when was the last time you spend alone time with God and His word? Failing to spend this time makes you very susceptible to walking in the counsel of the wicked.

I have seen many believers drawn into the counsel of the wicked. They all have one thing in common. They don't have any time meditating on God's word.