There is strength and fruitfulness in the spiritual realm that comes by trusting God, delighting in the law of God and living rightly according to the law of God. These blessings are available for all seekers.
John Calvin the Reformer in the 16th century calls the Book of Psalms "an anatomy of all the parts of the soul", in his meditation of psalms he discovered there is not an emotion which is not represented like a mirror. He could identify the ups and downs in his journey of faith with the psalmist, the many trials and testings in the battle for the Reformed Faith which we, the sons in the Bible-Presbyterian Church are privileged to inherit. Our principal Rev Tow taught us that the Psalm is a Balm for the troubled soul. His favourite psalm is psalm 20 which he would invariably quote in hospital visits for it provides tremendous comfort and encouragement for the depressed and fearful soul. Which is your favourite psalm?
The psalms give expression to all griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, care, anxieties in addition to celebrating the good things the Lord does for his people. It takes these human experiences, shapes them into prayers, and expresses them in poetry. It is, if I may call the heart throb of the bible. The child of God therefore can learn how to communicate with God Almighty, as a helpless yet privileged child, by the meditation and study of the psalms.
Jesus says "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Jesus says in Luke 24:44 "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." The psalms included the book of psalms, besides the book of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon.
We shall beginning at the beginning, psalm 1 verse 1 . It begins the phrase "Blessed is the man". If you will observe, the first phrase of each psalm provides for us the theme. Virtually every poem of the Psalter begins with a line or couplet that announces the subject of the poem. And virtually every psalm ends with a general statement of closure that rounds up the meditation with a note of finality. This is observed in verse 6 "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalm 1 teaches us the Blessings of the Righteous Man, the Godly Man.
Observe also the two contrasting thought provoking words, the first "blessed" and the last "perishing". This psalm offers two opposite propositions - a godly man is blessed and a wicked man is miserable.
Incidentally, "Blessed" is the first word that our Lord Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount, cursed was the last word of the Old Testament. Jesus came to show His listeners the way of blessing, of happiness when He uttered these gracious words of blessings in the Sermon of the Mount, nine times to show the Christian the steps to a blessed life. The original word in the Greek is in the plural in the Sermon of the Mount, it is also in the plural here, In this first psalm, it speaks of multiples of blessings upon the man God has justified through His Son throughout humanity, past and future, and the perfection and greatness of the blessedness this justified man shall enjoy. Jesus stands at the first in the train, the perfectly sinless man for our example and emulation.
The word "man" is one of the several Hebrew words to describe man. This word for man is used for the first time in Genesis 2:23 , the King James Translator used the capital "M" for the man in contradistinction with the Woman who was made from the one of the rib of Adam, however, here in psalm 1 , it is not that the psalmist is speaking to the male gender but to both male and female. I believe it refers to the man that have the free will to choose between good and evil, as did Adam before the fall. Most importantly, a man redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, sins forgiven, the righteous man in the sight of God. We Christians, are no longer in bondage to sin, we can choose not to sin. Our will is not in bondage to Satan.
We were studying from the book of Judges with our youths in the months of April-May this year, one lesson we can draw from that study is this. "As a child of God, we have been freed from the bondage of sin. We are free not to sin. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us to help us to choose not to sin guided by the Word of God. However, when we abuse this freedom and choose to live an unrestrained life, our life degenerates into a state of anarchy or chaos.
Israel during the time of the Judges did what was right in their own eyes.
I believe that is the reason why the psalmist chose to use this particular Hebrew word.
Question: Have we confessed Jesus as Lord and Saviour? If we have, this blessing is ours to claim. If not, do not hesitate, confess and accept Him here and now as Lord and Saviour. The freedom to choose not to sin is the random Jesus paid for us on the cross.
Shall we bow our head in prayer, our heavenly Father, help us to acknowledge Thee as the LORD and Saviour of our life. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Three questions we ask ourselves we as consider this first psalm, as a child of God, having that freedom to choose righteousness.
One qualifying statement here is that we cannot lose our salvation per say once we have believed but we fall into the chastivtive will of God if we have truly believed and choose to go the way of the ungodly.
Verses 1-2 teaches us the "how?" How we can receive these blessings. Firstly, by separating from the ungodly - choosing correctly our friends in verse 1 and to have an unquenchable thirst for God's Word for it will guide and direct our footsteps in verse 2 .
