How to Walk with God - Psalm 1:1-6

Introduction: How is everyone enjoying Family Camp? Have you had a great time? Do you feel relaxed? Are you ready to get into God’s Word together? Great! I want us to open our Bible’s to Psalm 1. This is a Psalm of only six verses.

This Psalm contrasts two different groups of people – the godly and the ungodly. All of us are a part of one of these two camps.

But this Psalm also contrasts two ways to walk through life and two final destinations points.

It is my heart’s desire that every person at this family camp is a believer, and that they are walking with God. Are you a Christian, and are you walking with God? Nail this down in your life. Make sure that you are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.

In this sermon I want to share with you four important steps you need to take so that you can walk with God. Are you ready to receive them? Here they are:

I. Stay Godly – Psalm 1:1

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

Now, from that verse, how do you and I stay godly?

A. Don’t seek counsel from the ungodly.

People seek counsel, but the question is: Who do you turn to when you are seeking life answers? Schooling, dating, marriage, job, finances?

The “Blessed” man doesn’t turn to the ungodly. In other words, we don’t seek life altering decisions by seeking the counsel from those who are ungodly. From those who want nothing to do with our God.

The word “ungodly” here means wicked or evil.

B. Don’t stand in the path of sinners.

The word “stand” carries with it the idea of hanging around or hanging out with sinners. Sinners are those who miss the mark of God’s standards.

Scripture states emphatically,

Evil company corrupts good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33b).

C. Don’t sit in the seat of the scornful.

To “sit” carries the idea of fellowship with. Scornful people are those who make light of God’s laws and ridicule the sacred.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “If you follow the wrong counsel, then you will stand with the wrong companions, and finally, sit with the wrong crowd.”

Look back at the words,

Blessed is the man…

The word “Blessed” can also be translated, happy. If you want to walk with God and be happy then you must stay godly by avoiding ungodly counsel, standing alongside of sinners, and sitting with those who are scornful.

In the book of Jude we read these words,

Keep yourselves in the love of God,(Jude 21a)

Staying godly is a choice, and you must make it moment-by-moment, and then you must not allow ungodly people to deter you.

Like the song says,

I Have decided to follow Jesus!

What about you? Have you made the decision to walk with God?

Stay Godly!

II. Enjoy Scripture – Psalm 1:2

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Underline the word “delight” in verse 2. This word means, pleasure, desire, purpose, pleasant. Do you find Scripture something enjoyable (something you desire)?

Do you recall what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:2,

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

Lately, my soul has been crying out for Scripture. I don’t feel like I can get enough of God’s Word into my heart and soul. I long for more. I know personally a lot of this is because of the darkness that I sense in our country, and even around the world. I so want to be found in the light of God’s Word.

I have read that this verse is telling us to “keep at it.” Don’t stop desiring God’s Word. Hunger for it. Thirst for it. Have an appetite for it.

Thomas a Kempis said, “I have no rest, but in a nook, with The Book.”

Notice too that Scripture is referred to as the “law of the LORD”. What do you know about law? Laws are provided for the betterment of a society (at least they are supposed to be). I can say with confident that God’s law is always for the betterment of His people.

Law also provides parameters for living. Scripture provides the road and routes for daily travel. It provides the boundaries and off-limits areas. Places we are to avoid. Scripture tells us what God permits, and what God wants us to stay away from. And get this – it’s all for our good!

Do you KNOW that we would be a better off people if we took this verse home with us today. Look at the second part of verse 2,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

It is in this law (the Scripture) that the follower of Jesus parks himself. Do you see the word “meditates”? This is a key word in our text. To meditate means to fill our hearts and minds with Scripture. And how often is this to be done? Day and night. All the time. You see, the reality is that all of us should long for more and more of God’s Word.

We read in Joshua 1:8,

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

The word “meditates” means to “ponder by talking to himself.” A person that meditates mutters to himself. You might look strange to a world that doesn’t understand Biblical meditation. People might see you pondering and think you have lost your mind – however, quite the opposite is occurring. You have strengthened your mind (your central processing unit). You have filled it with the good stuff (Amen).

How to Meditate on Scripture Day and Night

The Navigator’s ministry provide these four simple steps for meditating on Scripture:

1. Read the passage intended for the next morning’s quiet time just before you go to sleep.

2. Take about three minutes to scan through the passage and ask God to highlight a word or phrase that will help you focus on Him the next day.

3. Take this with you to bed.

4. Your mind will prayerfully ponder this Scripture while you sleep, making it more likely for you to be replaying these truths in your mind the next morning. (https://www.navigators.org/resource/how-to-meditate-on-scripture-day-and-night/

Enjoy Scripture!

III. Grow Spiritually – Psalm 1:3

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Did you know that:

The oldest tree in the word is the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (California, Nevada and Utah). The oldest Bristlecone Pine is named, Methuselah and is 4,765 years old. It lives in a secret location in the White Mountain range of eastern California.

