PSALMS 1

Sunday Morning:  February 4, 2000

Text: Psalms 1  "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

THE GODLY

Psalms 1  "Blessed is the man that walketh [follow, march] not in the counsel [advice] of the ungodly [wicked], nor standeth [continues] in the way [manner, lifestyle] of sinners [(ungodly) offenders], nor sitteth [sit as a judge] in the seat [assembly] of the scornful [interpreters, teachers, mockers].

UNDEFILED

Psalms 119:1  "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD."

IN CONTROL

2 Corinthians 10:4-5  "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

STABLE

Isaiah 33:6  "And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure."

PRAYS

Matthew 6:13  "And lead us not into temptation [adversity], but deliver us from evil [the wicked (counsel, way, seat)]: For thine is the kingdom (is at stake), and the power (of His resurrection), and the glory (which is the hope), for ever [age (millennial)]. Amen."

SEPARATE

2 Corinthians 6:17  "Wherefore come out from among them (faithless, lawless, those in darkness), and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

THE GODLY DEFINED

2. But his delight [purpose, pleasure, desire] is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate [mutter, roar, speak, imagine, study, mourn] day and night.

DETERMINED

Psalms 119:15-16  "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word."

Ezra 7:10  "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

REJOICING IN THE WORD

Psalms 19:7-11  "The law of the LORD is perfect [entire, complete], converting [restore, turn back] the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure [support], making wise the simple [easily led]. 8. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."

UNMOVEABLE

3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf (single) also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

FRUITFUL

Jeremiah 17:7-8  "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

ABIDING FRUITFUL BRANCH

John 15:5  "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

THE FRUIT

Judges 9:13  "And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine [not branches], which cheereth God and man. ."

THE UNGODLY DEFINED

4. The ungodly [wicked] are not so (no delight in the Word): but are like the chaff which the wind driveth [shaken, tossed to and fro] away.

THE REBELLIOUS

Isaiah 30:1-2  "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; . . .: 2. That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!"

THE CHAFF

Isaiah 5:24  "Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."

TOSSED TO AND FRO

Ephesians 4:14  "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"

THE JUDGMENT OF THE UNGODLY

5. Therefore the ungodly [wicked] shall not stand [to be to raised up] in the judgment (judicial sentencing), nor sinners [offenders] in the congregation of the righteous [just].

OFFENDERS REMOVED

Matthew 13:41-43  "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity [lawlessness]; 42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire [temporary]: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43. Then shall the righteous [just] shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

John 15:6  "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

THE RIGHTEOUS

6. For the LORD knoweth the way [lifestyle] of the righteous [just]: but the way [lifestyle] of the ungodly [wicked] shall perish."

THE JUST LIVE BY FAITH

Hebrews 10:38  "Now the just [righteous] shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD

Matthew 6:33  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

NO COUNSEL AGAINST THE LORD

Proverbs 21:30  "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD."

THAT WALKETH CIRCUMSPECTLY

Ephesians 5:15-17 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil [wicked]. 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

CHOICE IS OURS TO MAKE

Matthew 7:13-14  "Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."