Choose Your Path

Introduction

is a beautiful psalm that provides a contrast between the way of the wicked and the blessed righteous person - ,

It holds a special prominence since it is the very first of the psalms. It introduces the entire book: the righteous, the wicked, God’s judgment on sin, and the importance of meditation on the law of God.

Several have suggested the entire book of Psalms and the whole Old Testament law should be seen through the prism of . This psalms casts light on all of God’s law — and it is a sight and wonder to behold.

Given that this psalm is understood to be so important, it would help us if we give attention to it and study it.

There are two paths that are presented here.

The Way of Sinners

Sin progresses (in reality, it is a digression) from bad to worse -

Notice: “walk,” “stand,” and “sit”

Paul saw that false teachers and those influenced by false teaching will only grow worse -

Getting caught up in sin not only puts our soul in danger, it will lead us to further sin -

Common sins that lead to further sin; one sin leads to another: adultery usually requires lying to your spouse; drinking alcohol leads to drunkenness

Sinners listen to bad advice -

One reason that sinners digress and move themselves into further and further sin, digging a hole so deep that they cannot seem to get out of is because they continually listen to the wrong people.

There is sinful advice from our friends and co-workers, the books we read, the social media we engage with, and the movies we watch.

The advice doesn’t sound so bad on the front end. It often promises “you only live once, so you might as well enjoy life! it’s fun! you’ll be glad you did!”

Illustration: with the Charlie Brown & Snoopy cartoon.

Sinners, following the path of the wicked, listen to the “counsel of the wicked” -

Abraham listened to the voice of his wife Sarah and had relations with Hagar, who then conceived Ishmael.

Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, forsook the counsel of the elders and followed the advice of his wicked peers who were playing on his pride and vanity -

Many of the people who offer bad advice have evil motivations that are turned against God. Worldly friends will not encourage you to surround yourself with your spiritual family, they will turn you against God and His word, and they will encourage behavior that is not in accordance with the Scriptures.

There is evil advice all around us in the world. The spiritual person who is devoted to the Lord will reject evil advice and that will lead to them being “blessed” and “happy.”

Sinners are easily swayed and moved -

The way of sinners is hard to predict because of the constant changes they make.

The psalmist describes sinners as being like chaff that is separated from the wheat and then is blown off in the wind. There is no root, there is no substance — they are there, but then they disappear by just the slightest thing. This is the opposite of the tree planted by the water.

Opening Up Psalms The Wretchedness of the Ungodly Person (vv. 4–6)

The psalmist’s mention of chaff takes us back to the farming techniques of that time. The farmer would place the wheat he had harvested on a stone threshing floor and drive his oxen around it so that their hooves would separate the grain from the husks. He would then use a kind of fork or shovel to pitch the grain and the chaff in the air. The grain would fall to the floor to be preserved and the chaff would be blown away.

Paul describes the need for growth and maturity in the church so that we are no longer moved about by every “wind of doctrine” -

How do we approach the Bible?

Sometimes we are seemingly okay with an emotional, feel-good approach to the Bible that would provide no substance and even be fundamentally flawed and unsound. The only real test is “does it make me feel good?”

We must speak the truth -

To speak the truth is not to think too deeply about the word of God. Speaking the truth is about a conviction of what is right and from God.

Error will drive us further away from God.

“Unspoken truth” leads to “spoken error” — we must realize that sin digresses because it is unstable.

Things that are practiced in churches of Christ today would have been absolutely unheard of 50 years ago.

Women preachers and elders

Instrumental music

The truth provides stability in our lives.

Sinners do not want to assemble with the righteous -

It should really come as no surprise that if those who choose to live a life separate from God will choose to be separated from the people of God.

That is why your attendance says so much about what you are interested in, but your lack of attendance speaks volumes!

Forsaking the assembling of the church shows how little interest you have in God and His word.

Such is the way of the sinner...

Therefore, they will not be with the righteous assembly in eternity.

Sinners will perish -

The psalmist does not hide that the LORD will judge and the wicked will not stand.

They will not stand righteous or justified or acquitted before God.

They will face the sure judgment and wrath of God — all because they chose to follow a different path. The path that leads away from God.

God sees the way of the wicked and that leads to death - ;

We should trust in the Lord and look to His word, not relying upon our own understanding. His way is the way to righteousness and to eternal life.

Jesus provides the words of eternal life -

If you are following the way of sinners, you need to return to Jesus today!

Choose your path today; follow the Lord!

The Way of the Righteous

The righteous will limit their interactions with the ungodly -

Evil companions will bring corruption to your good morals -

Fellowship with God should be our goal and purpose -

We have no partnership with darkness - vv 14-16

We are the temple of God, therefore we should have fellowship with God - v 16

We should be holy and distinguished from the world - v 17

We have a relationship with God - v 18

Righteous people will delight in the law and meditate in God’s word -

The law of Yahweh is a beautiful and delightful thing.

Many people associate law as a negative thing.

The psalmist says the blessed person “delights” in the law. The law of God causes people to be happy, not sad.

Why? Because the law is God’s revelation and self-disclosure to us!

He gives us commands -

He makes promises -

He guides us -

He corrects us -

We should meditate and think about God’s word all the day long. We should love God’s word -

We should read God’s word and think about it.

We also must handle God’s word accurately, “rightly dividing” the word of truth -

God’s word gives us confidence - ;

The righteous will grow and mature so that they are firmly rooted in God -

The psalmist uses the imagery of the righteous being like a tree that is planted, rooted, and well watered -

The tree produces fruit and its leaf. The righteous should produce fruit for God -

The different kinds of soil; only one proved to have sustained growth and allowed thriving for the plant.

The word of God should be planted and it needs a fertile heart for it to take root in.

Righteous people will produce more righteous people -

Discipleship means we will follow and obey Jesus.

Discipleship means we will learn God’s word.

Discipleship means we will teach others and invite them to follow the Lord.

Disciples follow Jesus and are on the path of righteousness.

Conclusion

There are two paths that you can choose: one which leads to life; the other leads to eternal punishment.

Choose life! Follow the Lord and His word closely and meditate on it.

That is the way that leads to everlasting fellowship with God.