Psalm 1

Intro: Good Morning. Grab your Bibles and turn with me to Psalm chapter 1. It is extremely important today church that we as believers understand the sufficiency of God’s Word. As we think about our worldview it should be a biblical worldview because God’s word is a sure, firm and a true foundation for us. All of God’s Word is sufficient to guide us in every aspect of this life.

As we come to Psalm chapter 1 we will see the distinguishing marks of those who are righteous and those who are wicked. Psalm chapter 1 really sets the tone for the whole book. Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm that shares many similar things that Proverbs deals with and brings too light.

So often, in this life we all deal with different circumstances and situations that cause us to make decisions. So, today we are thankful that we have this wonderful book to run too, so that it can guide us when we have to choose between what is wise and what is unwise. Psalm chapter 1 really does help us to see 2 different people, heading down 2 different roads, with 2 different destinies. This Psalm today shows us just how important life decisions truly are. How does the wise person live and act and how does the ungodly person live and act? Let’s dive in and see these major differences.

Psalm chapter 1 points us to the fact that there is a joy or blessedness that comes from godliness and those who pursue the Lord. Blessed are those who turn away from the wickedness of this world and follow Christ. Psalm 1 encourages the pursuit of God by contrasting God’s rewards and his judgment. Let’s begin in verse 1.

Psalm 1:1–6 ESV

1 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; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 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. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

The imagery of Psalm 1 resembles Jeremiah 17.

Jeremiah 17:7–8 ESV

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

James Montgomery Boice once said about this Psalm, “Psalm 1 stands as a magnificent gateway to this extraordinary ancient collection of Hebrew religious verse. It is a text of which the remaining psalms are essentially exposition.”

Today I want to address 2 major points that we see from our text. Here is the first point.

1. We Must Run After a Life that pleases God.

Here in verse 1 we see the encouragement for God’s people to live for Him. This phrase, “Blessed is the man” shows us joy and gratitude that we can have as we live for the Lord. This is truly a gift from God, because God declares us as sinners pardoned and allows us to have eternal life with Him. The word happy helps us to see this word blessed. We as believers today can have happiness when we dissociate from the wicked and associate with God. This psalm here helps us to see 3 main areas that we must say “NO” too when it comes to not hanging around the wicked. So, what does this look like?

A. “No” Number One is Don’t Walk with the Wicked!

The godly person does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. Church, here is what we are to avoid. The psalmist warns us to not follow any kind of advice from wicked and sinful people. So, let me ask you today, who are you following and listening too? Most of the time who we follow and lend an ear too will shape our conduct.

John Calvin once said, “By little and little, men ordinarily induced to turn aside from the right path.”

When you begin to listen and follow the advice of the ungodly people around you, it doesn’t take long for you to see that they do not care about the things of God at all. Be careful who you associate with and even more importantly who you are listening too and getting advice from. Not all advice is good advice even if it comes from smart and intelligent people. Not all counsel is Godly Biblical counsel. Seek Godly, wise counsel from God’s Word. Please listen to the Psalmist here, “don’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly.”

B. “No” Number Two is Don’t Stand with Sinners!

Standing in the way of sinners shows us that we take some time to be around them. In other words, we stop to associate with them, we take time to visit with them and listen to them and hang out. If we are not careful this can become a way of life for the believer, so we are told to not stand with a sinner. A sinner is one who misses the mark. This is literally what sin means. Sinners are those who are found to be against God or who oppose Him. Let me ask you today are you following or imitating the Lord, or are you following the ways and the sinful people of this world. Here is what Paul told the church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Don’t imitate the sinful and foolish people of this world. We are to be different, to talk different, and to live different. Stand firm and follow Christ and His Words today believer.

C. “No” Number Three is Don’t Sit with Mockers!

Mockers are people who have no regard for God and His commands.

Proverbs 9:8 ESV

8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

People who scoff and mock God and His Word do not respond or listen to instruction. They like to stir up problems and mock God. People who sit, then become comfortable where they are. This is a huge warning for believers to watch out for this behavior and run from it. People who mock God think that they don’t need God or need to pay attention to His Word because it goes against how they are living. Mockers look at believers and are quick to make fun of, and even laugh at the way we live in regards to giving up sinful things and living an obedient life as unto God. Mockers are the kind of people who forget about the life to come. These are the same kind of people that were living in Noah’s day before the Lord destroyed the earth with a flood. The psalmist here is quick to warn us as believers to watch out and say no to these things. But, there are things that we should say YES too and so we see this in verse 2.

Psalm 1:2 ESV

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The righteous person is clearly identified here by their love for God and His Word. This should be a clear mark of every believer.

A. “YES” Number One is that we must Delight in God’s Word!

This Hebrew word for law in verse 2 is (tora) and it means primarily instruction that comes from God. This would be the Word of God. As believers we can find joy and peace through God’s Word. We should be a people who love to spend time in God’s Word because this is where God speaks to us. God’s Word is a joy and not a burden because we learn from it and grow in our Christian lives.

Charles Spurgeon says, “The instruction of the Lord is daily bread of the true believer.”

My point here is that God’s Word feeds our hungry souls and it nourishes us and sustains us and we go about our days. Just like when we eat physical food it gives us strength to work and play, so too does God’s Word gives us strength to resist sin and live for God.

