Sermon Central
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[313]. A Message From A Poem - Thoughts From Psalm 1
Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 18, 2026 (message contributor)
[314]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS FROM PSALM 1
Psalm 1 is a most important Psalm as it is the gateway to the Psalms. It draws the lines. The righteous and wicked are what the Psalms deal with, and that is underpinned by Psalm 1.
The Psalm is a wonder in creation. It is simple yet profoundly encompassing. All who have ever lived on the earth, and shall do, are covered by this Psalm. There are only two ways, the way of life and the way of death.
In Judah's crisis, just before its overthrow by Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah preached to the nation – {{Jeremiah 21:8 You shall also say to this people, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I set before you THE WAY OF LIFE AND THE WAY OF DEATH.’”}}. That is exactly what Psalm 1 is doing. Sadly, in Judah's case, they chose the way of death. That is the way the world is choosing right now.
God is right. Satan is wrong. Those who follow God are right. Those who are in Satan’s camp are wrong. There is no greyness. It’s one side or the other, and as Psalm 1:6 says – {{Psalm 1:6 “for the LORD knows the way of THE RIGHTEOUS, but the way of THE WICKED will perish.”}}. The way of the righteous and the way of the wicked – In which camp are you? You can not straddle both; it’s one or the other.
Man thinks he is right; that he knows better than God (if there is one, he thinks), and so he maps out his course of humanism and thinks he is justifiably correct, but what does God say? Here is God’s verdict – {{Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but ITS END IS THE WAY OF DEATH.”}}
My poem is a retelling of the Psalm in the same way, but with some different expressions. On SermonCentral I have Psalm 1 in two Parts, two sermons. You might like the look at that. Here is the first - https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/psalm-1-this-way-and-that-way-which-way-are-you-on-part-1-ron-ferguson-sermon-on-death-268683
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THOUGHTS FROM PSALM 1
We must not walk in wicked ways,
Or stand in sinners’ reach.
Beware the scoffer’s filth he lays;
The godless hate he’ll preach.
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Blessed is the life that is upright,
That follows in God’s truth;
To meditate in bible light,
Rejecting what’s uncouth.
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And like a tree by deepest streams,
Its roots in God hold fast.
With health and vigour that tree gleams;
His fruit will always last.
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Like lightweight chaff, the wicked are -
Puffed away in judgement.
From the righteous, they’re banished far,
Into their confinement.
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The Lord upholds the righteous ones.
They’re kept in His great hand.
But wickedness and all its sons,
Will perish from the land.
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5 October 2022 Ron Ferguson 8-6-8-8 ABAB
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