1 00:00:01,439 --> 00:00:05,359 So we now turn to the reading of 2 00:00:05,359 --> 00:00:05,859 scripture, 3 00:00:06,879 --> 00:00:09,619 which is found in Psalm chapter 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,339 1. Psalm 1. This is 5 00:00:13,314 --> 00:00:14,934 the words of the living God. 6 00:00:15,394 --> 00:00:17,554 Blessed is the man who walks not in 7 00:00:17,554 --> 00:00:19,175 the counsel of the wicked, 8 00:00:19,475 --> 00:00:21,574 nor stands in the way of sinners, 9 00:00:22,195 --> 00:00:24,695 nor sits in the seat of scoffers. 10 00:00:25,439 --> 00:00:27,759 But his delight is in the law of 11 00:00:27,759 --> 00:00:30,179 the Lord, and on his law he meditates 12 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:31,379 day and night. 13 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,359 He is like a tree planted by streams 14 00:00:35,359 --> 00:00:36,019 of water 15 00:00:36,799 --> 00:00:39,460 that yields its fruit in its season, 16 00:00:40,094 --> 00:00:41,715 and its leaf does not wither. 17 00:00:42,255 --> 00:00:44,115 And all that he does, he prospers. 18 00:00:44,895 --> 00:00:46,354 The wicked are not 19 00:00:47,054 --> 00:00:49,295 so, but are like chaff that the wind 20 00:00:49,295 --> 00:00:50,355 drives away. 21 00:00:50,815 --> 00:00:53,135 And therefore, the wicked will not stand in 22 00:00:53,135 --> 00:00:54,739 judgment, nor the sinners 23 00:00:55,119 --> 00:00:56,019 in the congregation 24 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:57,140 of the righteous. 25 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,920 For the Lord knows the way of the 26 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:00,420 righteous, 27 00:01:01,679 --> 00:01:03,939 but the way of the wicked will perish. 28 00:01:04,479 --> 00:01:06,420 This is the word of the Lord. 29 00:01:07,155 --> 00:01:12,275 Thanks be to God. You may be seated. 30 00:01:12,505 --> 00:01:15,635 Well this morning we begin our 12 week 31 00:01:15,635 --> 00:01:18,275 summer series through what is considered by many 32 00:01:18,275 --> 00:01:19,954 to be one of the most beloved and 33 00:01:19,954 --> 00:01:21,895 cherished books of the Bible, 34 00:01:22,379 --> 00:01:23,599 which is the book 35 00:01:23,900 --> 00:01:24,640 of Psalms. 36 00:01:25,659 --> 00:01:27,659 And the book of Psalms is unique in 37 00:01:27,659 --> 00:01:30,219 many ways, very different from other books in 38 00:01:30,219 --> 00:01:30,879 the Bible. 39 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:33,420 And the first is that the Psalms, or 40 00:01:33,420 --> 00:01:35,579 the book of Psalms is actually a hymn 41 00:01:35,579 --> 00:01:36,015 book. 42 00:01:36,655 --> 00:01:39,314 It's a collection of divinely inspired 43 00:01:40,015 --> 00:01:40,995 Hebrew poems 44 00:01:41,694 --> 00:01:43,775 that were sung by the nation of Israel, 45 00:01:43,775 --> 00:01:47,075 and they're worshiped to God both in, private, 46 00:01:47,215 --> 00:01:50,010 as well as familial, and also in corporate 47 00:01:50,310 --> 00:01:52,950 worship. This is a book of praise, and 48 00:01:52,950 --> 00:01:54,329 today the book of Psalms 49 00:01:54,790 --> 00:01:56,729 stands as a model for us 50 00:01:57,030 --> 00:01:57,769 in how 51 00:01:58,549 --> 00:02:00,950 our language should be in our singing unto 52 00:02:00,950 --> 00:02:03,369 the Lord. Our first hymn this morning, 53 00:02:03,975 --> 00:02:06,454 praise to the Lord the Almighty, is actually 54 00:02:06,454 --> 00:02:06,954 inspired 55 00:02:07,334 --> 00:02:08,794 by the language of Psalm 56 00:02:09,335 --> 00:02:09,835 130. 