Verses 3 tells us - What is the blessing if we were to follow God's Word faithfully and walk in obedience? It is the fruitfulness and prosperity of the soul, the abundant life Jesus promised to his disciples, right here and now on earth to be bestowed on God's people.
Verse 4-6 gives the admonition, the warning. What if I spurned these great blessings? It presents to us the ultimate doom of the ungodly. If we persist in sin, we have to check our salvation. Here we see, the choice is obvious! Yet a choice must be made. This may be called a wisdom psalm emphazising a contrast in ways of living which bring about different consequences. I congratulate you for taking time to come for this camp, the first step toward receiving this abundant life that is promised to every born again Christian-the intensive study of God's Word in the company of saints. May the Lord equip us through the study of His Word with a willing spirit - strengthened and fortified against the potent weakness of the flesh. As the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
The first step, notice that the psalmist presents the negative in a triac "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." Notice there is an increase of sense in successive phrases.
The first are ungodly, as to their mind, the second are sinners, who not only think, but carry out the workings of their evil mind. The third scorner glorying in their wickedness and scoffing at righteousness. The first continue in that mind of taking evil counsel, the second carry it out, as the principle of their walk and the third settle down in their evil, as on a seat.
Remember the first commandment of God delivered to our first parents were in the negative in Genesis 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." How appealing and pleasurable is the enticement to sin. The attack comes first in the mind - the "counsel of the ungodly", most deadly. The serpent said to Eve, Genesis 3:4 -5"Ye shall not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Ungodly counsel inclines our heart to sin, to disobey God. Eve "saw that the tree was good for food and it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise." Therefore we see here that the mind must be fortified with godly counsel. How can we receive it if we do not restrain our wondering feet is the thrust of this first phrase.
The next step of rebellion to stand in the way of sinners. A logical progression in the slippery downward slide to destruction, to "stand" here means to have made a choice, to choose the way of sinners. To stand with someone is to agree with him and to take the side of him, who? The sinner! The way of the world, ruled by the prince of this world, Satan himself. Eve chose to stand with the lie of Satan instead of the truth of God's Word. That influenced her to pick the forbidden fruit and eat.
The third degree sin is "seat in the sit of the scornful". Having listened to the enticement of the Serpent, now Eve becomes chief advocate for Satan, she gave the forbidden fruit that she has eaten for Adam to eat, plunging all humanity into total depravity and utter hopelessness.
A study of the word "scorner" used in the Bible tells us that he is one who is proud and haughty, delights in boasting, deriding, mocking, incapable of discipline, reproof or rebuke, cannot find wisdom, is an abomination and should be avoided. Hence the importance of separation from sinful companion, such is the potency and influence of evil companions, separation from the world - dear friends, we must be careful to choose our friends, and help our loved ones in the choice of friends, especially for every father and mother our children!
The second aspect of the means to receive God's blessings is found in verse 2 , "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
o Delighting in the law of God (verse 2a )
o Meditating continually and consistently in the law of God (verse 2b )
Here is put forward a real condition, if the condition is fulfilled, then the results will surely follow. The literal translation from the Hebrew "For if in the law of the LORD is his delight or pleasure" then the result in verse 3 will come to pass, it a promise from God. If we delight in the law of the Lord and meditate upon it consistently and continually, the result is fruitfulness and prosperity of the soul, this is the promise given in verse 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."
How do we have the strength to live a separated life from sin and ungodly influence? It is but delighting in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Psalm 119 is an expansion of psalm 1 and in verse 9 it says "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." And these words of consecration in "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Verse 2 speaks in the positive, giving the affirmative marks of the godly man. Delighting in the law of God is so essential to godliness. What is godliness but the love of God? And what is love without delight? When we are in love with someone, we delight we see more and more of the person. Certainly, we are contrasting here the delight in the gold of this world verses a delight in God in His Word. The world verse the word, Gold verse God, the perishable verses the eternal.
To delight is to have a high degree of pleasure, or satisfaction of mind; to have joy. What is the motivation for loving the Bible?
Let quote this statement you find at the preface of the Gideon Bible and also the Defined King James Bible to inspire you to the delight in God's Word.
Because the Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter.
