2 PATHS
Psalm 1
"The Psalms illuminate the greatness of our God, affirm His faithfulness to us in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His Word. As the Psalms present a clear picture of God lovingly guiding His people, the responses of praise and worship to God are never far from the psalmists’ pens. The portrayal of worship in the Psalms offers us glimpse after glimpse of hearts devoted to God, individuals repentant before Him, and lives changed through encounters with Him." -ThomasConstable
"When you come to a fork in the road...pick it up!" - NY Yankee Catcher Yogi Berra!
Psalm 1
1 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 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
HOW DO WE WALK TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS?
I. LISTEN TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Psalm 1:1a
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
II. REMEMBERING THAT WE ARE NEW PEOPLE
Psalm 1:1b
Nor stand in the path of sinners...
Luke 15:2
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them.
Galatians 4:8-11
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
"It is not contact with the godless that the godly seeks to avoid. It is rather! camaraderie." - Roger Ellsworth
Psalm 1:1c
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers
III. BY FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE WORD OF GOD
Psalm 1:2-3
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Four incredible benefits of what happens when we DELIGHT OURSELVES IN THE WORD OF GOD.
A. There is ORDER to our lives.
Psalm 1:2a
But his delight is in the law of the LORD
Luke 11:28
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
B. A FOCUSED mind
Psalm 1:2b
And in His law he meditates day and night.
C. A STRONG foundation
Psalm 1:3a
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither;
D. Prosperity
Psalm 1:3b
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:4-6
4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
Two very serious RESULTS OF CHOOSING OUR OWN WAY VERSUS GOD’S PATH.
A. No foundation
Psalm 1:4
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
B. Eternal separation from God
Psalm 1:5-6
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his threshing floor, and gather his wheat into the barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
"Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you’re willing to pay." - Adrian Rogers
