Some things change. For example, for students are heading off to college this week and are scheduled to graduate in 2013, the following things have always been.
1. They have always been able to watch wars, police riots, and coups unfold on television.
2. The American health care system has always been in critical condition;
3. They have never been amazed that you now listen or watch your TV or radio on the computer;
4. The Oval Office has always had a computer;
But some things do not change. How we talk to God and how God talks to us hasn’t changed in thousands of years. Indeed, where we find some of the best information on how to talk with God is found in a book that is around 2,500 years old, entitled the Psalms. Here is wisdom from generations upon generations ago that knows nothing of the technological and economic progress you and I see today. Still, we find substantive wisdom on how we should love and live … cry and query … How we can both express our fury and celebrate God’s love… And all of this is in the Psalms.
Today signals the beginning of a new series entitled God Talk: A Study of the Psalms. Over the course of the next several weeks, we explore avenues where both our mind and emotions can be authentic with God. Where we recognize that nothing is hidden from His purvey and we can be real with Him.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;?but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.?The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;?for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:1-6)
TODAY’S BIG IDEA: How You Live Today Really Matters Tomorrow.
1. Why This Matters
1.1 Why the Psalms Matter
With even a cursory examination of the book of Psalms, we immediately recognize that we are wealthy by merely its possession. Within this collection of poetry and praise, we see both God speaking to His people as well as a window into an ancient world. This window gives us a picturesque view of Israel’s response of faith to the living God. Through this window we are enabled to look out on our brothers and sisters in the faith of more than 2,500 years ago. Here we are invited to experience the past. We see through this window called the Psalms a mirror of the faith of Israel. We experience how God’s people in the past have related to Him. And in an age that at once both screams for the present and abhors the past, we will see that there is abundant riches in seeing how God’s people of the past related to Him.
There are at least two lessons we can learn by an investigative look into the Psalms.
1.1.1 The Psalms Can Lead you into a Renewal in Worship
The book of Psalms confronts our complacency as we see the wonder and majesty of God. The Psalter can revolutionize our family patterns, our devotional life, and our church. The word “psalm” means songs or poems. With more than 150 chapters of poetry and praise to God, this book will transform your prayer life. This book is meant to be sung and cherished. It calls on you to delight yourself in God. If we approach this book in the right attitude, the book of Psalms will create within a greater longing for God Himself.
1.1.2 The Psalmist Is Realistic to Suffering We Experience
If you linger over the Psalms, you’ll see what is called a lament. Our spirits cry out to God in times of sorrow where our depression and frustration overwhelm us. This is a cry of authenticity before God. Recognizing we cannot hide our emotions, we come to God in faith asking Him questions they unnerve us as well as expressing our pain. The Psalms can affect our entire being.
1.2. Why Psalms One Matters
“Blessed is the man…” (Psalms 1:1a)
1.2.1 It Matters Because of God’s Favor
If you’ll place your eyes on verse one, you’ll see that is begins with the “Blessed.” This is just one word that forms a rich cluster of words describing righteous people. The same word can be translated as happy. While happiness is more than a feeling, this word promises us that there is an opportunity to have a life that is meaningful. In just a moment, we’ll read of the wicked where they are described as worthless. This is not the case with those who are favored by God. They are not worthless. Instead, God gifts these men and women with a life of worth and significance. They know that life can be delightful.
The word “Blessed” is actually in the plural in the original language. Our blessings are not just one but they are multiplied. Our Bible doesn’t just promise pleasantness… or mild enjoyment in this life that is offered as anesthesia against pain and misery. The Bible offers true joy. So at the outset, Psalm one matters because God is promising the gift of His favor and blessing on particular people.
1.2.2 It Matters Because it Promises Ancient Wisdom
We also find that cherishing and treasuring God’s Word secures us an ancient wisdom. Finding wisdom and happiness from an old Book like the Bible stands against most of what we have been taught. While previous generations placed a lot of value upon former generations, and specifically its older people… we live in a day that has unparalleled scorn of the past. In ancient times, wisdom was something accumulated over numerous years. Therefore older people were prized for their collected wisdom. But again, we live in a day that has unparalleled scorn of the past. The modern mindset believes that human reason and empirical investigation (the scientific method) causes us to arrive at the truth. These two tools assist us in solving the modern problems in life. This is what we have been told for the last several generations. Yet, we must now pause to ask ourselves, “How has the exclusive use of human reason served us?” With our scientific progress and our technology, have we really made progress with the mysterious issues of life such as our happiness and finding real reason for living? Technology has certainly made life easier and safer and more convenient. Economic progress has certainly allowed greater numbers of individuals more access to economic opportunities than previous generations. Luxuries as vacations are afforded by many of us who are not wealthy. Yet we must ask ourselves, “Are we more happy than they were?” Have we made actual progress from previous generations? If we were to compare notes with our forefathers, if we were to examine their journals and diaries, do we notice the same amount of self pity… despair… and boredom as we do of our generation? Human happiness is not addressed by technology and scientific progress. The real substantive issues of life that underlie our existence are not addressed by our scientific progress. Instead, what makes us happy is profoundly spiritual and the reason for happiness hasn’t changed for millennia. Have you learned in this modern world to become happy and stay happy?
