The Two Pathways of Life
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Life is full of decisions, full of different pathways to take. Some big, some small and it’s hard to decide often times which pathway to take. You hit that fork in the road and look down each path but cannot see where it leads to until you already commited to walking that path. That sure seems to be where my family is right now. Lots of different things going on right now, decisions that impact our future, decisions that affect our day to day life (what we are going to accomplish, what we give our time to,) decisions that affect how we go about maintaining the relationships we care about.… decisions, decisions, decisions. I can’t tell you how many times my wife and I have looked down those different paths and feel more confused by the hour on what course we should take. Oftentimes, I just wish I could be able to see into the future… to be able to see what each path entailed, what difficulties lie ahead, what trials await, what things I would need to do, how it would affect us on each path rather than discovering that on the way. To know the outcome before embarking on the journey. Most of the time, we are given that luxury. Most of the time, we tread forth in faith. Trusting God that we have sought him like we should, and that He indeed did direct our paths. But as we look at todays passage, we are given that luxury of seeing the road ahead and the finish line that awaits us for each paths we take. In Psalm chapter one, the Psalmist doesn’t paint alot of paths to follow. Just 2, the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. And with great wisdom and with great detail shares with us what you should expect to find along these paths and where they lead. Let’s now turn to this passage once again, as I read you follow along. Psalm 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; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 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. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
I. The Way of the Righteous
I. The Way of the Righteous
A. The Deeds of the Righteous
A. The Deeds of the Righteous
1. Avoids the Influence of the Wicked
1. Avoids the Influence of the Wicked
Walk- Holding the same principles as ungoldy men, men without God
Stand- acting in the way way as sinners and open transgressors
Sit- not favouring, associating with scorners or those who openly bash christian faith & practice
Unholy progression here. Graduation of evil.
The apparent progression presents a picture of someone walking next to sin, then stopping to stand and take it all in, and then finally sitting right down in sin’s seat “to enjoy the fleeting pleasures” of it
First it’s an allowance of their wicked thoughts into our life. How does that happen by the way? Well, what you put into your life will come out of your life. So the basic question of examination should be what are you letting into your life that is teaching wrong behavior. An easy example that I have seen in our culture is that of revenge- make them pay. Our movies have made this look so good, so righteous. The good guy settles the score on the bad guy for the wrong he commited to him. We may not have done that ourselves, but we start thinking that indeed it is a good thing for someone to avenge themselves when someone does evil to them. Its justified and its best for everyone. That may make sense in our sinful minds, but that’s just not at all what the Bible teaches nor models. Romans 12 (17-21) is the easiest place to go but then even looking at the model of Jesus who when he was reviled and scorned didn’t retaliate… that’s in Hebrews.
When I think about the walk sit stand, it reminds me of what missionary Elliot Clark said in his book entitled evangelism for exiles, a book written about what 1 Peter tells his audience. In commenting on 1 Peter 2:11-12, which says...
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
“Here we should recognize that the experience of exile isn’t always one where we have traditional enemies who draw lines and fight battles. They don’t merely shun and exclude. Sometimes—or even more frequently—exile looks like good friends who want to include us in their fun. But when you don’t go along with their wickedness, they scoff and deride you for not participating in their sin (4:4). This derision can occur when you decline the invitation to your friend’s bachelor party. When you refuse unethical business practices. When you turn down the offer of drugs. When you won’t cheat on the test. When you abstain from mocking political leaders. When you don’t sleep around. When you excuse yourself from an inappropriate movie. When you won’t lie about your age. When you don’t laugh at crass humor. When you refuse to break the law. When you won’t join in endless gossip. When you miss the Sunday soccer game.”
He calls this being “other”. In fact, he believes in a large part that is one of the main reasons for Peter’s writings because Peter knew that one of the greatest dangers for exiles in a foreign land would be the constant feeling of being other where the pain of ridicule and social exclusion can be sharp!
Elliot reminds us of Peters words...
