Planted By The Rivers

Introduction: The book of Psalms begins with one of the simplest yet most profound truths in all the Bible: Great joy comes from obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule him. Psalms are songs of praise to God as our Creator, sustainer, and redeemer. Praise is recognizing appreciating, and expressing God’s greatness. When we really focus our thoughts on God this will move us to praise Him. The more we know about God the more we will appreciate what He has done and what He is doing. As we begin 2024 we need to make sure “We Are Planted By The River.” We never know what we may face this year and if we are “Planted By The River,” we will not be shaking.

Planted by The Rivers (Ps.1)

Introduction: The book of Psalms begins with one of the simplest yet most profound truths in all the Bible: Great joy comes from obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule him. Psalms are songs of praise to God as our Creator, sustainer, and redeemer. Praise is recognizing appreciating, and expressing God’s greatness. When we really focus our thoughts on God this will move us to praise Him. The more we know about God the more we will appreciate what He has done and what He is doing. As we begin 2024 we need to make sure “We Are Planted By The Rivers.” We never know what we may face this year and if we are “Planted By The Rivers,” we will not be shaking.

A Godly Man Don’t Walk In The Counsel Of The Ungodly (v.1a) This chapter open a benediction like the famous sermon on did. The word “blessed” is a very expressive one, the original word is plural. When we look at this word we can see of the multiplicity blessing which shall rest on us when God justify us. The way we can read this is “Oh the blessednesses of the man, or it can read “Happy, happy is the man.”

B. This is God’s man who walks with God on a daily basic. His footsteps are ordered by the Lord. He has been washed in the Blood of the Lamb, he stands in the grace of God, and before he will deny Almighty God he will charge the gates of hell with a baseball bat.

2. Godly Men Don’t Stands In The Paths Of Sinners (V.1b) A. Christian friends when you are planted by the River you will not stand in the paths of sinners. God is saying take a stand, but not with sinners/world. It is important we take a stand for Jesus.

B. Bad company will corrupt; one bad apple can spoil the bucket. One bad tongue can spark and start a forest fire, that will burn up a church spiritual. See when you walk the path of sinners you miss the mark and when you miss the mark you sin.

* When you are planted by the Rivers you don’t have time to walk in the path of sinners

3. Godly Man Don’t Sit in the Seats Of The Scornful (V.1c)

A. Seat means = to sit, remain, dwell, means a seat(1Sa 20:18, 25), assembly, dwelling place, dwelling (a settlement, a place to live –(Ge 10:30), dwellers, a site, a session; an abode (the place or the time. * When you are planted by the Rivers you don’t sit in the seat of scornful! * Scoffers: The activity of the scornful is condemned as an abomination to people. The scoffer is one who shows contempt by mocking, sneering, or scorning. The scornful love to sit and criticize the people of God and the things of God. * The thing about sin you don’t jump off into it, first you will walk with the scornful then you will stand with him and before long you will sit with him.

ILLS: The Pharisee sit in the seat of the “scornful” and their mouth was against heaven’s best, God Son. We have a crowd of Pharisee in Washington that sit in the seat of “scornful” they open their mouth against God and God’s Son. What they are doing is voting away with Jesus and give us Barabbas. * They have voted to removed the “Ten Commands” from the School House Wall. * They are voting to sacrifice babies; their hands have innocence blood on them. Note: When you are planted by the rivers you don’t sit with the scornful.

A Godly Man Delight In The Law Of The LORD (V.2 a) A. A Godly man who is planted by the rivers, his first love is in the Law of the LORD. The Hebrew noun for delight means that which is bent toward and thus is a beautiful figure of the godly man or woman who is ever leaning toward the law of Jehovah, not referring to the "Ten Commandments" but to the law as representative of God's Word.

ILLS: F B Meyer –Said “It is not enough to read the Bible as a duty - we must come to it with delight. This is possible if you shun light and foolish literature which sickens the appetite.”

* When you planted by the rivers it will be your desire to delight in the Word of God.

5. A Godly Man Meditates Day And Night (V.2b) A. When you are planted by the rivers of waters you just don’t “delight” in the Word of God, but “meditate” on the Word of God.

Note: Someone said “Grace breeds delight in God, and delight breeds meditation. Meditation is a duty wherein consists the essentials of religion, and which nourishes the very life-blood of it. (Ps.119:15) "I will meditate in your precepts." (1Tim 4:15), "Meditate upon these things." Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard. The beasts in the old law which did not chew the cud, were unclean; the professor who does not by meditation chew the cud, is to be accounted unclean. Meditation is like the watering of the seed; it makes the fruits of grace to flourish.

6. A Godly Man Shall Be Like a Tree Planted by The Rivers of Water (V.3a)

A. Look at the rewards of a godly man. A W Pink - This figure is found in numerous passages, for there are many resemblances between a tree and a saint. He is not a "reed" moved about by every wind which blows, nor a creeper, trailing along the ground. A tree is upright, and grows heavenward. This tree is "planted"—many are not—but grow wild. A "planted" tree is under the care and cultivation of its owner. God is the owner of the tree; He is the Father of the saints. * A tree has to have water. The source of the tree is the root system because root will grow deep until it finds water.

ILLS: Look at the characteristic of a tree. (1) Contentment: (2) Healthy: A healthy tree has a good Roots System, Wiersbe – said “The most important thing about a tree is the root system. If the roots do not go down deep, the tree will not grow in a healthy manner.” When the root system grows deep the tree will weather the storms. Church if we are rooted in the “Word of God” when the storms of life rage we can stand. One writer puts it this way “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

7. A Godly Man Will Bring Forth Its Fruit In Its Season(V.3b)

A. When we are planted by the rivers our root system grows deep, we will bring forth fruit.

8 A Godly Man’s Leaf Shall Not Wither (v.3c)

9 A Godly Man Shall Prosper (V.3d)