BIG IDEA:
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS WORTH IT - BOTH NOW AND FOREVER!
(THE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER AND BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
VS. THE LACK OF CHARACTER AND JUDGMENTS OF THE UNGODLY)
INTRODUCTION:
Poem by Robert Frost -
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both....
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Not that we desire to travel both roads … but the choice of which path has
far-reaching consequences.
I. THE RIGHTEOUS
A. Strength of Character
1. Careful avoidance of the influence of sinners (:1) - Note the progression:
"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!"
2. Total absorption in the Word of God (:2)
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night."
B. Blessings
Overall: "Blessed" (:1)
1. Stability and Strength -- "like a tree firmly planted by streams of water"
cf. Ripken commercial "like a rock"
you need a constant supply of the water of the Word of God;
cf. Christmas tree: after stop watering it, it dries up quickly
2. Fruitfulness - "Which yields its fruit in its season"
takes time and patience; a tree does not yield fruit immediately
a. Fruit that is distinctive to the tree
b. Fruit that appears after patient, long-term growth
3. Endurance - "And its leaf does not wither"
Overall: "And in whatever he does, he prospers"
Allows believers to be the ultimate risk-takers, within the framework
of the will of God.
II. THE UNGODLY -- the exact opposite - "The wicked are not so"
A. Lack of Character
1. Immersed in sin
2. Absorbed in the world
B. Judgments
1. Instability / no strength - "they are like chaff which the wind drives away"
cf. the husk of a peanut beneath the outer shell
2. no fruit -- just frustration
3. no endurance
III. CONCLUSION -- FINAL DESTINY (:6)
"For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish."
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Parents, discuss with your children a time in your life when you came to a crucial
fork in the road and you had to make a critical decision that impacted the course of your
life.
- Pick an instance where you made a godly choice
- Pick an instance where you made a poor choice
- Pick an instance where you made the "wisdom" choice - not necessarily
involving right and wrong, just the best decision you could make at the
time.
2) Discuss how peer pressure can be either positive or negative. How important is it to
choose your friends wisely? Who we hang out with impacts how our life turns out.
Examine the roots of cynicism in this psalm. How can that type of judgmental spirit,
carping attitude and negativism be so destructive in sapping you of the joy that should
rightly be your possession?
3) What are some techniques to help you and your children meditate on God’s Word?
Think about the importance of memorizing God’s Word so you can meditate on it.
What Scripture memorization plan do you have in place for your family?
4) In what ways has God prospered your family as you have made righteous choices?
Are you actively looking for God’s blessing? Do you expect to be producing fruit?
Download the entire Psalms Commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