That to be an exile- to be other- is central to the Christian calling. And that’s a good thing. As we experience increased isolation and shame in our country in where we live, we have an opportunity then to embrace that foreignness of this life which yields a greater anticipation and excitement for the home we are actually citizens of.
So don’t be afraid to be other. Accept it and be thankful of it.
2. Delights only in the Influence of the Word of God
2. Delights only in the Influence of the Word of God
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
His every waking moment fixated on the Words of God. He is addicted to it. Not a word we would use about the Bible but a word that should describe our passion and longing for it. Our need of it. We should ache for it as we do for water in a dry and weary land.
You see also that this is a contrast. The wicked take counsel in other false philosophies and following down those paths when life’s questions arise. But the righteous, upon every question, every problem, every situation, every trial, every thought, turn their attention to the Word of God. Seeking it out as the first and best stop to receive the answers.
It’s amusing that we save the “spiritual” questions for the Word of God but then for other questions about life, we seek counsel elsewhere. When we should know that scripture is sufficient for all of lifes needs.
B. The Destination of the Righteous
B. The Destination of the Righteous
1. Blessed
1. Blessed
“oh the happiness”- an exclamation of strong emotion. The Hebrew words is “ashre” … carries with it the idea of fortunate or privileged. They way people see themselves.
This word is actually repeated in the original text of Hebrew, giving it even greater intensity.
Charles Spurgeon noted this...
The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 1
Everyone is seeking happiness. If that is true, then everyone should read this psalm, for it directs us where happiness is to be found in its highest degree and purest form. “Happy,” says David, “is such and such a man,” and the word which he uses is, in the original, exceedingly expressive. It implies a sort of plurality of happiness, and it is scarcely known whether the word is an adjective or a noun, as if the happiness qualified the whole of life and was, in itself, better even than life itself. Surely this is the highest to which the human heart can aspire! This happiness is as attainable by the poor, the forgotten, and the obscure as by those whose names figure in history and are trumpeted by fame. It is not to the hermit or the priest, but it comes to any man or woman who loves God and seeks to obey him.
2. Secure
2. Secure
“like a tree planted by streams of water, it’s leaf does not wither.” What makes the tree firm, secure. Being situated near streams of water that continually nourish it and feed it. If we are symbolized as the tree, what does the rivers of water symbolize. The word of God. The promises of God.
When David was in the midst of his most difficult and grevious places, what did he cling to?
Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
3. Fruitful
3. Fruitful
“Yields its fruit in its season… all he does, he prospers.”
I’ve been reading in my devotions from Hebrews 11 often called the Hall of Faith. An incredibly encouraging chapter. You can read about all of these people and what their faith allowed them to accomplish.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Some would say man, I want that kind of faith so I can prosper like that. I wanna conqueror my enemies, I wanna enforce justice, I wanna be a great king, I wanna quench the fire… etc etc. But that’s not what prospering means.
Read on and see that having faith didn’t always mean..... “good”..... outcomes.
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
We don’t define prospering in that way, do we. Yet, these people strongly placed their faith in God despite this. They didn’t set out to have faith so they could move mountains, etc etc. Their motivation so much more significant.
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
4. Known
4. Known
deep understanding, concern, care, love, protection
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
II. The Way of the Wicked
II. The Way of the Wicked
A. The Deeds of the Wicked
A. The Deeds of the Wicked
wicked
sinners
Those that actively pursue sin. They call evil good.
I am once again reminded out what Paul said to the Corinthians.
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Or what Paul says in Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
scoffers-
If the sinner is that who calls evil good, then a scoffer is a person who calls good evil.
Faithlife Study Bible Psalm 1
mockers This common Hebrew Wisdom Literature term, zed, describes an arrogant fool who refuses discipline and correction (
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary Psalm 1
Mockers make light of serious things, yet sit back in judgment of everyone and everything. Nevertheless, they fail to allow to ever allow their critical gaze to turn back to themselves
If we were being honest with ourselves, how often is this true of us. I can tell you that I have been convicted by these verses I joke about sin. Whether it be about pride, or greed, or selfishness, gambling, violence, being drunk, etc etc.… God doesn’t take those things lightly. They are a serious offense. Why should I not also take offense at them. That doesn’t mean I’m critical and judgmental of everyone, but I should be careful that all my words build up and that they are vastly different than the worlds system. Another prime example of our “otheriness”.
