Psalms: The Blessed Man Acts Blessed

Introduction

Open this evening to Psalm 1. Psalm 1 and we will read verse 1-6. I hope to get through the end over verse 1 this evening.

We talked last time

The structure of the books of Psalms and that it is not insignificant that this is Psalm one.

We talked about how God order his worship

Calvin said, “He who collected the Psalms into one volume, whether Ezra or some other person, appears to have placed this Psalm at the beginning, by way of preface, in which he inculcates upon all the godly the duty of meditating upon the law of God. The sum and substance of the whole is, that they are blessed who apply their hearts to the pursuit of heavenly wisdom; whereas the profane despisers of God, although for a time they may reckon themselves happy, shall at length have a most miserable end. [1]

Who is the blessed man ,

Jesus and those in him.

It is the blessing that produces the actions not the action that produces the blessing.

Or better side it is His actions the produce the blessedness and not our own.

And the The blessed DO act blessed.

Jesus said “15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Mt 7:15–23, ESV)

How do we know we are not the ones that he will say I never knew you to?

Orthodoxy produces Orthpraxy

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Ro 2:4, ESV)

The over aching picture, walking Standing Sitting,

“The sum of the whole is, that the servants of God must endeavour utterly to abhor the life of ungodly men. But as it is the policy of Satan to insinuate his deceits, in a very crafty way, the prophet, in order that none may be insensibly deceived, shows how by little and little men are ordinarily induced to turn aside from the right path. They do not, at the first step, advance so far as a proud contempt of God; but having once begun to give ear to evil counsel, Satan leads them, step by step, farther astray, till they rush headlong into open transgression. The prophet, therefore, begins with counsel, by which term I understand the wickedness which does not as yet show itself openly.” [2] .

Please stand if you are able for the reading of God’s word

Psalm 1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

May God Bless the Reading of Holy infallible and all sufficient Word

Let’s Pray

Transition

Calvin Mentioned that we need to pay attention when the Psalmist says “the council of the ungodly, “The prophet, therefore, begins with counsel, by which term I understand the wickedness which does not as yet show itself openly.” [2]

Before we get to the word council we need to consider the word walk.

Read verse 1.

Body

The Council of the Wicked

Psalm 1:1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

“the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked”

Walks

As we already said, the total picture, walk, stand, sit, is everyone way one might engage with evil.

To walk it taking action according to.

Another way to say this is, this blessed man does not take the advice of the wicked man.

Christian, its not only enough to weigh the advice, but it is also important who is giving it.

The scripture tells “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Pr 14:12, and 16:25, ESV)

You know what it means what God states something twice

We are told that the wisdom of this world is demonic. (James 3:15)

I want you to notice here, this is not a man taking council to do Evil.

Said Calvin said, this is a “wickedness which does not as yet show itself openly.” [2]

It seems like good advice.

How often do we see this,

Darwin,

Master and Commander Example

Modern Physiology,

Self esteem

Blame-shifting coping mechanism

LGBTQIA+++++++ They will eventually run out of letter because there is not end to this perversion.

We don't call it sin because you have to build a relation ship

Seeker sensitive churches

The SBC and the Equality of Women.

It sounds good but its it not.

How does the blessed man know what is good and what is not?

The sufficiency of scripture.

It does not tell me how to make coffee Aaron.

Its not a filter, it is the advice.

What about things the Bible doesn’t talk about.

Like my car

Ford dealership story.

no this advice proceeds from a demonic worldview and the word tells me “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.’ (Pr 15:22, ESV)

The bible says get a second opinion

This blessed man, does not take the advice of the wicked,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Pr 3:5–6, ESV)

Drift, happens what you listen to the counsel of the wicked.

Transition

Taking the advice, the counsel of the wicked put on in the way way of sinners.

The next part of the verses “nor stands in the way of sinners”

The Way of Sinners

Psalm 1:1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

The same picture here, standing int he way of sinners is not necessary being a sinner.

Council is not an actions, in the scene of doing something.

So we have a difference here.

I do not support those that act-wickedly. Remember the context of the over all picture is say Calvin put it, “the servants of God must endeavour utterly to abhor the life of ungodly men.”

Christian how often do you compartmentalize, you see someone that is and the psalmist says a sinner,

we are talking about the unrepentant here. we are all sinners, but there are those that love their sin, that identify as sinners, God haters. That is every single person that has not repented and proclaimed Christ is Lord.

A good example of this is something RC Sproul once said, this is a paraphrase, “I don’t care what he is, he could be satanist, if he is there to march for the right to life I will march right there with him”

Guess what happens when you do that? The Pro-life movement. How many billions of dollars have been given by Christians to pro-life organizations only to find out that those organization don’t really want abortion ended. And why would they, if abortion ends, there will be no need for the pro life organization.

When you Christian say and do stand with anyone that is not a genuine repentant born again believer. You are standing with an enemy of the King.

That will not go well.

The many many Christians that have given money to many pro-life organization like the ERLC have in actuality given money to the enemy and the money has been used to keep abortion legal in this country.

When you stand with the ungodly even when it seems to be a good reason you will in actually be support the enemy of the King and he and his are liers.

There is drift for you here as well, how many, how many, people of God have been taken in by the incrementalist, pragmatic, unbiblical ungodly, approach to sending abortion.

When you stand with sinners in a common cause, the cause of sin becomes your cause. (Ps 1:1)

Transition

Now the verse ends with the statement “nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (Ps 1:1, ESV)

The Seat of Scoffers

Psalm 1:1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

The word scoffers has a biblical context, a scoffer is an arrogant man that lacks humility.

“Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.” (Pr 3:34, ESV)

“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride” (Pr 21:24, ESV)

“Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.” (Pr 29:8, ESV)

Conclusion

“And if, in the time of the Psalmist, it was necessary for the devout worshippers of God to withdraw themselves from the company of the ungodly, in order to frame their life aright, how much more in the present day, when the world has become so much more corrupt, ought we carefully to avoid all dangerous society, that we may be kept unstained by its impurities. The prophet, however, not only commands the faithful to keep at a distance from the ungodly, from the dread of being infected by them, but his admonition further implies, that every one should be careful not to corrupt himself, nor abandon himself to impiety. A man may not have contracted defilement from evil examples, and yet come to resemble the wicked by spontaneously imitating their corrupt manners.” [2]

Benediction

Romans 16:25–27 ESV

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

References

[1]John Calvin and James Anderson, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 1.

[2] Ibid, 3.

[3] Ibid, 4.

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and James Anderson. Commentary on the Book of Psalms. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.