Psalm 1:1b Verse Map: Walk Not in the Counsel of the Ungodly
In this article, I verse map Psalm 1:1b. Simple phrase, “who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly” has just 9 words. It may be short, but it holds a ton of truth that can impact the way that we seek and evaluate the advice we give to others – as well as the advice we give to ourselves.
In this verse map of Psalm 1:1b, I look into keywords, context and translations, cross references, views of God and man, and offer some reflection and prayer based on these powerful words.
Keywords in Psalm 1:1b – Walks, Counsel and Ungodly
Now let’s get into the keywords I chose to study in this verse map.
First is the word, “walks.” In most translations, the word is translated as walks. But I felt it was still worth taking a look at. You can see that figuratively speaking, walk represents a mode of life, action, etc. It means to traverse in this direction or that direction, to proceed or move. Webster’s 1828 dictionary provides this definition of the word, “to live, act or behave. To pursue a particular course of life.”
The thing that stood out to me here is that walking in the counsel of the ungodly isn’t passive. It’s action we take repeatedly, time after time. It’s a way of life. It doesn’t just happen, but instead comes about as a result of pursuit. We actually choose to do it!
The Counsel of the Ungodly
Now let’s look at the word, “counsel.” Counsel refers to the advice, purpose, plan, consultation, scheme and strategy. Especially when I consider the words schemes and strategy, I see them as something we invest in. We put our confidence in the counsel. We’re looking for solutions, For a plan. And the ungodly are more than happy to give us one.
This brings me to the next word, “ungodly.” The definition of this one is pretty straightforward. It simply means guilty of sin, either against God or man. I had to ponder this a bit, because we have all sinned and all do still sin. And yet we are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. Praise God! So I don’t believe that this is primarily talking about believers.
However, as David Guzik says, we can even give ourselves ungodly counsel. Therefore, it’s important to discern whether the counsel we receive is godly or ungodly, regardless of the source. I believe one of the best ways to do so is to know the Word of God. Just because the counsel you receive is from a Christian brother or sister, doesn’t mean it’s always godly. It’s important to examine any counsel against the Word of God and follow what the Word says, no matter how you feel about it. It’s also important to make sure your own thinking and attitudes line up with Scripture.
Verse Mapping Psalm 1 verse 1b – Context and Translations
Now let’s take a look at the context of Psalm 1:1b as well as how it’s rendered in various translations.
First, psalm 1 has an unknown author. There are many who attribute it to David, and while that may be true, the Bible doesn’t record him as the author.
One thing that I found interesting was that the nation of Israel was surrounded by nations that practiced idolatry. They were surrounded by ungodly thinking and customs. And while that is in some ways different from the western world, in many practical ways, it is true for us as well. We are surrounded by ungodly counsel, by people who don’t know God, and even some who claim to be Christians who bow their knee to whatever is considered politically correct in the world today.
Next, regarding the translations, the main variations we see are in the NIV and NLT – which isn’t too surprising, considering that they are thought for thought translations, rather than word for word. I find the NIV especially helpful: “who does not walk in step with the wicked.”
This brought to mind a memory from long ago, when I was in elementary school. A couple of my friends and I would sometimes deliberately walk in step with each other. Almost like we were in the military or something. We’d join arms and take steps in sync with each other. It was harmless fun, of course. But it illustrates the concept in this verse – locking arms with worldly people and keeping pace with them in a way that makes us one with them.
Cross References for Psalm 1:1b
Now let’s take a look at the cross references.
Cross references are one of the best ways to gain more insight into a verse or passage of scripture. Here are the ones I decided to make note of for this verse map, along with a few thoughts about them.
For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction is within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. (Psalm 5:9 BSB)
The primary thing that stands out to me in this one is that destruction comes from these words. This ties back to what I wrote about in my devotional on Psalm 1:1a – that the blessed man is one who is spared from destruction. Listening to ungodly counsel ultimate leads us to destruction.
Proverbs 12:5 – The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.” (Proverbs 12:5 NKJV)
The counsels of the wicked are deceitful. Think about that! Think of the deception that happened in the garden in Genesis 3:4-5. And think about the end result of such deception – all of the sin, brokenness and destruction that has come as a result of that deception.
And of course the deception – and the resulting destruction – still happens today, through unwise counsel.
Deceived by Empty Words
“Let no one deceive you with empty words… Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:6-8 NKJV)
To understand the deception that comes from empty words in this passage, it’s important to look at the context. In Ephesians 5:3-5, Paul warns about :
- Sexual immorality and uncleanness
- Covetousness or greed
- Filthy and foolish speech
- The danger of continuing in such a way of life
The empty words are persuasive-sounding claims that have no truth or spiritual substance behind them—especially claims that excuse sin or deny its consequences. Here are some examples:
- This behavior is harmless.
- God does not really care about that.
- Everyone does it.
- You deserve to be happy.
- You can sin now and ask for forgiveness later.