Paul’s new testament equivalent to Psalm 1 expresses the same basic truth.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
This verses describes that those who are wicked those who live according to the flesh and whose mind is set on the flesh is hostile to God. That’s the final stage of unrighteousness so to speak. But this verse also shared the destination of the wicked which we will look at next.
B. Destination of the Wicked
B. Destination of the Wicked
1. Insecure
1. Insecure
Blown Away like the Dust- That is so true of today. Theropy and counseling are at their highest rates they’ve ever been. Just this last couple weeks, we’ve been following a lady that we know through our kids AYSO soccer program. She been posting constantly on facebook of the prevailing difficulties of her relationships with the man she is living with. Moving from howard city to Grand Rapids back to howard city… with him, not with him, back with him again… and has in some really sad posts has made mention of how miserable, unsatisfying, and purposeless life is. The world is trying to tie down their anchors to something that is secure, but nothing in life is… work, family, friends, hobbies, possessions, vacations and travel, rest, medication, and yet none of these are fool proof. Non of these hold us up perfectly, none of these can we place our trust in, because living in a sin-cursed world, evidence abounds, that everything decays, everything breaks down, everything has it’s limitation, and everything has its problems. So to place our hope, confidence, investments, and trust in these things is no different than the foolish man who tries to build a house on sand. Talk about anxiety, talk about the worry. Everyday living in fear cause you don’t know how long until what you’ve opened up yourself to will eventually let you down. Problem is, the world is so naive. And will continue to live in this insecure state of mind because they continue to chase after things and put their confidence in things that only ever will disappoint.
~Jared~
I actually just spoke to another friend who has walked down this path, and is standing in the path of sinners. He said to me. I just don’t get it. They say find a job that you enjoy. I did. I get great company benefits. I’ve got a 401k. I’ve got a great vehicle. But I’m still feel lonely.
I told him that what He was experiencing was the heaviness that God places upon him when he walks in sin, and this is the results of one who walks this way.
Yes, sometimes heaviness comes from traversing through hardship. But othertimes, and more often than we care to admit because of our pride, we experience heaviness, weariness, frustration, depression, lack of motivation because of our heart and actions of sin. This is exactly what David experienced and expressed in Psalm 32.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
Not until David confessed his sin did he finally feel the sweet release of freedom. I know this feeling well. You can ask my wife about it. I had an conflict with one of my relatives this week and experienced the anxiety and despair that come with it. Bones ache… yes… I would describe it also and perpetual uneasiness. Normally have no issue sleeping, but I struggled to sleep. Thoughts constantly looking to defend myself, looking to accuse, looking to how to get free of this, thinking heavily on how they view me. Just an avalanche of thoughts. But upon confessing the faults and restoring the relationship, rest is returned. Yet, many people never experience this because rather than deal with it, they ignore it.
Our Premarriage counseling book we are going through with Sawyer and Hannah calls that being hoaders. And hoaders don’t just hoard treasures. They also hoard junk. Lots and lots of worthless junk. When we have wickedness in our life that is not dealt with, it’s like throwing more juke in our hoarder house, it may not be significant at that moment but eventually it gets to the point that you are no longer even able to move or function in your own home. Trapped and helpless.
So understand what the way of the wicked looks like in your own life because you to could easily walk down this path and find it is unforgiving. Only returning back to the path of truth the Word of God can these things truly be removed and the snares of life be exposed. But it takes us being just as deliberate. Day and night in the word to let the words light be a lamp unto our feet. We remove the light in our lives even for a day, then we are stumbling around in darkness. Giving opportunity for sin and is devasting effects to take place.