1.2.3 It Matters Because There are Two Types of People
To achieve this blessing of being favored by God and arriving at real happiness, Psalm one (1) presents you with two (2) alternatives of ultimate seriousness. If you are new to the Bible then its “either/or” type of thinking may very well shock or offend you. The Bible sees life as a journey where there is a conflict between two kingdoms: the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. Verse 6: “the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
You can either be among the righteous or you can be among the wicked. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14). When this Psalm ponders the value of being wicked or of delighting in the Word of God, it measures the value finally by what happens at the judgment. If there is one thought that seizes many a person with fear it is the thought of God’s judgment. Christian art and literature for centuries have depicted its terrors. The thought of a Judgment Day goes back to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 where He depicts all of humanity being divided as sheep from goats. His words there leave no conscience untouched, as the goats are condemned entirely for their sins of omission. Or, Christ’s most damning charge against them is not what they have done but instead, it is what they have never done. Perhaps even what they never dreamed of. The most terrorizing thought concerning this Day of Judgment is the infinite purity of the standard against which our actions will be judged.
2. The Road Less Traveled
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;?2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
2.1 Guilt by Association
The first thing we learn about the man who is blessed is that there is certain things he doesn’t do. None of us automatically start out our lives as being righteous. We start out as sinners. In verse one we meet three terms for ungodly behavior: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (Psalms 1:1). We note that verse on begins by noting that we are influenced by those who hang out with. There are three descriptions of wicked people in verse one as well as three verbs. Only this progression is downhill where sinners go from bad to worse. Notice that these three terms form a progression in verse one. The “wicked” were those who have been judged guilt in a court of law. At the conclusion of their trial, they were declared to be “wicked” publically and they bore the shame of this around their community.
The second term “sinners” marks someone who has not just committed an isolated act of bad behavior but someone whose life is dominated and shaped by evil inclinations. The difference between “wicked” and “sinners” could be compared to that of a person who is convicted of a single theft and that of a person who is a career criminal. The last term worth our study in verse one is “scoffers.” This word describes someone who has gone beyond a few sinful acts to open mockery of the good and godly. These people seek to belittle and undermine those who want to be righteous. If you’ll continue to keep your eyes on verse one, you’ll notice there are three verbs connected to each of these three important words. There is “walking,” then “standing,” and lastly “sitting.” Each of these three words connects to give us a picture of their deterioration. We must be careful whom we hang out with because we notice that once we start on the Fast Track, we quickly move to a deterioration of our conduct and our character. Guard your friends. Dr. Howard Hendricks said, “The two factors which will most influence where you will be ten years from now are the books you read and the friends you make.” Guard your friends!
2.2 What Godly People Do
The first psalm introduces and serves as a gateway to the entire book of the Psalms, all 150 chapters. The first psalm is significant because it invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good and delight ourselves in His instruction. Again, this message and Psalm one is not about your moral duty. You may hear me say the word righteous and wicked and conclude that this is nothing more than a message to encourage you to feed the poor and avoid evil. This is a message and this is a chapter about what you delight in. This is a message and this is a chapter in your emotions. God is commanding you to become emotional about His book. The word “law” in verse two is Hebrew word “torah.” It means instruction.
“… his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you ” (Psalm 119:1). God wants you to delight in His instruction. Forget about your preconceived notions of harsh legalism. Your response is not that of trying to climb an impossibly high mountain out of a cold sense of duty. Instead, God’s instruction is a place of happiness. It represents a richness of symphonic delight. You are commanded to approach God’s Word with the right attitude, delight, that will lead to the right action, meditation. If we delight in someone, we want to be with her. If we delight in a song, we sing it. If we delight in God’s instruction, we ponder it and turn it over in our minds. We memorize it and pray it.
