THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS ARE COMPARED (Outline)
June 14, 2009 --
PENTECOST 2 --
Psalm 1:1-6
INTRO: Psalm 1 clearly compares the believer and unbeliever. There can arise a problem in respect to comparisons. It can be called: “Compare and despair”. This happens almost daily. We compare ourselves with others and despair that our lives seem to be lacking. Who can really keep up with their neighbors? God wants us to look to that which is divine. This is the point of our text today. Too often we limit ourselves to earthly, mortal comparisons. "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 CORINTHIANS 10:12).
THE WAYS OF THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS ARE COMPARED.
I. The wicked do not endure.
II. The righteous are blessed.
I. THE WICKED DO NOT ENDURE
A. Verse 3 describes the righteous (believer) as a tree that is flourishing. It is well rooted.
1. The righteous tree finds strength as it draws nourishment from the very water of life.
2. The comparison comes in verse 4. The wicked have no solid foundation. They fail
3. The wicked are blown away like chaff, empty hulls. The wicked do not endure.
B. Verse 5a. The wicked will not stand on the Last Day . The wicked will receive their inheritance.
1. This is everlasting punishment in hell. God will separate the goats (wicked) from his sheep.
2. The wicked do not gather in God’s house, 5b. They care nothing at all about being righteous.
C. Verse 6b. No matter how successful they may appear on earth, ultimately the wicked do not endure.
D. In the end, the wicked do not endure. The wicked will perish. Presently wickedness seems to flourish. This ought not to surprise us. Wickedness will increase until the Lord Jesus returns on judgment day. The love of most will grow cold. Yet, the Lord God Almighty does not allow evil to flourish without consequences. "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (ROMANS 1:18). Today man suppresses the truth by wickedness. This does not change God’s truths. Abstinence is not promoted (or taught) in most schools. This method is seen as not practical. But there has never been one unwanted pregnancy due to abstinence. Abortion is used as an answer for the health of the woman to end unwanted pregnancies. The life of the infant in the womb is denied. In America the womb is the most dangerous place for survival.
E. Great and grievous things are done in our society all for the sake of money. Principles are given up to earn more. Morals are rejected for the sake of a better quality of life. Our world around us places more emphasis on meetings for self-enrichment rather than meetings for the growth of one’s soul. Our own selfishness distracts us from what is truly important. Jesus himself asks: "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (MARK 8:36,37). We can give nothing in exchange for our souls. The ransom for a life is too costly.
F. God’s law shows us our sins. We are often not far from the wicked. Our thoughts, words, and actions reveal the sinfulness and wicked that infects our lives. Daily we turn to our desires. Daily we turn away from and against what our loving Lord wants. "Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things"(PHILIPPIANS 3:18b, 19). More than we might want to admit our minds are on earthly things. God’s law reveals that we “live as enemies of the cross of Christ”. The wicked do not endure.
THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS ARE COMPARED.
The wicked do not endure.
II. THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BLESSED
A. The difference between the wicked and righteous are described beginning at verse 1.
1. The Lord blesses those who do not listen or take the advice of those who are wicked.
2. The blessed do not associate or keep the company with sinners or mockers.
B. Instead the righteous find joy and delight in the word of the Lord. Verse 2.
1. The righteous study this word of the Lord constantly. Such is the blessing of God’s word.
2. Verse 3. God’s word, the water of life, blesses the righteous. Believers prosper eternally.
C. Why are the righteous blessed? Verse 6a. The Lord blesses. The Lord takes care of every believer.
D. Do you experience joy and delight in God’s word? If not, keep listening, reading, and studying. The Lord changes your heart. It takes effort on our part. By nature we do not find joy and delight in the word of God. But God calls us out of that darkness into his light. God changes our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. By God’s grace we have become children of God instead of remaining God’s enemies. As God’s children we train ourselves in the ways the Lord would have us live. We learn those ways of God’s blessings from Scripture. "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty" (JEREMIAH 15:16). God’s word comes to be our joy!
E. God’s word is the source of our water of life. The believer is the tree with roots that go deep. These roots anchor us to the solid foundation that is Christ. God’s gospel reveals our Savior. It is as simple as that. The law shows us our sins. The gospel shows us our Savior. Law and sin both have three (3) letters. The gospel and Savior both have six (6) letters. It is God’s gospel that saves – freely, simply, perfectly, and forever. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life"(1 JOHN 5:12,13). The believers are blessed with the saving knowledge of eternal salvation.
F. The free gift of eternal salvation is the reason for our peace and joy in this world. Our society has very little to offer believers. The fact is, our society offers threats, fears, and terror. This is not the way to live a blessed life. Our gracious God reminds us that he is still, as always, in complete control. Our heavenly Father does not want us to live in fear. The Lord invites us to come to him to be blessed. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (MATTHEW 11:29,30). Notice that the believer is yoked to the Savior. Guess who is going to carry the bigger burden? Yes, it is the Lord Jesus. Christ paid the price for our sins. Christ offered himself for our forgiveness. Christ shoulders all our burdens.
CONC.: “Compare and despair”. This can be easy to do in a society that promotes worldly wealth as a sign of ultimate success. Our real, ultimate success is eternity. The Lord blesses us with this free gift of eternal life. By God’s grace we are saved. For none of us can save ourselves. None of us deserve being saved. In spite of all that we are blessed. Heaven is our home. We do not compare to despair. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load" (GALATIANS 6:4,5). We are responsible for own actions. We carry our own load. Remember, it is our Lord Jesus who completely carries the real burden of our guilt, shame, and sin. THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS ARE COMPARED. The wicked do not endure. The righteous are blessed – on earth and forever in heaven. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min. (Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF / 10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM
PENTECOST 2 readings:
DEUTERONOMY 5:12-15;
2 CORINTHIANS 4:5-12;
MARK 2:23-28;
(PSALM 126)
