Psalms 1:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Like the chaff— This comparison is frequently used by the Psalmist, and it receives great illustration and emphasis, when we consider that the people of Judea had their threshing-floors on an eminence; that the method of winnowing their corn was, by throwing it up against the wind with a shovel, and that they chose this lofty situation, that the wind might act with more force, and drive the chaff away more easily. The wicked seem to be here compared to chaff, because, instead of continually meditating, and minding the law of God, they are continually hurried on by their corrupt affections from one wickedness to another, and so rendered unable to abide the judgment of the great day. This seems implied in the words, Therefore they shall not stand in the judgment. See Shaw's Travels, and Fenwick. It should be considered, that, in general, the Psalms were made at a time when God governed the Jews with an equal providence; and, according to the promises and threatenings of the law, gave good things to those who obeyed him, and as surely punished the wicked, even in this world. But with us the case is otherwise. We have clearer and better promises; and it is apparent enough, that there is an unequal distribution of things in this world; so that we must wait for our reward till we enter into the next life, when the Son of God shall render to every man according to his work. We must not, therefore, expect that this, and many other such promises, dispersed throughout the Psalms, should always be literally fulfilled in this world; for we can apply them to ourselves, as Christians, no otherwise than as certain assurances, that they who are entitled to them are undoubtedly in God's favour; and, therefore, if we behave so as to deserve them, according to the literal promise to the Jews, we may humbly hope, that either they will be made good to us here, or else, which is far better, we shall, in the world to come, receive a much greater reward. It is observable, that in 2 Corinthians 9:9 where St. Paul quotes Psalms 112:9 he breaks off in the middle of the verse; which seems the more extraordinary, because there are but a few words left: He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever: here he stops; and the reason seems to be, because the remaining part of the verse, his horn shall be exalted with honour, relates rather to the temporal reward, which the Psalmist assured his countrymen, the Jews, that the charitable man should have. and this the Apostle left out, as an improper consideration for his Christian disciples; for whom, as their views were so much more noble, it was a sufficient encouragement to consider, that their righteousness should remain for ever. I here mention this once for all; and, though there are many passages in the Psalms, where the same observation might be proper, I shall presume that it need not to be repeated.