David begins the psalm, not with instruction of “dos and don’ts” of action, but rather gives direction as to whom we are to be or not be influenced by. The contrast he wishes to draw is not one of wicked deeds versus righteous acts, but of being influenced from one place versus being influenced from another place; specifically, being shaped in our mind by the ungodly versus being shaped by the law of the Lord.
Where a person walks, stands and sits, is demonstrative of what he delights in. Nobody walks in the way of the ungodly, stands in the way of sinners, or sits in the seat of the scornful, out of duty. We walk, stand and sit where we do because we want to – we are attracted by what they offer and so we willingly participate. In fact, it is as we meditate on these things (though we wouldn’t call it that), that we end up loving the world and the things in it. It starts by looking at what the world has to offer; this then leads to thinking about it so much that you want it, and before long you join the ranks of ungodly, walking in their ways, standing with them, and finally sitting resolutely in their seat. This describes the way of the reprobate – the terrible downward spiral of sin.
The only hope we have of overcoming the temptation offered by the pleasures of the world is to instead delight in the pleasures of the word. Just as the pleasures of the world are awakened by looking at them long enough, so the pleasures of the word are awakened in the regenerate soul by looking at them long enough – meditating day and night, which in turn leads to delighting in it, which then frees us from the attraction of the ungodly, the sinner, and the scorner.
