"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

Concerning the godly man, verse 1 states the negative. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
in his book, "True Happiness" says, "The Bible hurls a negative at us at the
very beginning like this in order to tell us that God's way of life and of
salvation is entirely and essentially different from all we have ever
 known."

With this in mind let's look into wicked counsel and evil associations.

Some examples of wicked counsel:
"Behold these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to
trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among
the congregation of the Lord." Numbers 31:16
(Read the whole incident of the slaughter of Midian, Vs. 1-20)

2 Chronicles 10:10-11 tells of King Rheoboam following evil counsel over
the wise counsel of the elders,
"And the young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, 'Thus you
shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our
yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.' Thus you shall say to them, 'My
little finger is thicker than my father's loins! Whereas my father loaded
you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you
with whip's, but I will discipline you with scorpions."

Job 2:9 tells of Job's wife's counsel,
"Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse
God and die."

As for evil associations, the Scripture gives many warning as in the wise
instructions of a father to his son in Proverbs 1:8-19. Read the whole
section, I just mention a couple of verses,
"For their feet run to evil,
And they hasten to shed blood." Vs. 16
"...They ambush their own lives.
So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;
It takes away the life of its possessors." Vs. 18-19

Proverbs 4:14-15 tells us,
"Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do no pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on."

"Do not be envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;
For their minds devise violence,
And their lips talk of trouble." Proverbs 24:1

Did you notice the progression in Psalm 1:1? The godly man does not
pass by the way of evil because you may be enticed to stand and look
then before you know it you are sitting down in the midst of sin.

Look at King David, 2 Samuel 11:1-5 (Read it for the full picture)
Vs. 1 "...David stayed at Jerusalem."  Idleness!
Vs. 2 "...David walked around the roof...and he saw a woman bathing;
and the woman was very beautiful in appearance."  Stopped to look!
Vs. 3 "So David sent and inquired about her..."  Fantasized?!
Vs. 4 "...He lay with her..."  Acted!

Sin starts in the mind and the feet follow! The thoughts will come;
do not entertain them, but turn your mind quickly to Philippians 4:8:
"...Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these
things."

Therefore, at the crossroad: stand, look, ask for the good way and walk
in it!

The Lord is our refuge and our strength may our hearts always be open to
His leading and guiding in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen