Sermon Tone Analysis

What Does It Mean to Change?

A good friend of mine recently sat in my office thinking out loud about whatever came to mind.

The topics ranged from his marriage (which had its share of disappointments), to his future plans for ministry, to the quality of his walk with the Lord.

As the conversation continued his mood became increasingly thoughtful—not gloomy, but quietly and deeply reflective, the kind of mood no one ever feels in a fast-food restaurant.

My friend, I should point out, is a committed Christian, a gifted counselor, and an unusually clear thinker.

His life has known a few trials, but nothing remarkably different from what most middle-aged men have experienced.

His friends describe him as friendly, hardworking, loyal, and sincere.

A few see his spontaneous fun-loving side.

Everyone agrees he’s a solid, well-adjusted Christian.

After nearly an hour of reflective rambling, his thoughtful mood shifted into a profoundly sad, almost desperate, loneliness.

As though talking to no one in particular, he quietly said, “I wonder what it would be like to feel really good for just ten minutes.”

His sentence struck me.

Did I know what it was like to feel really good for ten minutes?

A fair number of people look reasonably happy.

Do they feel really good?

Utterly happy with no hint of emptiness or sorrow?

Maybe the question is wrong.

Perhaps Christians are supposed to ask, “Do I know what it means to be consistently obedient?”

and not worry about their feelings.

But then, what is Peter referring to when he speaks of inexpressible joy (1 Peter 1:8)?

What is a maturing Christian like on the inside?

What will he feel?

Will he have a consistent desire to do what’s right?

Or will he fight a raging battle within between urges to do wrong and commitments to do right?

Does maturity feel good?

Or is there a deepened sense of loneliness and struggle?

Will there be the awareness of a thoroughly changed set of motives that delights to do God’s will?

Or will there continue to be evidence of corruption within?

Will the pursuit of holiness lead to an increase in happiness?

As we grow stronger, do we feel stronger—or weaker?

Some people honestly feel quite happy.

Are they pretending?

Should they be struggling more?

When others show deep pain and overwhelming frustration, these folks can’t relate to them any more than someone well fed can feel the horror of starvation.

Perhaps these “happy” people’s lives reflect a healthy stability and contentment that we could wish for everyone.

What does it mean for these folks to press on toward higher levels of maturity?

What does it mean to change, to grow, to conform more and more to the image of Christ?

What kind of change is possible, and how does it come about?

“It seems likely that this psalm was specially composed as an introduction to the whole Psalter.

Certainly it stands here as a faithful doorkeeper, confronting those who would be in ‘the congregation of the righteous’ (5) with the basic choice that alone gives reality to worship; with the divine truth (2) that must inform it; and with the ultimate judgment (5, 6) that looms up beyond it.”

Derek Kidner

Why is ?

Why is ?

Why isn't ?

such an expression of the praise of God.

Why isn't ?

Such an expression of the Might of God.

Why isn't ?

With it’s grand view of God’s majesty?

Why is Psalm1?

is because it packs a matter of such importance

There are two ways … two humanities … and two destinies.

Jesus unpacked the truth of in …

depicts for us in black and white … Nothing is as important as belonging to the congregation of the Righteous (Being saved)

contrasts the righteous and the wicked … the way of the Lord and every other way

WE are not going to ignore the contrast … but will develop the teaching today from the angle of the believer … the righteous one.

First Notice the Direction of the Believer’s life - vv:1-2

CSB -

How happy is the one who does not

walk in the advice of the wicked

or stand in the pathway with sinners

or sit in the company of mockers!

2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,

and he meditates on it day and night.

Text shows WHERE the righteous man gets his signals for living ...

What drives him and leads him

The Righteous person is described by what he shuns

This person is marked by Blessedness … Happyness - Enjoyment of God’s blessing

This person is a separated person

NOT NEUTRAL about Evil

Three clauses describe this person

The Cues he follows (Counsel)

The Direction He takes (Way)

The Company He enjoys (Seat)

SO … The blessed … the Happy Man … is counter-cultural

He is Different

He doesn't go with the flow of culture or friends

Mardy Grothe (Psychologist and Writer) tells the story of a lady who reached 104 … when asked the best thing about being 104 = Ans.

= No Peer Pressure

The Righteous Person pf meets plenty of it

He meets the Lure of the:

The Wicked - Criminal Term; one deserving Punishment.

Focus on Character as wicked

The Sinners - Reckoned as offenders; God is the one offended.

Here is one who in acts is unclean.

Removed from God’s presence

The Scoffers - Used most often in proverbs of fools; associated with pride and arrogance

Derek Kidner states that Counsel, Way and Seat draw attention to the realms of thinking, behaving and belonging in which a person’s fundamental choice of allegiance is made and carried through.

Yet certainly the three complete phrases show three aspects, indeed three degrees, of departure from God, by portraying conformity to this world at three different levels: accepting its advice, being party to its ways, and adopting the most fatal of its attitudes—for the scoffers, if not the most scandalous of sinners, are the farthest from repentance (Prov.

3:34).

Kidner

Verse 1 is actually the OT counter-part of

Verse 2 is the positive side of the believer’s direction … what leads him to renounce all the appeals of verse 1 …

He/She takes their course direction from another source … v:2

I would translate:

2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.

Instruction = Torah = Most often translated Law … Better = Instruction or teaching

Teaching = Torah

Instruction - Discipline; Correction; Teaching

Teaching = Torah

Idea behind Torah = God’s Instruction