57 00:02:10,534 --> 00:02:12,055 Another way that the book of Psalms is 58 00:02:12,055 --> 00:02:13,974 different is that the book of Psalms is 59 00:02:13,974 --> 00:02:16,794 actually a book of prayer. The Psalms contain 60 00:02:16,854 --> 00:02:19,610 individual and also corporate prayers to God. 61 00:02:20,310 --> 00:02:22,150 If you read some of the Psalms, you 62 00:02:22,150 --> 00:02:23,689 will find prayers of joy, 63 00:02:24,230 --> 00:02:25,290 and prayers of sorrow, 64 00:02:26,069 --> 00:02:29,210 prayers of anxiety, and also prayers of confidence. 65 00:02:29,750 --> 00:02:31,669 And sometimes you'll read a Psalm, and all 66 00:02:31,669 --> 00:02:34,169 those are actually found in that one Psalm. 67 00:02:34,905 --> 00:02:36,745 The Psalms is just a great way of 68 00:02:36,745 --> 00:02:39,085 how the emotions of us humans, 69 00:02:41,224 --> 00:02:43,544 just function and operate here in this world 70 00:02:43,544 --> 00:02:44,604 that we live in. 71 00:02:44,905 --> 00:02:47,405 And so the book of Psalms functions as 72 00:02:48,099 --> 00:02:49,639 a way in which, as a model, 73 00:02:50,099 --> 00:02:52,180 for our prayer life. The words we ought 74 00:02:52,180 --> 00:02:53,479 to use to the Lord. 75 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:56,580 And finally, the the book of Psalms is 76 00:02:56,580 --> 00:02:58,739 an instruction book. That is, some of the 77 00:02:58,739 --> 00:02:59,719 Psalms contain 78 00:03:00,340 --> 00:03:01,400 poetic imagery, 79 00:03:02,485 --> 00:03:02,985 simile, 80 00:03:04,004 --> 00:03:05,864 and language that really 81 00:03:06,164 --> 00:03:06,664 instructs 82 00:03:07,205 --> 00:03:08,104 God's people, 83 00:03:09,044 --> 00:03:10,745 to life, prosperity, 84 00:03:11,685 --> 00:03:14,004 and happiness. And in the Psalms, the way 85 00:03:14,004 --> 00:03:16,324 that the Psalms are guiding God's people to 86 00:03:16,324 --> 00:03:16,824 life, 87 00:03:17,189 --> 00:03:18,489 prosperity, and happiness, 88 00:03:19,349 --> 00:03:19,849 is 89 00:03:20,389 --> 00:03:22,169 is to meditate and obey 90 00:03:22,629 --> 00:03:24,330 the law of God, the Torah. 91 00:03:24,870 --> 00:03:27,530 And well, our Psalm this morning, Psalm 1, 92 00:03:28,229 --> 00:03:30,009 this is a Psalm of instruction 93 00:03:30,389 --> 00:03:32,735 thoroughly, from verse 1 all the way to 94 00:03:32,735 --> 00:03:33,235 verse 95 00:03:34,335 --> 00:03:37,055 6. However, rather than instructing us by a 96 00:03:37,055 --> 00:03:39,055 series of don't do this and don't do 97 00:03:39,055 --> 00:03:39,555 that, 98 00:03:40,254 --> 00:03:42,514 really the way in which the psalmist is 99 00:03:42,814 --> 00:03:45,295 instructing us is by way of contrast. And 100 00:03:45,295 --> 00:03:46,594 it's a sharp contrast. 