You can see why you don’t want to be a partaker with those who speak such words. This fits perfectly with the idea of not getting advice from the wicked.
“Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.” (Jeremiah 7:24 NKJV)
What stands out to me in this verse is following the counsels and dictates of their evil hearts. This fits with what David Guzik wrote about that we can even give ourselves bad counsel.
“‘Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the LORD,
‘Who take counsel, but not of Me…’” (Isaiah 30:1 NKJV)
Sometimes we want to take counsel from anyone and everyone but the Lord. We might ask a friend or family member what to do. We may post on social media to get people’s opinion.
Since this verse addresses rebellious children, it makes me think about the intentions (even if subconscious) when it comes to asking counsel from others instead of the Lord. It’s possible that deep down we already know how the Lord feels about something, and we want someone else to affirm our bad choices.
Views of God and Views of Man
Now let’s talk about the views of God and man that I gleaned from verse mapping Psalm 1:1b.
As I wrote about earlier, God’s desire is to bless us. If that weren’t the case, I don’t think He would have made it clear. It’s not an obscure puzzle we have to solve. No, instead, He spells it out in clear, plain language.
God tells us not to listen to the counsel of the wicked. He does this not because He’s a killjoy, but instead because He loves us. He knows that getting ungodly counsel ultimately leads us to destruction, and in His great love for us, He wants to protect us.
View of Man/Self
Now let’s look at the view of man/self we gain from verse mapping this portion of Psalm 1.
Man is easily deceived. Man is also quick to give counsel that is wicked – even if it’s well meaning. This happens anytime someone gives counsel from their own wisdom rather than God’s. And unfortunately, man is also quick to receive ungodly counsel, especially if it validates what they want to do.
As I mentioned previously, this is nothing new and dates back to the garden. The serpent gave “counsel” to Eve that played on her physical desires, as well as her pride.
Reflection and Application
Now we come to the place where the rubber meets the road – reflection and application. Note that this is my personal reflection and application. It may be what the Lord has for you, or He may have another message for you. (Later in this article I give you an opportunity to apply Psalm 1:1b to your own life.)
I think that at times we seek out ungodly counsel – even if we don’t admit that is the case. The reason is we often want someone to tell us what we want to hear. This is why choosing friends wisely is so important. Godly counsel tells us what is right even if it’s not what we want to hear. Ungodly counsel plays to our emotions and sinful desires.
Another thing that stood out to me is that we can give ungodly counsel to ourselves. I see this as justifying our sin or poor choices.
We can also receive ungodly counsel through the media we consume. Think about the talk shows or podcasts you listen to. There are many out there that justify ungodly behavior. There are even some with the sole purpose of undermining faith. Do not listen to any counsel that undermines your faith or stirs up evil desires or anything contrary to the Word of God.
Free Psalm Study and Prayer Guide
Use this simple three-page guide to help you understand, apply, and pray any Psalm.
Prayer
Let’s pray.
Lord, I pray that you will give me a deep desire to seek your counsel in everything I do. Help me to first of all recognize ungodly counsel. I ask for godly friends who will speak the truth in love. I also pray that you’ll give me the courage to speak truth in love even to those who don’t want to hear it.
Give me a deep desire to spend time saturating my heart and mind with your word so that I’ll know ungodly counsel the minute I receive it.
I pray that you’ll help me to avoid taking in ungodly counsel in passive ways such as through the media I consume.
Reflect and Respond
In this verse map of Psalm 1:1b, I shared my research as well as my thoughts. Now I’d like you to consider the following:
What are your sources of counsel and advice? Another way to ask this is who you turn to when you have questions or need help making a decision? Google? Friends? Family? The latest self-help book or popular podcast?
Do those sources tend to give you godly counsel, or do they tend to tell you what you want to hear? Do they share opinions based on their own experiences? If so, do they filter the advice through Scripture?
Can you recall a time in your life when you gave in to ungodly counsel? What were the results?
Finally, in what ways are you spending time in the Bible, so that you can better discern when counsel (including your own thoughts) is godly or wicked?
Listen and Linger
I’m embedding a video by The Psalms Project, featuring Lance Edward. It’s a beautiful way to slow down, meditate on Psalm 1, and spend a few quiet moments in worship.
As you listen, don’t rush. Let the words of this psalm settle into your heart, and invite the Lord to speak to you through them.
Digging Deeper
If you’d like to explore Psalm 1 more deeply, I recommend the following resources:
- Psalm 1 Verse by Verse — Walk through the entire psalm and discover the contrast between the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly.
- Who Wrote the Book of Psalms? Learn more about who wrote the book of Psalms, including the psalms written by unknown authors.
- What are Wisdom Psalms? — Discover the characteristics of wisdom psalms and why Psalm 1 is considered to be a wisdom psalm.
- Psalm 1:1a Devotional – This devotional covers the first phrase in psalm 1 that comes before the one I cover in this article.
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