World of contrasts & Categories Rich/Poor Quick/Slow Winners/Loosers Upper Class, Middle…Lower. Been said, “3 types of people: Those who make things happen…watch things…don’t even know happening.” Left brain/Right brain. Politics- Right wing/Left wing. Youth: Cool/Uncool In/Out
Remember young: Talk about God. Question heard a lot was “Catholic /Christ?
(Interestingly, don’t hear this Q. put like that these days, as if same thing)
Point: World seems to have us categorised or contrasted & depending where you are, so will be your happiness/blessedness.
True to certain degree: only temporary; True when looked from “under the sun”.
But what does God have to say? Bible? About categories of people?
In relation to God & eternity: God sums up all contrasts & cat’s into 2 groups:
Those who are blessed & those who are not.
The righteous and the unrighteous (or the wicked.)
From God’s perspective & according to His eternal plan/decree – only 2 Cat’s.
Every man, women, boy, girl is in one or the other – no in between.
Theme
Theme of Psalm 1. Indeed, whole book & whole bible.
From Gen 3:15 to Revelation, battle b/w seed of woman/Satan
Between blessedness and cursed; good & evil; righteous & wicked.
All as a result of not obeying God. Not walking in His ways.
Context
[[ Book of Psalms – Heb. “praises” 150 songs of praise. Not necc. = “Pos.”
The beauty & reality of Psalms lies in fact that it’s most comp. & personal.
Luther: “You might rightly call the Psalter a Bible in minature.”
Compreh. b/c they speak of the majesty of God; the Kingship of God, and coming “King of Kings”; the covenant promises of God; the God of creation; the law of God; the Judgement of God; the salvation of God. There are Historical Psalms; Wisdom Psalms; Lament Psalms; Thanksgiving Psalms…….Comprehensive!!
Yet, (as Allan Harman): Don’t just speak to us, but also for us. They’re personal.
Can’t think of human condition/emotion that Psalms wouldn’t touch on, at least princ.
Are you poor & needy? The Psalms can speak for you. Are you deeply depressed? The Psalms can speak for you. Are you afraid? Are you suffering physical or spiritual anguish?.... Are you rejoicing?..... Do you have happiness & peace?..... ]]
Psalm 1 expressing general truth, no specific reference to persons or occasion.
“man”, the “ungodly” & the “righteous” could apply to any one, any time.
So fitting to introduce Psalms. What is summarised is brought out in detail.
I.e, fuller outworking of the contrasting principle:
blessedness (Godly obedience), destruction (living outside God’s counsel.)
Purpose
So, accordingly, twofold purpose: To encourage and to warn.
Encourage believer - blessings of walking in obedience God’s counsel.
Warn ungodly (i.e. unbeliever) - destruction of living in disobedience to God
There is a final judgement, (v.5), then eternity. Righteous will live; unrighteous perish.
Who is righteous b4 God? How do we attain this?
Gospel/Christianity = justified/righteous by faith not law. (Rom.3). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8). “Lest anyone…” Us & psalmist. Calvary = retro & pros.
Important to remember re Psalm 1 & other OT passages. No one is saved by works.
Yet psalm seems to say “The righteous man is blessed b/c NOT doing this & DOING that.” Salvation by works? No. It’s the works of Salvation!!
God’s word says “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2) Works prove faith not merit it.
If we were chosen in Christ to be holy b4 foundation of world, (Eph.1) so was Psalmist!
The blessed life of the righteous
Important to note 1st word, “Blessed…” Heb. has force of interjection “O the deep happiness of the man” “the deep, enviable contentment of the man”
True, genuine, real, deep, happiness!
What characterises such a person? Such blessedness? Who is this? What’s he like?
Ask the world that Q. “Blessed…lots of money” “…owns a house” “…social prestige” “everyone like you…”
True to certain extent – shallow, temporary extent. Not the blessed talked about here.
Godly happiness/contentment b/c of Godly righteousness, not wordly happy b/c of worldly things. Same word in Ps. 32 – re being right with God, having your sin & guilt removed.
Firstly, characterised Neg. – By not: Conforming to the patterns of the ungodly (Rom 12:2)
“Who walks not in counsel of ungodly.” Not necc. a literal walk. All of life!
How you live your life, (walk through life). Won’t listen to world’s advice contrary to Bible
From how you got here, (evolution) to what you do here, (how you work, watch TV, play sport, have re’ships, use money…etc)
Eg, Ungodly counsel says “watch this film, it’s good” But you know full of sexual innuendo & Lord’s name will be sworn in it. If conscience re this, (& every Christian will) You’ll have the blessedness/true happiness of God by NOT watching that film.
