Presented, September 28, 2003
Where the Path of the Godly and the Ungodly Lead
Psalm 1
One of the ways we are instructed to teach and admonish one another is in
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16). From time to time we have
examined some of the songs we sing establishing that they truly are teaching
God’s word to one another. Tonight, I want us to begin a study of one of the
types of teaching mentioned in this (and other New Testament) verses. We want
to begin a study of the psalms. It is my intent to examine a different psalm
(or song from our book) each month.
My goal in this is the help us in our continued efforts to draw closer to God. I am convinced that one of the things that made David a man after God’s own heart was his understanding about God’s greatness and his place before Him. We find in many of the psalms he wrote his heart opened as he praised Him, acknowledged his own inadequacies and introduced Him to others.
We are commanded to praise God (Hebrews 13:15, 2:12). The psalms help teach us how to do that. They also help confirm the deity of Jesus (in prophecy), help us to better understand God and guide us as we strive to live godly giving many practical lessons (like the book of proverbs).
Tonight, we want to
notice Psalm 1 which is described by some as an introduction to the book of
psalms. It is certainly an “introductory psalm”.
I. Blessed is the Man…(1-3)
A. Blessed – means “happiness, blessedness” (BDB). It could be said, “Hail to the man”. Truly the one the psalmist describes has much to be happy for.
B. Negatively, he…
1. Understands the importance of the ones he associates with. He knows that ,
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be
destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
1 Corinthians 15:33 – associating with those who are evil or that which is evil
WILL corrupt.
Revelation 18:4-5, “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities’ ”. Spoken of Babylon that has fallen.
2. He doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly
Proverbs 1:10-19 (Solomon knew this)
3. He doesn’t stand in the path of sinners
1 Timothy 5:22 - don’t share in other people’s sins
Ephesians 5:11 – Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness…
2 John 9-11 – He doesn’t even leave the impression he approves.
4. He doesn’t sit in the seat of the scornful –
Ps 26:4-5, “I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.”
He is not found in the company of those who deny and blaspheme God.
He will not associate with those whose lives are determined to do evil. He wants nothing to do with them
5. Consider the 3 actions –
When one walks he is passing through where the ungodly are considering their conduct
When he stands he has stopped and is considering the path of the ungodly
When he sits, he is accepting and keeping company with the scornful (at least that is the impression he is leaving). It is habit or familiar.
6. This is not saying that the Christian is perfect or that he never stumbles.
We know better, but such is not a way of life for him.
We know that if we will not keep our tongues perfectly – James 3:2
We know that we are going to sin from time to time – 1 John 1:8
But we also know we cannot live that way – 1 John 3:6 – He does not sin.
C.
Positively –
1. His delight is in the law of the Lord
This was a mantra of David – Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
Christians take pleasure in the law of the Lord – We are not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16) and we do not consider it a drudgery to serve God (Malachi 1:13).
2. He meditates in his law day and night.
The righteous man is one whose life is centered around God’s word. He considers it in all that he does and says. He knows the commitment involved in serving God and gladly accepts it.
Philippians 4:8 – He “meditates” on the things that accord with God’s word.
He considers it ALL the time. He prays without ceasing – 1 Thess. 1:17 and he studies continually – Acts 17:11
D. His path – He shall be like a tree planted by the waters.
1. A tree planted by water is one that is well nourished and able to bear its fruit in its season. It is firmly established and is not going anywhere.
2. When we follow God, we will be firmly established.
Colossians 2:6-8 –You are rooted and also aware of one cheating you
John 10:28-29 - Also, no one can snatch us from Him.
3. Consider the “waters” we are planted by
The living waters Jesus offered the Samaritan woman – John 4:10-14
Revelation 21:6, 22:17 - “the water of life” - provided by the Lamb (22:1). Are we firmly rooted in Him?
II. The Ungodly are Not So… (4-5)
A. They DO walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the paths of sinners and sit in the seat of the scornful. They are influenced by them and thus have nothing to do with God – John 3:19-21; 1 John 1:5-6
B. Their delight is not in the law of the Lord. His law is NOT continually on their mind.
C. His path
1. He is like the chaff of the wind – the chaff is the dust that is blown away when wheat is harvested. An interesting point to observe is that even the ungodly receive some of the blessings of the wheat UNTIL the harvest. So it is true that the unrighteous enjoy many good things from God even in their wickedness – Matthew 5:45 – His sun shines on both the good and the bad. This is a cause of frustration at times as we ask like David did in the 2nd Psalm, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?” His question is, Why do they get away with their wickedness? The ANSWER is, they aren’t.
2. He will NOT stand in the day of judgment –
Jesus taught the parable of the wheat and tares that describes the kingdom of heaven as a field in which an enemy sowed tares in the midst of wheat – Matthew 13:24-30. He explained that the wheat are the sons of God and the tares are the sons of the devil. Both enjoyed growth in the field UNTIL the harvest.
Understand, the only reason the wicked enjoy any blessings is because of the righteous, BUT in the end …
In the Day of Judgment the wicked will be judged and they will NOT stand – Revelation 20:12, 15.
Paul warned that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ – Romans
14:10-12.
3. Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous – they will be separated
from the righteous as the Lord separates the sheep from the goats – Matthew
25:31,32, 46.
Paul gave consolation to those who were being persecuted in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
III. The Lord Knows Who’s Who (6)
A. God knows who is who.
1. You may be able to fool man. You may fool the elders, the preacher, your parents and others, but you will NOT fool God. You cannot hide from Him – Psalm 139:7-12
2. You will stand in judgment based upon what YOU have done – 2 Corinthians 5:10
B. The way of the ungodly will perish – a final point to observe in this phrase is this. Not only will the ungodly perish, but so will their ways. The ways of wickedness can only stand for so long. In this we can truly take great comfort.
Thus we can see the message of Psalm 1. The ever present contrast found throughout scripture is once again presented. Which side are you on? The way of the righteous or the way of the wicked. If you find yourself on the wrong side, why not take steps to become what you ought to be?