The Way of the Godly Verses... Psalm 1:1-6NLT
INTRODUCTION
A young man was learning to be a paratrooper. Before his first jump, he was given these instructions:
1. Jump when you are told.
2. Count to ten and pull the ripcord.
3. In the unlikely event that your chute doesn’t open pull the emergency ripcord.
4. When you get down, a truck will be there to take you back to the airfield.
The young soldier memorized these instructions and climbed aboard the plane. The plane climbed to ten thousand feet and the paratroopers began to jump. When the young soldier was told to jump, he jumped. He then counted to ten and pulled the ripcord. Nothing happened. His chute failed to open. So he pulled the emergency ripcord. Still nothing happened. No parachute. “Oh great” he thought, “And I suppose the truck won’t be there when I get down either!”
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
In Psalm 1, we have a plea for a deeper, more solid, more productive walk with God.
The person that has a close walk with God is called Blessed! (Happy, Fortunate and to be envied.)
So, how can we make the most of our walk with God? How can it become a blessed Walk?
Psalm 1:1TM How well God must like you—you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.
Chapter 1, is considered to be the wisdom Psalm, and it functions as an introduction to the entire book of Psalm.
Psalm 1 theme, is as big as the whole Bible, because it tells of people, paths, and ultimate destinations.
Chapter 1 also shows the picture of the Godly and the ungodly, the failure and the success, plus the outcome of both.
Lets read a significant parallel of Psalm 1, Listen to Jeremiah 17:5-8NLT This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. 7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Again verse 1 says, Blessed. This depicts an individual with deep-seated joy and contentment in God; From the perspective of the believing community, it refers to redemptive favor!
Jesus spoke of a people that would avoid bad associations in Matthew 5:3-11NLT God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Psalm 1:2TM Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
What’s in you mouth? I like chewing gum, but God’s word is even better!
Verse 2 is showing, the spiritually happy person, he or she is constantly contemplating and internalizing God’s word for ethical direction and obedience.
Do you delight in His word? Delight in His willingness? Delight in His work?
Psalm 1:3TM You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
Think about Eden for a moment. No curse, no strive, “Presently, Jesus Christ symbolizes Eden.”
Matthew 15:13TM Jesus shrugged it off. “Every tree that wasn’t planted by my Father in heaven will be pulled up by its roots.
“Upon accepting Jesus Christ and becoming His disciple, your life literally is like a transplanted tree, from darkness into light.”
Psalm 1:4TM You’re not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust—
The man who is condemned by God is said to be one who is wicked. The Hebrew word is "raw-shaw" and refers to one who has chosen the way of sin. In other words, the man who is condemned by God is one who has chosen the way of sin and rebellion rather than the way of forgiveness and salvation! He is one who has chosen not to receive Jesus Christ as His personal Savior.
Psalm 1:5TM Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people.
The ungodly will not be approved by God’s judgement.
An Indian Christian, Sandhu Singh, made a perceptive statement when he said, "One day I was sitting on the banks of a river. I took from the water a round stone and I broke it. Inside it was perfectly dry. That stone had been lying in the water for a long time but the water had not penetrated it.” Then he said, “The same thing happened to men and women in many countries. For centuries they have been surrounded by Christianity but Christianity has not penetrated, does not live within them." Sadly, that’s the state of so many of our fellow citizens – they’re nice people but they haven’t got a saving relationship with God through faith in Jesus.
Psalm 1:6TM God charts the road you take. (The Lord knows the way of the righteous) The road they take is Skid Row. (But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Benediction.
