“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”
Psalm 1:1 NASB
This well-known verse of Scripture warns against three
things: walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners,
and sitting in the seat of scoffers. I am especially struck today by the part
about sitting in the seat of scoffers.
“Scoffer” (NASB/ESV), “scornful” (KJV), “mocker” (CSB and
others) refers to one who routinely expresses contempt and derision for something
or someone. The Bible says that the mocker is proud and haughty (Prov. 21:24),
delights in mocking (Prov. 1:22), cannot find wisdom (Prov. 14:6), is an
abomination to men (Prov. 24:9), is a fool in the language of wisdom (Prov.
14:6), does not respond to instruction (Prov. 15:12), and continually stirs up
strife by insults (Prov. 22:10). Apparently scoffing is a serious offense to
God and men and one who is a scoffer does not demonstrate the fruit of godly
wisdom.
I suppose one of the reasons this stands out to me is that I
have the gift curse of a sarcastic mind. (I read somewhere that those who
are sarcastic are actually intelligent, but I digress.) Sarcasm is by definition
using irony to mock or show contempt, and it comes naturally to me. Sarcasm,
however, is in many ways antithetical to love. God has not been sarcastic with me
but has dealt with me in love. Even when God rebukes me and calls me to repent,
it is not by mocking me or making snide, critical comments to me. Even His
rebuke is motivated by His love for me.
Lord, please help us not to sit in the seat of scoffers.
Rather, help us to use our words, posts, and tweets to bring glory to God.