101 00:03:47,189 --> 00:03:49,689 It's a contrast that is between, 102 00:03:50,229 --> 00:03:51,989 that is that of black and white, of 103 00:03:51,989 --> 00:03:54,389 good and evil, of left and right, of 104 00:03:54,389 --> 00:03:57,370 up and down. These are completely polar opposites, 105 00:03:59,430 --> 00:04:01,349 that the psalmist is trying to present to 106 00:04:01,349 --> 00:04:03,485 us. And what the psalmist is presenting us 107 00:04:03,485 --> 00:04:05,025 here is 2 humanities 108 00:04:05,324 --> 00:04:07,025 that walk 2 different roads 109 00:04:07,324 --> 00:04:08,944 that lead to 2 different 110 00:04:09,324 --> 00:04:09,824 eternal 111 00:04:10,364 --> 00:04:10,864 final 112 00:04:11,405 --> 00:04:11,905 destinations. 113 00:04:13,004 --> 00:04:15,084 1 is the righteous man, and the other 114 00:04:15,084 --> 00:04:17,839 is the wicked man. And the the purpose, 115 00:04:18,620 --> 00:04:20,639 the reason why the psalmist is presenting 116 00:04:20,939 --> 00:04:23,019 this to us is because he wants the 117 00:04:23,019 --> 00:04:25,579 reader to self reflect on this psalm. And 118 00:04:25,660 --> 00:04:27,579 but more importantly, he wants us to ask 119 00:04:27,579 --> 00:04:28,240 a question 120 00:04:28,644 --> 00:04:29,625 that's of supreme 121 00:04:30,004 --> 00:04:31,844 importance, and this is the question for us 122 00:04:31,844 --> 00:04:32,504 this morning. 123 00:04:33,125 --> 00:04:35,305 Am I in the congregation of the righteous, 124 00:04:35,925 --> 00:04:37,925 or am I in the congregation of the 125 00:04:37,925 --> 00:04:38,425 wicked? 126 00:04:39,125 --> 00:04:41,284 This is the question for us this morning. 127 00:04:41,284 --> 00:04:42,904 And so, by way of introduction, 128 00:04:43,529 --> 00:04:45,930 let us jump into our psalm. We have 129 00:04:45,930 --> 00:04:47,449 2 headings this morning, the way of the 130 00:04:47,449 --> 00:04:50,170 righteous and the way of the wicked. And 131 00:04:50,170 --> 00:04:51,710 so, beginning with our first heading, 132 00:04:52,170 --> 00:04:54,170 the way of the righteous. Let us read 133 00:04:54,170 --> 00:04:55,230 verse 1. 134 00:04:56,245 --> 00:04:58,084 And it reads, blessed is the man who 135 00:04:58,084 --> 00:05:00,745 walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 136 00:05:01,285 --> 00:05:03,925 nor stands in the seat of sinners, or 137 00:05:03,925 --> 00:05:06,004 the way of sinners, nor sits in the 138 00:05:06,004 --> 00:05:07,224 seat of scoffers. 139 00:05:09,019 --> 00:05:11,100 You see the book of Psalms here launches 140 00:05:11,100 --> 00:05:12,720 with this word blessed. 141 00:05:13,339 --> 00:05:16,000 And it's a word that appears over 26 142 00:05:16,220 --> 00:05:18,620 times in the psalter, and many other times 143 00:05:18,620 --> 00:05:20,539 in the bible. It's a word that we 144 00:05:20,539 --> 00:05:23,454 use predominantly because the bible uses it. And 145 00:05:23,454 --> 00:05:25,495 it's something that we also get acquainted with, 146 00:05:25,495 --> 00:05:27,334 especially since we're in this in the Psalms. 147 00:05:27,334 --> 00:05:28,394 This is our series. 148 00:05:28,854 --> 00:05:31,495 The Hebrew word for blessed is asher or 149 00:05:31,495 --> 00:05:33,754 ashrei, and it simply means happy. 