SERMON OUTLINE:
(A). Principles of happiness (verse 1)
(1). Right Decision (verse 1
(2). Right direction (Verse 2)
(3). Right Desire (verse 2b
(B). Profile of happiness
(1). Planted. (vs 3a)
(2). Fruitful (vs 3b)
(3). Un-withered (vs 3c)
(4). Prosperous (vs 3d)
(C). Picture of the ungodly.
(1). Without substance (verse 4)
(2). Without excuse (verse 5)
(3). Without hope (verse 6)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
Helpful instructions:
• (1). Kathy’s children’s cough medicine contains this warning:
• “Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication”
• (2). Boots hairdryer:
• “Do not use while sleeping!”
• (3). Marks & Spenser’s bread pudding:
• “Product will be hot after heating!”
• (4). Our Christmas lights from B&Q contained this helpful information:
• “For indoor and outdoor use only”
• (5). Sainsbury’s peanuts;
• “Warning product contains nuts!”
Psalm 1 gives us helpful advice regarding how to live life:
• Unlike the makers instructions I mentioned earlier;
• This psalm is full of practical, relevant advice on how to experience lasting happiness!
Many people in our country have a false idea of what happiness is:
• We look to other people, for our happiness i.e. relationships
• Or to things, to possessions i.e. materialism
• Or to experiences,
• Or to circumstances.
• And when those things are favourable we are happy,
• And when they are not, then we are not!
So if we just look to those things ALONE:
• Then we can experience quite a bit of happiness,
• But also we must also often endure periods of unhappiness.
• The Bible shows us in a variety of places:
• That lasting happiness is not necessarily related to things or happenings,
This Psalm starts off with the word "Blessed’:
• Our English word ‘Blessed’ is somewhat bland. –
• Some translations use the word ‘Happy’.
• That’s a start, but it means much more; ‘To be enriched, contented, fulfilled’.
• The Hebrew term has a plural ending: ‘Oh, the happiness, many times over’.
(A). Principles of happiness (verse 1)
(1). Right Decision (verse 1):
“Who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked".
Straight away we are told:
• Happiness is not found, in a life-style that leaves out God.
• Note: the word "Counsel"; or the "Advice” or “Consultation of the wicked".
Ill:
• British prime minister Herbert Asquith;
• Once spent a weekend at the Waddesdon estate of the 19th-century Rothschild family.
• One day, as Asquith was being waited on at teatime by the butler,
• The following conversation ensued:
• The Butler asked him: "Tea, coffee, or a peach from off the wall, sir?"
• "Tea, please," answered Asquith.
• "China, India, or Ceylon, sir?" asked the butler.
• "China, please." replied Asquith.
• "Lemon, milk, or cream, sir?"
• "Milk, please," replied Asquith.
• "Jersey, Hereford, or Shorthorn, sir?"
• Asked the butler.
This Psalm tells us that actually life is not that complicated:
• In fact this psalm it narrows down to one simple choice;
• We can either choose the advice of the crowd (i.e. live like the world).
• Or we choose the advice of God.
If we take that first option and choose the advice of the crowd (i.e. live like the world):
• Then according to verse 1 three negatives actions take place;
• Three unhelpful actions occur.
• In fact verse 1 is a picture of spiritual erosion, “Walk, stand, sit”.
• (a). If you walk, eventually you get tired, - So you will have to stop and stand,
• (b). If you stand long enough,
• (c). It’s only a matter of time before you will sit down.
Now at times every Christian will take on board the attitude of not obeying God:
• All of us at times sin,
• That’s not an excuse it’s a fact!!!
• (a). For some Christians:
• They sin, when they fall into temptation, - That is they are suddenly caught off guard,
• (b). For others it will be a deliberate choice.
• ‘The pleasures of sin for a season’, despite the consequences.
• (c). For many Christians, it’s the problem of compromise;
• That word ’compromise’ seems to summarise verse 1.
Ill:
Life ought to teach us, that deterioration is never sudden:
• No garden is suddenly overgrown with weeds,
• No building suddenly crumbles,
• No church suddenly splits,
• No tree suddenly falls,
• No marriage suddenly breaks down,
• No person suddenly becomes base,
Quote: The words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true:
“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes.
In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves.
The process never ends until we die.
And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.”
ill:
• There are two sides to a sheet of flypaper,
• And it makes a big difference to the fly which side he chooses.
(2). Right direction (Verse 2):
• Notice verse 2 starts off with a word of contrast;
• “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Ill:
On TV every so often they show a programme called ‘Dumbest Criminals’.
• One story is as follows - on November, 1975,
• 75 convicts started digging a secret tunnel;
• It was designed to bring them up at the other side of the wall;
• Of Saltillo Prison in northern Mexico.
• On April 18, 1976, guided by pure genius,
• They tunnelled up into the nearby courtroom in which many of them had been sentenced.
• The judges in court that day were surprised to see them;
• And promptly returned all 75 prisoners back to jail.
Unlike those prisoners the person who wants to be ‘happy many times over’:
• Moves (walks) in the right direction;
• He or she attracted to the ‘Law of the Lord’.
• Note: This expression may primarily refer to the Law of Moses;
• That is the first five books of the Bible given by Moses.
• But it has a wider meaning;
• For the believer it has reference to ALL God-given instruction – the whole Bible.
Ill:
• You remember those classic statements that your dad said to you;
• Or you as a dad said to your children:
• Here is a reminder of some of those great expressions:
• “This is going to hurt me -- more that it is going to hurt you.”
• “Be quiet, I’m trying to watch the game”.
• “Bring back my change”.
• “Ask your mother”.
• “What do you think I’m made of?”
• “You want me to take you where?”
• “When I was your age I walked 5 miles to and from school and it was uphill both ways”
• “Turn them lights off –it’s like Blackpool illuminations in here”
• “Alright now -- if you break your leg, don’t come running to me”
• “Get down before you kill yourself -- on second thought go ahead”
• “Why -- because I said so”
• And last but not least –“Shut up before I give you something to cry about”
“The Law on the Lord” is a wise heavenly father’s counsel to his children:
• Not clichés, not tired advice or a quick answer;
• But wise instruction on how best life should be lived.
• And wise is the child of God who realises that!
• Especially if you want to live life happy many times over!
(3). Right Desire (verse 2b):
• The Psalmist goes on to say that the person “Happy many times over”.
• “Meditates (on that law) day and night”.
• To that person the Bible is not a burden or a drag,
• It is not an interruption in their busy day,
• Rather it is a pleasurable experience!
Ill:
• Driving with Kathy in the back of the car with a huge smile;
• So I asked her; “What are you thinking about?” Answer: “Sweets”.
• Psalmist said something very similar in Psalm 19 verse 10:
• “Sweeter than honey”.
Ill:
• Meditate;
• Like a dog with a bone.
Quote:
If you show to me an unhappy Christian man or woman:
I will show you an unread Bible! - The two often go hand in hand.
• Verse 1: Gives us the promise of happiness.
• Verse 2: Provides the means of happiness.
• Verse 3 declares the results of happiness:
(B). Profile of happiness.
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers”.
• I like this verse because it tells us that us that we are like something,
• Rather than us, having to do something.
• That is always the result of "Meditating day and night on his Law”.
• The person who listens to God, rather than following the crowd;
• Is described as having 4 treelike characteristics.
(1). Planted. – “He is like a tree planted by streams of water,”
• Key to a healthy tree;
• Is its roots (that is what will make it solid, strong, stable).
• This tree has access to a constant water supply!
Ill:
• Martin Fielder Xmas tree;
• Sacking all around the roots.
(2). Fruitful. - “Which yields its fruit in season”
• Production is a sign of healthy growth.
• Ill: An orange tree must produce oranges, an apple tree must produce apples.
• The Christian also should be producing fruit!
• e.g. Fruit of Spirit, ….holiness, ….praise, ….good character, ….,.giving,
• But remember that fruit comes out of life!
• ill: Factory can only manufacture fruit they cannot produce it – Holy Spirit.
(3). Un-withered – “Whose leaf does not wither”
• Despite difficult circumstances it stands undaunted.
• It is strong & healthy.
Quote:
“God can grow a mushroom overnight,
but it takes many years-and many storms-to build a mighty oak tree”.
• Despite difficult circumstances it stands undaunted.
• It is strong & healthy.
• Because this tree has access to a constant water supply!
• Throughout the Middle-East;
• The presence or absence of water is the defining feature for the health of a community
• This tree remains healthy;
• Because it has constant access to water!
(4). Prosperous.
• It fulfils the goals God has designed for it.
• It has fulfilled its potential.
Quote:
• George Bernard Shaw played the "What If" game shortly before he died.
• A reporter asked him,
" Mr. Shaw if you could live your life over and be anybody you’ve know,
or any person from history, who would you be?"
• "I would choose," replied Shaw
• "To be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been, but never was."
• God wants us to fulfil our potential;
• To be prosperous.
• That can only be our experience when;
• We consistently choose to put him first, above the crowd (other influences).
• Listen to his advice (“Law of the Lord”).
• Desire his will! (“Meditate day & night”).
(C). Picture of the ungodly.
• Verse 4 starts with a contrast; “Not so the wicked”
• It is an emphatic negative assertion.
It refers back to the previous verses:
• Verse 1: The godly person is “happy many times over”;
• “Not so the wicked.”
• Verse 2: The godly person delights & meditates on the “Law of the Lord”
• “Not so the wicked.”
• Verse 3: The godly person is “Like a tree” (i.e. alive).
• “Not so the wicked.”
• Verse 3: The godly person is “Fruitful and prosperous;”
• “Not so the wicked.”
The wicked:
• Are those people who choose to reject God by living an independent life;
• People who actively and intentionally do not believe.
(1). Without substance (verse 4):
“Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away”.
• In contrast to the godly: “Planted. fruitful, prosperous & unwithered”
• The wicked are portrayed in a single term; “Chaff”.
Question: What is chaff?
Answer:
• It is the outer part of the grain seeds;
• Which separate at the time of threshing.
• Chaff is completely worthless (it is the refuse, the impurity)
• It is fit for nothing, merely blown away by the wind.
• Again there is a contrast;
• The chaff is blown away by the wind, the godly like a solid tree.
(2). Without excuse (verse 5):
“Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous”
The first word of verse 5 “Therefore” connects this verse to the previous one:
• Because the wicked have no content (without God and still in their sins),
• They cannot stand before God.
Note:
• In our English Bibles we have the word “Stand” twice in this Psalm (verses 1&5);
• In the Hebrew, two different words are used.
• In verse 1: the Hebrew word used simply means; ‘to stand’.
• But in verse 5: the Hebrew word used means to ‘stand erect, to arise’.
Ill:
• We sometimes say concerning a guilty criminal;
• When they go before the court, “They will not have a leg to stand on”
That is the point the writer is making here:
• The wicked cannot stand, cannot arise, cannot look God in the eye;
• Because he or she is guilty, they are without content (ill: guilty child).
• And so a parallel statement follows;
• “Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteousness”
• They have no place among God’s people because they are different;
• Ill: Man in a room of women (odd) ill: Nude in a room of clothed people (uncomfortable).
(c). Without hope (verse 6):
“For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish”.
Once again there is a contrast:
• The godly know the Lord’s care & protection;
• But the wicked they “perish”.
Ill:
Hot water bottle:
• It still exists (not annihilation);
• But it is in a useless condition (fit for nothing).
This Psalm concludes with a stark, a severe, a harsh warning:
• With God there is happiness, growth, fruit, strength, guidance.
• Without God there is nothing; perish, empty, wasted, lost!
Ill:
The Titanic was a cruise ship that was impossible to sink, or so they said:
• One tragic night in 1912 the ship struck an ice-berg and sank;
• Many people lost their lives in that cold Atlantic Ocean.
The scene outside the White Star office in Liverpool beggared description:
• A great crowd of relatives gathered to hear news of their loved ones;
• Desperate to know if they had managed to survive.
• On either side of the main entrance of the White star office in Liverpool,
• A large board had been placed.
• Above one side read the words; “Known to be saved”
• On the other, “Known to be lost”
Every now and then:
• A man would appear from the office bearing a large piece of cardboard,
• Written on it was the name of one of the passengers.
• As he held up the name, a deathly silence swept over the crowd;
• As he then placed the name on one of those two lists!
• One list read “Known to be saved”
• The other, “Known to be lost”
Let me challenge you this morning:
• If God had a similar list on the walls of this chapel;
• Which list would your name be under?
• Known to be lost?
• Known to be saved?
And finally: A final reminder of the contrasts for us to ponder:
• Godly: Happiness many times over,
• Ungodly: Not so!
• Godly: Un-compromised purity.
• Ungodly: Driven by the wind.
• Godly: Has a guide, the Bible.
• Ungodly: No guide mentioned.
• Godly: Like a tree.
• Ungodly: Like chaff.
• Godly: Stands erect before God.
• Ungodly: Unable to stand erect.
• Godly: Special object of God’s care.
• Ungodly: No place in assembly of God’s people.
• Godly: Destiny which is secure and certain;
• Ungodly: They Perish!
Ill:
• Just before the death of actor W.C. Fields,
• A friend visited him in his hospital room;
• The friend was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible.
• He asked him what he was doing with a Bible,
• W.C. Fields replied, "I’m looking for loopholes”
The Bible makes it quite clear:
• “God has no pleasure in the death of anyone!”
• He has done all that is possible to make salvation available.
• He knocks (sometimes loudly and often);
• But he will not break the door down, we must choose him!
Quote:
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.
The choice is ours:
Quote:
• No one who is ever in hell will be able to say to God, "You put me here,"
• And no one who is in heaven will ever be able to say, "I put myself here."
I think that the one main lesson from this Psalm is:
• There is no similarity between the spiritual life (depending on the Lord)
• This life which should be accelerating,
• The non-spiritual life (independent of God);
• Which is eroding & descending.
ill:
Jeremiah chapter 17 verses 5-8.
"This is what the Lord says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no-one lives.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes its leaves are always green,
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit “".