Psalm 33:4 ESV

4 For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

B. “YES” Number Two is that we must Meditate on God’s Word!

When we begin to love God and His Words and we spend time in His Word, that means we begin to let it soak in and we are thinking about it and dwelling upon it. To mediate means we don’t just skim over God’s Word, but that it actually begins to help us think over a particular verse or passage and talk about it. As Christians when we pick up God’s Word or even hear it taught we carefully and continually weigh the Scriptures.

Joshua 1:8 ESV

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.

Are you spending time daily in God’s Word? As you read it does it change the way you think, speak, and act? When we memorize God’s Word and meditate on it that will be what happens. As you begin to spend more and more time in God’s Word He will show you things that you need to learn, and He will show you things that you must get rid of and take to the garbage dump. We are too put to death sin and pick up our cross and follow Christ. We fully surrender to Christ as our Lord and we follow His will the rest of our days. We follow the advice of His Word and not the worldly advice of the ungodly.

When we are devoted to God’s Word and we meditate on it we see the wonderful benefits of following God. We see just how truly prosperous this life can be.

Psalm 1:3 ESV

3 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 happiness of the godly is like a tree. A tree is a metaphor for a blessed life, for wisdom itself.

Proverbs 3:18 ESV

18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

The she here is wisdom. In the arid desert of the Middle East, the picture of a beautiful fruit-bearing tree located by streams of water would have been an amazing thing. This type of life is healthy, fruitful and successful. The prosperity of the righteous does not necessarily mean the assurance of great wealth, but it does point to God’s blessing over our words and works. God’s people are happy because they trust in God and follow Him. Here is the Second Point I want you to see.

2. We Must Run Away from a life that displeases God.

Church, we now begin to see the contrast between the way of the wicked person and that of the righteous person. There is road that the wicked pursue. There is a road the the ungodly go down, and that way leads to death, destruction, and they will perish. This road is completely different from the road the righteous pursue. Let me give you three things to run away from chasing.

A. Run away from a life that is good for nothing.

Psalm 1:4 ESV

4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

That is exactly what chaff is. Chaff is just dust in the wind. It is rootless and weightless and not good for anything. The wicked person is not like those who are righteous and godly. They have no root, they have no solid foundation and substance. During the harvest season the grain being threshed and winnowed was done so on an open and elevated site. The grain that was still mixed in with the broken straw and husks was thrown into the wind. The wind blew the useless stuff away. Chaff is good for nothing. It represents a life that is not good to God and to others. Chaff shows us a life that is quickly passing away and is useless.

B. Run away from a life that has no future.

Psalm 1:5 ESV

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

The conclusion is marked here by this word therefore. While the wicked person is living here on earth doing all they can to follow the things of this world and living for themselves instead of following God they will have no future after this life on earth is over. They cannot withstand the judgment of God. They will someday be judged by being separated from the righteous. When it comes time for the wicked to give an account of their lives before God they will not be able to stand. There is no place reserved for them among God’s people. Judgment is a process by which Yahweh will establish His rule on earth. He is a God of justice, who in His wrath and righteous indignation will judge the wicked. This will be a terrible day for the wicked as they will come under God’s judgment because it will seal their eternal destiny. This life has no future.

C. Run away from a life that is Hopeless.

Psalm 1:6 ESV

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Verse six here shows us that God cares for his own. God protects the righteous and will reward them. Notice the word “know” here. God watches over the righteous. This marks the love of God for His children. Think about how God delivered His people from Egypt. God heard the groanings of his people while they were still in Egypt. He knew what they were going through and was concerned. God’s knowledge for His people shows us that He has a deep commitment to love and care for His own. The way of the righteous here is characterized by a love for God and a desire to follow the Lord and live for Him. But there is also another path that we see as well. There is another way and that is the life of the wicked. This life is hopeless.

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus talks about two ways.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

One road is narrow and the other is wide. One leads to life and the other destruction and death. John 14:6 tells us that there is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end is the way of death. Jesus warned that those who know Him must turn from their sin and obey God. Those who do not produce fruit and follow the Lord will come under the judgment of Christ’s words, “I never knew you, Away from me you evildoers.” (Matt. 7) This Life is a hopeless life.

Conclusion: Harry Ironside, the famous Bible teacher, told of a visit to Palestine years ago by a man named Joseph Flacks. This man had an opportunity to address a gathering of Jews and Arabs and took for the subject of his address Psalm chapter 1. He read it aloud and then asked the question: “Who is this blessed man of whom the Psalmist speaks? This man never walked in the counsel the wicked or stood in the way of sinners or sat in the seat of mockers. He was a sinless man.” After asking this question no one spoke up. So, Flacks said, “Was he our great father Abraham?” One man said, “No, it can’t be Abraham because he lied about his wife and did not speak the truth.” “Well, how about the lawgiver Moses?” “No, someone said it cannot be Moses because he killed a man and lost his temper by the waters of Meribah.” Flacks suggest David, but it was not David. There was a short silence among the people who had gathered there and then an elderly Jewish man spoke up and said, “My brothers, I have a little book here and it is called the New Testament. I have been reading it and if I could believe this book, it it could be true, I would say that the man of the first Psalm was Jesus of Nazareth.”

Church Jesus was the only one to live a life without sin, and today he challenges us to follow him and to love His Word. Which path will you choose today? The path of the righteous or the path of the wicked. One road leads to life and the other leads to death and destruction.