Psalm 1
The
Godly vs. the ungodly
Intro
√ Psalm 1 contrasts the life of the Godly vs. the ungodly
√ God loves us and wants to bless our lives…
…however, we must be "blessable"!
Living in obedience to God's Word.
Note the 3 steps to walk on the path of blessing.
Discernment
Delight
Dependence
The Godly (vs. 1-3)
√ Discernment
Psa. 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
The Godly person who is blessed by God doesn't…
Walk
Stand
Sit
…with the ungodly (wicked).
Why not?
Because those you chose to hang out with, the things you involve yourself with, and that which you fill your mind with, do have an influence in your life.
Ex. Lot
We find him following the progression of sin the psalmist warns against:
Gen. 13:12
"Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom."
Gen. 14:12
"They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed."
Gen. 19:1
"Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom."
Lot lost all his family and possessions!
Be discerning about who you hang out with, what you do with your spare time, what you fill your find with.
Pro. 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
And…
1Cor. 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Ap. Test your relationships - who is influencing whom?
Be discerning.
√ Delight
Psa. 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
"But" - in contrast to the ungodly - the godly person spends time with the Lord and in the study of His Word.
Why?
Because God's Word reveals His thoughts to us that we might obey them (Psalm 119:11).
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!"
Because God's Word imparts faith into our lives. (Rom. 10:17)
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Because God's Word has power to clean up our thoughts and transform our thinking (Eph. 5:26 & Rom. 12:1)
"that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,"
And…
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Ap. You become like the person you spend the most time with!
Ex. The disciples - changed men
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Meditate - meditation on God's word is to your inner person what digestion is to your body. You chew on the word for a while and let it sink in so that it becomes a part of your life and then you grow!
So, the godly person
delights to spend time with God and in His Word.
√ Dependence
Psa. 1:3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
"like a tree…"
The psalms make use of figurative language to communicate spiritual truth.
Not saying that the godly is a tree…
…rather, like a tree!
The point that the psalmist is making is that the godly person will be blessed when they are living in dependence upon God, like a tree that depends upon the river for life.
Ap. Our spiritual roots are to be sunk deep into the resources of God's Grace as revealed in His Word.
When we live in such dependence God will make our lives fruitful so that we become a blessing to those around us (like the fruit of the tree).
Ex. Jesus taught the same truth in John 15:15
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
Ap. If you want to walk in blessing - walk with God.
The ungodly (vs. 4-6)
Psa. 1:4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Psa. 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa. 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
√ The ungodly are not so
That is, they do not…
Walk with discernment
Delight in God and His Word
Live in dependence upon God
The implication is that the ungodly does his/her own thing living with complete disregard for God and His Word.
The result…
"But are like the chaff which the wind drives away."
…quite literally they are blown away. The life of the ungodly is one that amounts to nothing. When they breathe their last breath they leave behind no trace!
√ No reward
Whereas God blesses the godly, the ungodly will receive no reward at the judgement. Rather, they will find themselves cast out and not admitted to the congregation of the righteous.
Note the end of the ungodly…
"But the way of the ungodly shall perish."
The psalms teach us by contrast…
The godly will be "blessed"
The ungodly will "perish"
Ap. The choice is ours to make - blessed or perish!
Psalm 2
Intro
√ Psalm 2 is the first of the Messianic psalms. It gives us a picture from heaven's perspective of the promised Messiah and His coming Kingdom.
The promise is set against the backdrop of sinful Man who rebels against God by rejecting the Messiah.
God hears
God laughs
God speaks
Ap. Applied to Jesus by the multitudes on Palm Sunday (Matt. 21:9) and the disciples when they prayed for boldness (Acts 4:25-26).
God hears (vs. 1-3)
Psa. 2:1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
Psa. 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
Psa. 2:3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
√ God hears
If you're going to fight with someone, or a group of people, who are larger and more powerful than you or your people, a great tactic is a surprise attack - improve your odds of victory.
Ex. Gideon and his
300 men vs. the Midianites
However, if your enemy is aware of your plans - you're in trouble!
Ex. Elisha and the plans of the Syrians - II Kings 6
The psalmist here points out the futility of trying to fight with God who knows all of Man's secret plans!
√ What do the people want?
Freedom! Freedom from God and His Anointed (Messiah).
Why?
Because at the heart of our sinful nature is pride - pride will not allow for any other to rule over it.
Even when it involves rebellion against almighty God.
This is the sad history of the human race; beginning with Adam and Eve's rebellion against God in the Garden, Man's rejection of God at the Tower of Babel; the rejection of Jesus; and ultimately in the final rebellion of Mankind when the world embraces the Antichrist as her god.
√ Rebellion is bondage
The sad truth is that rebellion against God and His way does not lead to freedom…
…but bondage and destruction!
True freedom is found in submission to God and His ways.
Ex. A free society
Doesn't mean that you are free to do whatever you want to do; rather, it means you are free to pursue your life within the framework of laws which protects every citizen.
Tonight I am free to go anywhere I want to go in the USA because I've made myself subject to the laws of the land.
I have friends who are not free tonight to go where they want to go because they've rebelled against those same laws and are locked up in prison.
Ap. God's laws are set up to protect us - often times from our own worse enemy - ourselves!
God laughs! (vs. 4)
Psa. 2:4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision.
√ God laughs
Puny little Man doesn't worry God for a moment! In response to Man's best efforts to fight with Him…
…all that God does is laugh.
Ex. Siobhan's dog when it's time to go to bed
For me it is a sad thing to watch someone fight against God. They take themselves so seriously, somehow convinced that they can beat the God who spoke the worlds into existence.
Ap. Are you fighting with God?
Like Jonah are you trying to run from Him and His call in your life?
Like Saul of Tarsus are you doing all that you can to wipe out the Name of Jesus so that you can just go on with business as usual?
Give up - you can only win if you submit yourself to Him!
God speaks (vs. 5-12)
√ God the Father speaks
Psa. 2:5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
Psa. 2:6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
Reminding us that it is God the Father who sent Jesus to be the King of all the earth.
· Interesting picture - how is that God set His King on His Holy Mountain?
The Cross-was located on top of Mt. Morriah - the "holy hill" of Jerusalem.
In Man's rebellion they rejected God's Messiah and crucified Him with a crown of thorns.
Yet, it was by the Cross-that God made the way for rebellious Man to enter into the Kingdom ruled by Messiah.
Ap. Picture of the futility of fighting with God; even when Man may think he's won, he's actually done God's will!
√ God the Son Speaks
Psa. 2:7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
Psa. 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
Psa. 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”
Here we find the testimony of the Son as He declares that the Father has promised to give all the world to rule.
Ap. Reminds us that a day is yet coming in which Jesus will return to set up His kingdom on earth. As prophesied in Daniel 2 the kingdoms of Man will have every remembrance removed.
√ God the Holy Spirit speaks
Psa. 2:10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Psa. 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
Psa. 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Here we find the psalmist, inspired by the Holy Spirit, calling people to respond to God with wisdom.
God the Holy Spirit says…
Be wise - get smart
Serve the Lord
Kiss (worship) the Son
Trust in the Son
Close