Two Paths: Which Do You Choose

Introduction:

I remember setting in Freshman English II, while attending Arkansas State, and being introduced to the following poem by Robert Frost:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

As we stand in life, we find ourselves at the same fork in the road that Frost’s imaginary subject found himself. He stood at a fork in the road and to make the choice between two paths. He could either follow the path of the one that was travelled fair or choose the path that wanted wear. In the end, we find that he writes, “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

As I read the text before us, I am reminded of this poem, for in this first Psalm we find two paths laid before us: the path of the righteous and the path of the wicked. As in Frost’s poem, we will find that that one we choose to traverse will make all the difference.

Focus Passage

Psalm 1 KJV

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Two Paths: Which Do You Choose

Most scholars believe that Psalm 1 is a preface to the entire book of Psalms. Within this first Psalm, one finds a summation of the entire other one hundred and forty-nine Psalms. Charles Spurgeon writes,

“This Psalm may be regarded as The Preface Psalm, having in it a notification of the contents of the entire Book. It is the psalmist’s desire to teach us the way to blessedness, and to warn us of the sure destruction of sinners. This is the matter of the first Psalm, which may be looked upon, in some respects, as the test upon which the whole of the Psalms make up a divine sermon.”

As we comes to this preface, let us pay close attention to the truths before us as wisely choose that path we will take. For although we want many options, ultimately there are but two and each have eternal consequences.

Two Paths to Choose

The Psalmist brings to light that man, God’s creation, only has two paths to choose from. Those two options are the path of the righteous and the path of the wicked. During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, states, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Mt. 7:13). So, which path do you choose? As with any choice, it is best to know a few things before making the decision. It is always best to make informed decisions. The Psalmist wants us to be informed before choosing the path you will go. As we look at our text, the first truth the Psalmist wishes for us to know, is that our options are limited to two.

1. Option 1: the Path of the Righteous

The Psalmist identifies the first option, as the path of the righteous. He identifies this path in both a negative and positive sense. He begins with a negative address of the path of the Righteous. This negative address is not meaning not to follow this path, but is rather a declaration of what this path is not. The path of the righteous is not a life that follows the example and prudence of the morally wrong, the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly (v.1a). He not only does not follow the actions and prudence of the morally wrong, he also does not give place to or take up residence with those that mock the Lord and His Holy Spirit, no sitteth in the seat of the scornful. The idea found within the text, although presented in negative fashion (i.e. what not to do) is an identification of the righteous persons’ choosiness in who they allow themselves to be influenced by and associate with.

Often, one is not so choosy in who they allow in their life and who they allow to influence them in their direction. This aught not be. We are called to be very selective in who has influence in our lives. We are called to be very selective in we have fellowship with. Although, we are in the world, we must not be a part of the world. That is, we are not to allow the world to influence us, rather we are to influence the world. Paul drives this point of separation home within his letter to believers at Corinth, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness” (2 Cor. 6:14).

Positively, the Psalmist also identifies the character of the righteous. The righteous man’s character is identified by that which he places value on, but his delight (v.2a). The word delight, within the Hebrew, is translated as “value.” So what does he value? What is one to value above all else? What does he take delight in? He takes delight in and places great value on one thing, the Word of God, is in the law of the Lord (v.2b). Understand, this is not the whole cannon of Scripture, is primarily the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. It is within this Scripture, that the Psalmist delights. He delights within the Creation Narrative. He delights within the knowledge that God delivered His people out of Egyptian Bondage. He delights within the knowledge that God protected and provided for His people in the Exodus. He delights within the Law, the school master of the redeemed, which revealed His need for the Lord.

One can tell the great value placed on Word of God by the righteous man, as he meditates, that is ponders on, thinks about, in the Law of the Lord…day and night (v.2). May this be your heart, your character. The Psalmist realized what the modern believer must realize, that there is life in the Word of God (Lk 4:4). That there is freedom in the Word of God (Jn. 8:32). While the whole of creation will pass, the Word of God shall not (Lk 21:33). Whatever God intends for His word to due, it will succeed in doing (Is. 55:11). God is faithful to all the promises that He has given (Heb. 10:23).

2. Option 2: the Path of the Ungodly

The Psalmist declares that this not the character of the ungodly. He emphasizes this truth by stating, The ungodly are not so (v.4a). An even greater emphasis is placed within the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, which both read, “Not so, the ungodly, no so.” This double negative places a great emphasis on the difference between the two. Let us realize the meaning of, ungodly. These are those that beginning down the path of sin. These are not those that have continued down the path for some times. We see throughout the Psalm that there is what is perceived as a slow fade in progression of the sinner. They begin their path as the ungodly. Then they continue down this path and become those who find a pattern in their life, a pattern of sin. The Psalmist calls these sinners (v.5). Typically this is the pattern of one’s life of sin. You begin down the path of the ungodly, allow a pattern of sin to become your life, until eventually that sin rules your life and you become the wicked, those who deny God and His Word at all cost. Casting Crowns sings a song entitled Slow Fade. As one reads through this song, one finds quickly the process and eventual outcome of sin.