2. Ultimate Destruction
2. Ultimate Destruction
Final judgment for rejection of God and all their evil deeds will come at a high cost.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Conclusion:
This Psalm has often been called the door keeper of the Psalms, not just because it is the first of the Psalms but also because of it’s message. This Psalm well reflects what the entirety of the Psalms and the entirety of life is made up of. A simplistic message about 2 paths and only two paths. As the Psalmist, in his wisdom, expressed that we walk, choose, follow one only one of these. There is middle ground here. He never says that the paths converge. They never meet or cross paths. The don’t share the route or destination. They are in complete opposite directions. So you can’t be walking both paths at once. The question that comes to mind then is which path are you on? All of us here would love to say we are on the path of righteousness. But does the way the Psalmist describe the actions and the destination of the righteous line up with your own life. Do you put your stock and investment into worldly schemes. We might think we avoid the places of influence from sinners… and bring up thoughts of casino’s, strip clubs, bars, etc… but we fail to recognize that even in our own houses, we can sit under the influence of sinners when we spend far too much time and attention with social media, news outlets, politicians… with tv programs that with subtle messaging mock righteous living and promote self love and all sorts of ungodly thought and speech. Rarely honoring the call to serve, encourage, and promote other people.
On top of that, to truly be listed in the righteous. Do we actually truly delight in the word of God. Is it actually our love. Do we meditate on it day and night. If we surveyed our church and asked each of you how much time you actually spend in the word of God. I wouldn’t be surprised that would be some here that say that there are many days a week that you don’t give a single ounce of time to God’s Word. Thought, study, or mediation. When is the last time you memorized a verse? When is the last time you read something so exciting from the Word that you couldn’t help but wanna share it with someone else. We have someone believed a lie that says we can be good righteous christians and say we love the Word of God and only hear it on Sundays and maybe Wednesdays, when the very Word of God that we proclaim to love says over and over and over again how much time should be devoted to hearing it, studying, delighting in it, proclaiming it, memorizing it, applying it… It’s foolish of us to believe that way. If you don’t spend time everyday in the word of God, can you really be counted amongst those the Psalmist calls the righteous.
We want the destination of the righteous, but are not putting in the actions or time of the righteous.
And yet that’s the beautiful about God.
For you here that listen to this message, you might walk away from this and think.… hmm… what makes a wicked man wicked? His actions.… So then, what makes a righteous man righteous.… that answer would be Jesus Christ.
Paul knew this well when he said of his own life in Philippians 3… that even though he was the greatest and best Pharisee one could be, extremely devoted, he still found that he could never be righteous enough. The standard to be Holy even as I am Holy.… the standard is God… A standard that even the angels in perfection today (they are not sinners) do not meet. So where does Paul state righteousness can be found.
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Righteousness is found in Jesus Christ, and faith in his shed blood and resurrection. A confession of our sins before, admission of all the wrongs we have done. Realizing that we are dead in our sins and unable to do anything about it, then through that faith that he provides us, he indeed grants us forgiveness and gives us his righteousness. We don’t gain our own righteousness at salvation on our own either can we add anything of righteousness without Christ after salvation. So today, righteousness is all of God. Before salvation and after salvation. Though we are to work out our own salvation (meaning that because of our new life and new nature we should live out a life in obedience to God because of the freedom he has given us from sin. Also recognizing thought the next verse that states it is God who works in us to will and do of His good pleasure.
Today He is indeed doing that again, through the preaching of His Word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, God is working to build up the righteousness of His saints, and by His grace is allowing you to see that there is more work to do in your life. If today, you have said that none of the things that describe the righteous describe me, then perhaps today is the day to recognize through the conviction of the Holy Spirit that is now working in you that you indeed are counted amongst the wicked whose end is destruction. There may be people even amongst this congregation that have attended here for years and have never truly received Christ and His righteousness. Many in that day will say Lord Lord… convinced they were part of the righteous, relying on their attendance, their tithes, their charitable deeds, but never truly changed, never truly yearned for the Word of God, never truly were blessed, or secure, or fruitful, or known. Today can be that day.