Now what does this meditation involve? The word “meditation” in Hebrew means basically to speak or to mutter. When this is done in the heart it is called musing or meditation. So meditating on the Word of God day and night means to speak to yourself the Word of God day and night and to speak to yourself about it. Verse three gives us a beautiful picture of the righteous: He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)
2.1 Fruitful
If you delight in the Word of God and meditate on it day and night you will yield your fruit in season. You will be a fruitful person. They are refreshing and nourishing to be around. You go away from them fed. You go away strengthened. You go away with your taste for spiritual things awakened.
2.2 Durable
The second one is that the person who delights in the Word of God and meditates on it day and night will be like a tree whose “leaf does not wither.” The point here is that the hot winds are blowing and the rain is not falling and all the other trees that are not planted by streams are withering and dying. Yet, in spite of all the heat and drought, your leaf remains green, because delighting in the Word of God and meditating on it day and night is like being planted by a stream. The happiness of this person is durable. It is deep.
2.3 Prosperous
And the third is that the person who delights in the Word of God and meditates on it day and night “will prosper in all that he does.” Really? What does this mean? Does it mean that, if you delight in the Word of God and meditate enough, your business will be a huge success and your health will always be good and you’ll be the very best of food or your children will be highly successful? We’ll examine these questions in greater length next week as we examine Psalm 73. Yet, there are some reasons to believe God’s blesses us when we meditate on His Word. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). God often blesses us with health and wealth but He isn’t required to. Sometimes, his blessing his a clean conscience and great relationships.
What if Meditating on the Bible are Boring? You must fight for the right desires. Oftentimes, you’ll force yourself at some point of your life to meditate on the Bible for some time before the joy of doing this will finally come along.
3. The Fast Track
Yet, there is a second group contrasted with the righteous. I’m calling this second group the fast track. It’s easy to fall into this crowd. Place your eyes on verses four and five: “The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous” (Psalm 1:4-5). The righteous delight in God’s revealed word and meditate on it. The wicked scoff at God’s word and heap scorn on those who follow it. This is a message and Psalm one is a chapter on what you delight in. You have a choice you can either delight in running with a crowd that is wicked or you can delight in God’s instruction. Nobody walks in the way of the wicked out of duty. Nobody stands in the way of sinners out of duty. Nobody sits in the seat of scoffers out of duty. We walk and stand and sit there because we want to. And we want to because we have been watching them so intently that what they do is now attractive. We have meditated on them (without calling it that). And we now delight in them. That is how worldliness happens. There are two alternative types of persons and two alternative destinies described here. Yet there is one essential difference that distinguish the righteous from the wicked.
TODAY’S BIG IDEA: How You Live Today Really Matters Tomorrow.
Conclusion
A couple of years ago I was sitting in the stands of a Razorback football game (University of Kentucky versus Arkansas on September 23, 2007). Just before kickoff of the game, a B-2 stealth bomber was scheduled to fly over. What was intended to be a prelude to the game, actually trumped the game in my mind. I had never seen one of our stealth bombers before and I was impressed. Flying very low, the plane was smaller than I imagined, as I discovered it is only 172 feet wide and 69 feet long. Designed to elude and interfere with radar detection systems, the plane cost around $2 billion per plane in 1992. This unique ability to interfere with the enemy’s radar technology allows the B-2 to penetrate some of the most sophisticated defenses of America’s enemies. The plane’s low observability is aimed that it would deploy its payload without engaging the enemy in combat. Powering this long-range bomber is four General Electric F-118 jet engines which generate 17,300 pounds of thrust allowing the plane to carry more than twenty tons of either conventional or nuclear weapons. Additionally, the plane can travel more than 6,900 miles without refueling giving the B-2 the ability to travel extensively. It has been used during America’s conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the plane arrived over us with little or no auditory warning. If you are an American citizen, all of this news brings comfort. We are comforted to know that we have some of the best technology in the planet in our Air Force. Nearly 70,000 people watched the plane descend that day while eating hot dogs and drinking cokes. Minutes before and minutes after its arrival, our minds were back on the game as we cheered. This awesome machine of death was given little more than an afterthought by us. Yet, what if were not citizens of the United States on September 23, 2007? What if we were watching the game in North Korea and were residents of that country? Or citizens of Iran? If you are an enemy of the United States, noticing the B-2 Bomber drop from the sky gives little comfort. Any enemy plane of the United States would give your discomfort and dismay if you observed it coming at you. Yet, this plane strikes fear in the hearts of our enemies precisely because of its capabilities.
God does mark iniquity. He does require perfect righteousness. And that is why this psalm, with all of Psalms, leads to Christ who “was wounded for our transgressions; [and] crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5) God does and will count our sin, and He punished it in Christ. He did require righteousness, and He performed it in Christ.