The oldest known tree named “Prometheus” was cut down in 1964 by a doctoral student. He was studying climate change. This tree was dated to be almost 4,900 years old. (nps.gov)

Summer Price has written why this tree lives so long. She penned, “The bristlecone pine’s success in living a long life can be attributed to the harsh conditions it lives in. Very cold temperatures associated with high winds, in addition to a slow growth rate, create dense wood. This means some years they grow so slowly, they don’t add a ring of growth. Due to the slow growth and dense wood, the bristlecone pine is resistant to insects, fungi, rot, and erosion. The lack of vegetation where they grow make bristlecone pines rarely affected by wildfires. These slow-growing trees can reach a height of 50 feet and a trunk diameter of 154 inches.

Even the needles on these fascinating trees live up to 30 years long. This allows the trees to conserve energy by not having to reproduce new ones. It takes about two years for the bristlecone pine to reach maturity, which is unique amongst trees in the conifer family. The bristlecone pine gets its name from the cones whose scales appear to have a claw-like bristle.”[1]

The tallest tree in the world is the Hyperion (Coastal Redwood, in California) at the height of 380.3 feet. This tree was discovered in 2006, by naturalists Chris Alkins and Michael Taylor (not our Michael Taylor of SLBC, a different one). It is estimated that the Hyperion is somewhere around 600-800 years old.[2]

On a side note: No one today is allowed to get near the Hyperion, and if you are caught trying you can face up to six months in jail and a $ 5,000 fine.

There is Another Tree

I believe that verse 3 is telling us about another tree - the most important tree. I’ll call it,

· The Most Needed Tree in the World.

What would that tree be? It is the individual who walks with God.

This person is pictured as a tree that has been planted by the rivers of water. Trees next to water thrive. Water is a resource for life. All life is dependent upon water. Again, Scripture is pictured as water, but so is JESUS. Jesus said,

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37–39 (NKJV)

A person walking with God needs Scripture and Jesus. When these two things are in your life you will grow and glow for God. Psalm 1:3 tells us,

That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

This verse is all about growth. We see the following three thoughts:

1. It is fruitful in its season.

2. It leaves shall not wither (luscious green).

3. It prospers in whatever “he” does.

Did you catch the word “he” in this verse. We are being reminded that the contrast is between a person who is walking with God and a healthy, fruitful, luscious tree. This is a great picture of a Christian walking with God.

Grow Spiritually!

IV. Live Differently – Psalm 1:4-6

4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall 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 ungodly shall perish.

God’s people are to be so different that we can be spotted as a follower of Jesus Christ. Can people see the resemblance of Jesus Christ in us? They should. Why? Simple. Because we live differently. We don’t live like the ungodly.

There was a short ditty that circulated around our youth group shortly after I became a believer, and it went like this,

I don’t smoke, and I don’t chew, and I don’t go with the girls that do.

We might laugh at that, but there is some truth to it. God’s people are to be godly (Point One), and God’s people to love God’s law – Scripture (Point Two), and God’s people are to grow spiritually (Point Three), but this is not the case with the ungodly.

The ungodly are pictured as “chaff” which the wind drives away. Chaff is that useless part of wheat that is destined for fire. God’s people are the wheat – the useful part. Wheat is turned into bread, and bread in Scripture is a picture of sustenance – it’s a staple for life. Jesus called Himself the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).

The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment. Listen again to how the brother of Jesus (Jude) stated this truth in Jude 14-15,

14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodlyway, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

Godly people live differently – we live for Jesus Christ. We seek to walk with God daily. This message is for all of us, young and old. We must take this message to heart. Receive it and be changed by it.

Look again at verse 5,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Christians go to heaven not because they are good, but because they are righteous. It is a declared and an imparted righteousness. God forgives us of our sins, and in return we receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Please hear what I am about to tell you.Christians sin but are not sinners. Christians in Scripture are called, SAINTS. If you see yourself as a sinner guess what you will do? SIN. However, if you see yourself as a SAINT guess what you will do? NOT SIN. You will live according to how you view yourself in the sight of God.

In the last days I will stand in the congregation of the righteous. Not because of my righteousness, but because of Christ’s righteousness. Therefore, this truth should cause me to live differently!

Finally, the simple and profound and heart wrenching truth is this,

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Jesus is the “way” of the righteous (John 14:6).

The “way” of the ungodly shall perish (Revelation 20:11-15).

Live Differently!

Conclusion: What is the first word used in this Psalm? Blessed.What is the last word used in this Psalm? Perish. Which word do you want to define your life? Blessed or perish.

You and I get to make the choice as to whether we are going to be a happy, a Blessed individual, or whether we are going to be an unhappy, an ungodly individual and perish. Make the right choice!

The ungodly must be reached, and this Psalm is not telling us to stay away from those who need the Lord. People need the Lord. I once was ungodly, and I thank God that a person of faith cared enough about me to share Jesus Christ with me. Now, will we care enough about others to share Jesus Christ with them? What ungodly person is on your target list?

You and I don’t know who will respond to the good news of Jesus Christ, but God help us to walk with God and set an example of what Biblical Christianity looks like. May our testimony become a magnet that draws unsaved people to the person of Jesus Christ.

What area of your life do you need to make some changes?

1. Staying Godly

2. Enjoy Scripture

3. Growing Spiritually

4. Living Differently

Make those changes now!

[1] (https://www.treesatlanta.org/news/the-oldest-tree-in-the-world/#:~:text=However%2C%20one%20species%20in%20particular,harsh%20conditions%20it%20lives%20in.) [2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_(tree)#:~:text=Hyperion%20is%20a%20coast%