planting for harvest
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Summer in the Psalms
Summer in the Psalms
This morning we begin our series “Summer in the Psalms” We know summer is a busy season, you’ve made travel and vacation plans months ago. And now its time to make those plans come true. I wonder if the expression “Christmas in July” has more to do with the business of July like its Christmas counterpart. Well whether your here for service or you’re away and plan to catch it on our website we will be taking down time this summer to simply stop and consider who God is, and who we are in view of Him. So each week we will be taking a familiar psalm and meditating on its significance in our lives.
I encourage you, even as you travel to see family and friends you take pause to consider and be thankful for God’s blessing, and as you tour up into the mountains and across the beautiful country take pause to give glory to God for the majesty of His hands. We are going to do that together this summer.
Beatitude
Beatitude
The psalms start very much like Jesus’ famous sermon on the mount that begins in Matthew 5:2. It begins with a beatitude (a pronouncement of blessings of God on the just man.)
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;
“walking” “standing” “sitting” Three places you will not find the just/blessed man. You will not be blessed to heed evil counsel, you make sin your place, or foolishness your rest. (So be on guard this summer do not make promises or swear on your plans - “In his heart a man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.” Pr. 16:9 don’t be the glutton, the fool, don’t cause others to fall into temptation by your actions and don’t be swayed by such stupidity. There is no blessing in it.
What does the Just man do?
What does the Just man do?
It’s an interesting beatitude because it starts first with what the blessed man will NOT do. In the face of all these terrible foes, the challenges to obedience, and faithful following, what must be the outlook the line the just man walks?
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.
When to expect fruit
When to expect fruit
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.
Fruit doesn’t come right away
Fruit doesn’t come right away
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Planting a tree with no intention of sitting under its shade
Planting a tree with no intention of sitting under its shade
What we’ve been given and what we leave for others
What we’ve been given and what we leave for others
Lake Norfork: we grew up going to that lake, and now its the only place I find restful vacation.
The habits we set now shape our lives and the lives of our household. The time we spend at the water creates a condition that is shared through generations.
Christ as “the man”
Christ as “the man”
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 “man” here is not simply a human being. The underlying words here translated as “man” are emphatically masculine. The “man” of reference here has a particular man in mind. It draws a clear silhouette of what this man looks and behaves like. According to many of the church fathers they gave name to this “man” the one mediator between God and man, Jesus the Christ. In his shadow we follow in this way. We mirror His actions we recite His words because we know that in His way we to will be eternally prosperous.