Ungodly counsel, “It’s only a film! Entertainment! There’s nothing wrong with sex & saying God/Jesus for dramatic expression!” Of course not, if we’re only products of evolution apart from a moral God.
Another EG. Dinner at Q’cliff. Forgot to charge for the Salad. $3.50.
Counsel of ungodly = “Don’t say anything, it’s their mistake..” I was really tempted!
And felt convicted & terrible. I told waitress, & paid her. She was surprised at my honesty. And instantly I felt a peace, happiness, blessedness!!
Blessed man delights in the law. Law says don’t steal. I would’ve taken $3.50 that really wasn’t mine.
Ps.28 “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways”
1 John 1 “If we claim fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie & don’t live by truth” But if we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another & blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” The ultimate blessedness!!
“Walking… includes/embraces standing in path of & sitting in seat of
Yet interesting Literary feature: “walks not” “nor stands”, “nor sits”.
Seems to imply increasing acceptance toward ways of ungodly.
First walking (past), then standing, (with, or being in with), finally sitting, (in the seat, i.e. abiding, residing with) Increasing acceptance of ungodly ways
So, avoiding such paths will bring fullness of blessedness/ultimate happiness.
The Christian’s associations/ company /pleasures are found elsewhere – Vs.2
Vs.2 Blessedness expressed Pos.
How? By delighting in the law of the Lord. 10 commandments? Yes. Laws of Moses? Yes
The Pentateuch? Yes. What about principles/precepts in Prophets & Kings? Yes. N.T laws? Yes. You mean the whole bible? Yes - For you & Me. For psalmist, all available written & verbal rev. of God.
“Law” Lit. “instruction” (Alan Harman) “Fullness of God’s teaching for His Children”
The psalmist’s delight/pleasure is the WOG! And he only had ½ of it!
How much more the full rev of Jesus Christ & gospel be our delight!
How much does he love the God’s word? Day & Night he meditates!
Word “meditates” means to murmur/talk quietly to yourself the words of God.
Quote scripture to yourself, wherever you are at any time – Day & night.
Is this your delight? Are you most happy doing this? Are you like this blessed man?
This is the character of the Christian. The WOG is, (Deut.6) “to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down & when you get up.”
Why does he delight in law? Why delight in bible? B/c it keeps us from picture of v.1 (sin)
“Thy word have I hid in my heart…” (Ps.119). He delights b/c Word = greatest happiness!
Jonathon Edwards, “Knew no greater happiness, but that connected with a conscience void..
V.3 - Agricultural Similie.
A Picture/description of the blessed man.
Common similitude/picture in Scripture. Amazing parallel in Jer. 17:7,8.
Ps. 92:12-14 “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age.
And Jesus: “I am the Vine” We will be fruitful if remain in Him & His words remain in us
“planted…” Lit. “transplanted” Interesting – taken from its original, natural place of growth to a more well cultivated environment – to increase well being/fruitfulness.
“rivers of water…” Lit. channels or canals. Irrigated & cultivated with care.
Fruit in season…leaf shall not wither… prosperity in all he does.
The non-blessed life of the ungodly
V.4 - “The ungodly are not so…” Not like previous vs. Complete opposite to a tree.
Chaff = unstable, not root or fruit. Blown away (as custom of threshing in open field).
“Therefore ungodly shall not stand…” In final judgement? Yes. But parallel verse more likely context: “congregation of righteous” When worshipping community met.
The seriousness/weight of this teaching is reinforced in Matt.3:12
3. The Sovereignty of God in it all
A summary of blessed/Non-blessed life
Why it will ultimately be this way – B/c “God knows…”
God is the transplanter & irrigator of vs. 3
How encouraging/comforting for believer!!
M.H – “ Let this support the drooping spirits of the righteous, that the Lord knows their way, knows their hearts, (Jer. 12:3), knows their secret devotions, (Matt. 6:6), knows their character, how much soever it is blackened & blemished by the reproaches of men, [& their own sin].”
How terrible for unbeliever!! “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death” Prov. 14:12
Yet, today is the day of salvation. Still a gospel call!
Remember John 3:16. Contrast = “shall not perish…have eternal life”
V. 36 – bit like summary of Ps.1 Summary of whole bible/Christianity.
© copyright 2010 Jason Coghill. All rights reserved.
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