Slow Fade (Casting Crowns)

Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands

As darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go

For it's the little feet behind you

That are sure to follow

It's a slow fade

When you give yourself away

It's a slow fade

When black and white have turned to grey

And thoughts invade, choices made

A price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

It's a slow fade

It's a slow fade

Let us be as the righteous and take delight in the Word of God and meditate day and night on Its truths. May we be more than hears of the Word, but rather let us be does of the Word. As James writes, if we only read the word but do not apply the word, we deceive ourselves (Ja. 1:22).

The Resulting Condition of the Path We Choose

As with any choice, one must live with the consequence of that choice. Not only does the Psalmist wish for one to know the character of those who choose the righteous path v. those who choose the path of the ungodly, he wishes for his readers to know the resulting condition of each path.

1. The Result of Choosing the Path of the Righteous

Within vv.1 and 3, one is given the result of those who have chosen the path of the righteous, God’s path. He begins with identifying that the path of the righteous is a path defined by happiness, great joy. Charles Spurgeon, within his great work on the Book of Psalms, The Treasury of David, writes, “We might read it, “Oh, the blessednesses!” and we may well regard it (as Ainsworth does) as a joyful acclamation of the gracious man’s felicity. May the like benediction rest on us!” It is the same image that our Lord used when opening His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. This happiness, this graciousness is not based out of one’s circumstances but rather the condition of one’s relationship with their Creator.

The Psalmist not only describes that the one who travels the path of the righteous as happy, filled with great joy, but describes why. It is not based off of his personal work. It is more than merely following an instruction manual and having good behavior. A moralist could read the Word of God and follow it, but not truly find the promised blessedness that the believer is promised. It is about a relationship and the fruit that relationship produces. To reveal this, the Psalmist incorporates a smilie to open the eyes and draw a picture of those who follow the path of the righteous.

A. First, we find that his roots, his life source, is based in the Lord’s river of life, he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water (v.3a).

Do you notice how the word rivers is plural? While Jesus may be the River of Life (Rev. 22:1), we find that our Lord has many tributaries that He feeds that life through the work of the Holy Spirit to give His children a constant life source.

B. Second, his life will be full of flavor and savory as the Lord intends.

Fruit that is produced out of season is often less tasty and ripe. It is either not ripe enough or too ripe. Either way, the taste changes and bitterness creeps in. This is the picture of the life of an individual doing it their way rather than God’s way. When one chooses the path of the wicked, the fruit they produce will be bitter and never savory. As men and women, who are called to be the salt of the world, let us remain rooted in the Word of God realizing that if our savor is gone, we are no longer of use to the Lord (Mt. 5:13).

C. Finally, his life will have a lasting impact.

As a tree chosen of God, he shall be like a tree planted, not a wild plant, that already was there, whose roots are in living waters of God, not the tainted waters of a broken creation, their service to the Lord will remain, “his leaf also, shall not wither” (v.3). He will remain useful to the Lord and his works will not be in vain, “and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (v.3).

2. The Result of Choosing the Path of the Ungodly

As already stated, the path of the ungodly is not like the path of the righteous, nor are the results, the ungodly are not so, or with the emphasis of the Vulgate and the Septuagint, “Not so the ungodly, no so.” What is the result of choosing the path of the ungodly, if it is not blessedness? It is cursedness. The Psalmist identifies this in three particulars, all dealing with eternal consequence, which is the purpose of the wisdom psalm. It is dealing with the spiritual and eternal ramifications of the path we choose.

A. First, the ungodly will stand guilty before God.

The Psalmist writes, “shall not stand in the judgment” (v.5). This is not stating that they will not face judgement. The word of God is clear, all will give an account before God (Rm. 14:12). All will give an account of themselves, whether good or evil, whether in the body or out of the body (2 Co. 5:10). What the Psalmist is identifying that they will not acquitted before God but rather guilty before God, for they chose their own path rather than the God’s path, the path of the righteous.

B. Second, the ungodly will not be a part of the household of faith, “nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous” (v.5).

While we have many within the church today that are lost. The Bible calls them tares that grow up with the wheat, we know that God, in the end, will separate the two. One can, as many do, play a actor on stage, one day the curtain call will take place, the show will wrap up, and the true identify of all will be exposed. As the Psalmist writes, “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous” (v.6). God knows who are His. He will not allow the ungodly, the sinner to remain within His kingdom. He will do as the Psalmist writes, discard them as useless and undeserving, with no value.

C. Third, the ungodly, will find themselves being discarded from the presence of God.

The Psalmist describes the the end of the ungodly as one of disgrace and lack reverence. They are truly discarded as refuse. He writes, “are like the chaff that the wind driveth away” (v.4).

Conclusion

When I pastored in the Delta, Marianna, Arkansas, I was about three miles from Crowley’s Ridge. One could travel through the St. Francis National Forest, which Crowley’s Ridge run through. Once you decided that you wanted to travel St. Francis National Forest, you needed to decide which road you would travel. There was one road called the high road, which would traverse the top of the ridge. Then you had the low road, which would traverse through the bottom of the ridge. Both had a destination of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. The road you travelled made the difference of where you ended up when you arrived at Helena-West Helena. This is a good picture of what choice we have. We all are going end this temporal life and find ourselves in the destination of eternity. However, the road we choose determine where we arrive when we get there. The path of the righteous will end in glory, in Heaven, with the Father. The path of the ungodly will end in misery and fire, in a devil’s hell, apart from the Father. Which path do you choose. As Frost wrote, it will make all the difference.