Here is paradise is restored, heaven opened, and hell disclosed. The Lord Jesus Christ is its grand Object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. Let it fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide the feet. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the highest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents." (Author Unknown)
Verse 2b , "and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
To mediate is to ponder, consider carefully, think over with carefulness, with deliberateness.
Let me illustrate the process of meditation from an unclean animal in the bible, the hare - a member of the rabbit family, it chews the cud; it does not have a split hoof. Chewing the cud means that an animal chew its food, swallows its food, swallows it and digests it part-way in the stomach. Then the food is returned to the mouth where the animal chew it a second time and then swallows it to be digested the rest of the way in its stomach. This provides an illustration of the process of meditation, it is a slow process where the nutrients are slowly absorbed, its essence and its whole.
The godly person is portrayed as one who is "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." The river is a picture of God's provision of spiritual blessing and help for His people.
The picture of a tree that is fruitful because it has strong roots, and is well watered. He is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Here the similitude tells us that the man who meditates in God's word is planted and protected as a tree in a garden cared for as a "tree of the field" is not. The river is a picture of God's provision of spiritual blessing and help for His people.
The man who meditates in the law of God is like a tree planted in a garden, where it will have a sure supply of water and the constant care of the gardener, God Himself. Not left out in the plain to shift for itself, to thrive if it gets water, and to die if it does not!
Bear fruit not all the time but in its season, there is an appointed time for the fruits. The leaves are always green, the fruits come season by season. Green is equated with life and abundance first appearing at the very climax of the creation where God gives the animals he has created "every green herb for food" (Genesis 1:30 ). Genesis 1:31 "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."
Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper - what a staggering statement. This is a great contrast with this world that we live in where we see death, decay and corruption. Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Although this world is in decay and corruption but the child of God is absolutely unique, you mean he prospers amidst decay and corruption. Yes, not worldly prosperity but spiritual prosperity that things seen are temporal, but the things not seen, the renewed mind showing forth in action the graces of God, the fruit of the spirit, is eternal. The child of God may be poor, broken, sick, struggling by the world's standard, by the standard of God, but he is victorious and more than a conqueror, through Christ! Every child of God brings benefits to the ungodly. The ungodly man's life is blessed because he is blessed of the godly man. Take the children of God out of any nation and society, that society will be lost. The greatest beneficiaries that they have are the humble children of God, praying quietly and doing the Lord's business.
Psalms 1:4 "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away."
Chaff evokes the image of lightness, instability and worthlessness. Scripture uses many harvest or agricultural images as figures of judgment: pruning, pulling, weeds, threshing, picking, sorting sheep and goats, and winnowing. Winnowing is the process of separating and driving off the chaff from grain by means of wind.
Grain is winnowed by a fan, or by a machine, or by pouring it out of a vessel in a current of air. In winnowing, grain is threshed in order to separate the kernel of grain from the husk and straw. The mixture is thrown into the air with a winnowing fork or shovel. The wind blows the light husks away, the heavier straw falls near the edge of the threshing floor, and the grain falls back to the floor to be collected. Both the light husks and the heavier straw are referred to in the words translated "chaff" in the Bible.
The wicked are like chaff compared with the righteous, who are like a living, fruitful tree. Chaff is something that is easily driven away and discarded by the wind. John the Baptist speaks of Jesus with a winnowing fork in his hand to gather the wheat into the barn and to burn up the chaff with fire in Matthew 3:11-12 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Psalms 1:5 "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."
Ephesians 4:17 is an excellent commentary on this verse "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." Ephesians 4:22-24 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
Psalms 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners [shall not stand] in the congregation of the righteous, an ellipsis, a deliberate omission of words for emphasis.
Thus, the blessing of the righteous is that they do not stand among sinners (verse 1 ) and the punishment of the ungodly will be that they shall not stand among the righteous in the judgment (verse 5 ).
In the day of judgment, the lost sinner has no standing in that judgment except to accept sentencing for eternal damnation. If we love not the book of life on this earth, the same book will in the day of judgment will be a book of judgment.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
To be righteous, we must receive the Righteous Jesus Christ, into our heart. Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
Will Jesus say to us "I never knew you, depart!" Or will Jesus say, Matthew 25:33-46 "And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
The LORD knoweth the way of the righteous [and he shall not perish], but [the LORD knoweth] the way of the ungodly [and he] shall perish."
The means, fruits, the admonition, now the decision. May we choose Christ and His fullness in our lives.