Psalm 1: Crossroads
Notes
Transcript
Psalm 1: Crossroads
Psalm 1: Crossroads
Psalm 1: 1-6
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.
Introduction
Travel Guide Illustration.
Road Map Illustration.
Psalm 1 Intro
V1- Blessed is the man....
ES-HER- a better Hebrew translation is HAPPY.
An individual who is privileged or happy.
Who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
He takes wiser counsel & walks in the commandments of the Lord.
His steps are guided by the Word of God.
Nor stands in the way of sinners,
Although he is a sinner too, he is washed in the blood of the Lamb.
He stands by the grace of God with the righteous.
Nor sits in the seat of the scoffers;
He’s to wise to take the ways of scoffers.
Scoffers are the worst of the worsts, their actions place them near hell.
DOWN SPIRAL OF VERSE 1
Walk with the careless who forgot God.
Stand with those who willfully sin & temp others.
Sit with those who no longer care & openly deny God.
The righteous AVOID thinking like, behaving like, & dealing with the wicked.
The righteous are IN the world, but ARE NOT OF THE WORLD.
Proverbs 4:14
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
They keep themselves pure & do not let others make them stumble.
They become the example & influence others.
It is a LIFESTYLE for the righteous.
V2 - But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
He is not UNDER the law as a condemnation.
He is IN the Word of God.
Instead of associating with the wicked, the blessed take pleasure in the Word of God.
And on his law he meditates day and night.
Meditates by reading through the day & thinking about it a night.
Comforted by the Word & sleeps well at night.
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.
V3- He is like a tree planted...
His feet are firm in his position & faith.
Like a tree, it takes work to be a good Christian (plant, cultivate, work to maintain).
By streams of water...
A tree planted by water flourishes (irrigation).
If 1 stream fails, it has another source (River of Grace, River of Pardon).
That yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
The Word teaches him because he delights in the Word.
It gives him patience in time of suffering, faith in trials, & joy during times of prosperity.
His leaf does not wither because he has EVERLASTING LIFE.
His good deeds will be remembered forever.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Like a tree, the righteous are stable, well nourished, fruitful, & prosperous.
It is not an external prosperity, it is an INTERNAL prosperity.
Prosper here means TO BRING TO PERFECTION.
V4- The wicked are not so,
The good things that happen to the righteous, it does not happen for the wicked.
OPPOSITE OF.
They are ungodly and neglect God.
CELEBRITY illustration.
But are like chaff that the wind drives away.
In the OT, chaff was the grain that fell away in the fields.
Worthless, without substance, easily carried away, & NOT PLANTED.
Their sin drives them down the downward spiral.
V5- Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
This does not mean they will not BE at judgement.
It means that they will not stand in their own defense or be acquitted.
Nor sinners in the congregations of the righteous;
There will be separation between the righteous & the wicked.
The rich man & Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31).
V6- For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
The Lord attends to & provides for them.
He cares for & protects His people.
God constantly looks at the righteous & understands them (prayer).
He knows the path that they walk.
But the way of the wicked will perish.
The wicked’s plans will end in disappointment and ruin.
Their names are written in sand & wash away in the waves.
CONCLUSION
Walk in the Forest Illustration.
A PATH LESS TRAVELED IS A PATH WELL PRESERVED.
Questions.
Are you walking down the path of the righteous or have you veered off course?
Are you walking down the path of the wicked BUT want to change routes?
Invitation.
There is still time. You are not at your final destination yet.
God wants you to walk down the path of the righteous
Repent & turn away from your sins.
Put your trust in Jesus & begin to live your life in faith.