150 00:05:34,454 --> 00:05:36,375 And here, it's actually in the plural. So 151 00:05:36,375 --> 00:05:37,834 it's it's meant to magnify 152 00:05:38,529 --> 00:05:40,550 this happiness, the state of happiness. 153 00:05:40,850 --> 00:05:42,949 It's one of the reasons why some translators 154 00:05:43,089 --> 00:05:43,589 translate 155 00:05:43,970 --> 00:05:46,310 the opening of Psalm 1, oh, the happinesses 156 00:05:46,930 --> 00:05:48,229 or oh, the blessedness 157 00:05:48,850 --> 00:05:51,910 is of the man or woman or people. 158 00:05:52,745 --> 00:05:54,845 Now typically when we use the word blessed, 159 00:05:54,985 --> 00:05:55,805 we usually, 160 00:05:56,584 --> 00:05:58,285 use it only to convey 161 00:05:59,544 --> 00:06:02,584 God's favor towards us. His his gifts in 162 00:06:02,584 --> 00:06:04,845 this life, whether it be a salary 163 00:06:05,225 --> 00:06:08,250 raise, or a new house, or a new 164 00:06:08,550 --> 00:06:10,949 car, or maybe the comfortable life in which 165 00:06:10,949 --> 00:06:12,790 you have lived, you know, the comfortable life 166 00:06:12,790 --> 00:06:14,810 in which he has provided you. 167 00:06:15,110 --> 00:06:16,550 Just the other day, I was listening to 168 00:06:16,550 --> 00:06:18,410 a podcast, and in one of the interviews, 169 00:06:19,189 --> 00:06:21,805 the interviewee said something to the effect of, 170 00:06:21,805 --> 00:06:23,805 you know, the Lord has blessed me with 171 00:06:23,805 --> 00:06:25,564 so much. He has blessed me with a 172 00:06:25,564 --> 00:06:28,064 beautiful wife. He has blessed me with beautiful 173 00:06:28,125 --> 00:06:30,524 children. He has given me, you know, a 174 00:06:30,524 --> 00:06:32,524 good amount of friends around me. He's given 175 00:06:32,524 --> 00:06:34,470 me a good bill of health. And so 176 00:06:34,470 --> 00:06:35,910 typically, the way in which we use this 177 00:06:35,910 --> 00:06:37,830 word blessed is in that way to know 178 00:06:37,830 --> 00:06:40,650 God's gifts, to God's favor towards you. 179 00:06:41,110 --> 00:06:43,589 And, you know, I mentioned this because although, 180 00:06:43,589 --> 00:06:46,150 yes, the word blessed means God's favor to 181 00:06:46,150 --> 00:06:46,650 us, 182 00:06:47,029 --> 00:06:49,270 we also always remember that it means so 183 00:06:49,270 --> 00:06:52,615 much more. To be blessed, to be happy 184 00:06:52,615 --> 00:06:53,435 in the scriptures, 185 00:06:54,055 --> 00:06:56,774 is not merely about what God gives you, 186 00:06:56,774 --> 00:06:59,735 but more importantly about what God is for 187 00:06:59,735 --> 00:07:00,235 you. 188 00:07:00,935 --> 00:07:02,555 In other words, it is a happiness 189 00:07:03,699 --> 00:07:05,319 that springs from the assurance 190 00:07:05,699 --> 00:07:07,959 that you belong to God and God belongs 191 00:07:08,099 --> 00:07:08,759 to you. 192 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,419 It is a happiness that flows out of 193 00:07:12,419 --> 00:07:15,220 knowing that your creator calls you son or 194 00:07:15,220 --> 00:07:15,720 daughter, 195 00:07:16,435 --> 00:07:18,194 And that you could come before him and 196 00:07:18,194 --> 00:07:19,175 call him father. 197 00:07:20,274 --> 00:07:22,694 It's a happiness. It's this state of being 198 00:07:23,154 --> 00:07:24,055 from knowing 199 00:07:24,435 --> 00:07:26,375 that God is your savior, redeemer, 200 00:07:26,754 --> 00:07:27,495 and friend. 201 00:07:28,540 --> 00:07:30,080 It's a happiness that persecution 202 00:07:30,459 --> 00:07:32,300 cannot destroy. This is one of the reasons 203 00:07:32,300 --> 00:07:34,240 why Jesus says in the beatitude, 204 00:07:34,540 --> 00:07:36,480 blessed are those who are persecuted. 205 00:07:37,259 --> 00:07:39,120 Persecuted for righteousness' sake. 206 00:07:39,740 --> 00:07:42,160 It's a happiness that poverty cannot diminish. 207 00:07:43,355 --> 00:07:46,894 It's a happiness that prosperity cannot enhance. 208 00:07:47,675 --> 00:07:49,194 This is one of the reasons why Paul 209 00:07:49,194 --> 00:07:50,175 writes in Philippians, 210 00:07:50,714 --> 00:07:53,134 but whatever gain I had, I counted 211 00:07:53,915 --> 00:07:56,735 as loss for the sake of Christ. 212 00:07:57,449 --> 00:07:58,990 Indeed, I count everything 213 00:07:59,930 --> 00:08:03,050 as loss because of the surpassing worth of 214 00:08:03,050 --> 00:08:03,550 knowing 215 00:08:03,930 --> 00:08:05,629 Christ Jesus, my Lord. 216 00:08:06,889 --> 00:08:08,889 And dear friends, happiness is a pursuit of 217 00:08:08,889 --> 00:08:09,550 all people. 218 00:08:10,064 --> 00:08:11,365 In every generation, 219 00:08:12,064 --> 00:08:13,665 every man that is born of woman, there 220 00:08:13,665 --> 00:08:15,365 is a thirst and a longing 221 00:08:15,824 --> 00:08:19,285 for happiness. Nobody wants to live a miserable 222 00:08:19,745 --> 00:08:20,245 life. 223 00:08:23,759 --> 00:08:26,399 But yet, we do to some degree, and 224 00:08:26,399 --> 00:08:27,300 we seek to, 225 00:08:27,839 --> 00:08:29,699 remove ourselves from that state. 226 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,879 Well, Psalm 1 reminds us that there really 227 00:08:32,879 --> 00:08:35,860 is no true blessedness, no true happiness, apart 228 00:08:36,335 --> 00:08:38,654 from receiving and knowing the one through who 229 00:08:38,654 --> 00:08:39,554 we were made, 230 00:08:40,335 --> 00:08:42,174 exist, and the one and that we will 231 00:08:42,174 --> 00:08:44,674 one day return, which is God. Unless 232 00:08:45,054 --> 00:08:46,754 you know Christ in the Bible, 233 00:08:47,615 --> 00:08:49,695 unless you know the Christ of scripture, true 234 00:08:49,695 --> 00:08:51,235 happiness is not obtained 235 00:08:51,690 --> 00:08:52,750 or experienced. 236 00:08:53,129 --> 00:08:53,790 And this 237 00:08:54,169 --> 00:08:55,850 this leads me now to ask a couple 238 00:08:55,850 --> 00:08:57,370 of questions, or at least for you to 239 00:08:57,370 --> 00:08:58,269 ask some questions, 240 00:08:58,649 --> 00:09:00,490 which is, what is it that makes you 241 00:09:00,490 --> 00:09:00,990 happy? 242 00:09:03,290 --> 00:09:05,450 What is that one thing in life that 243 00:09:05,450 --> 00:09:08,355 if you just had, would make you happiest 244 00:09:08,815 --> 00:09:09,475 the longest? 245 00:09:11,054 --> 00:09:14,095 Is it retirement? Is it a particular video 246 00:09:14,095 --> 00:09:14,595 game? 247 00:09:16,335 --> 00:09:16,995 Is it 248 00:09:17,375 --> 00:09:18,595 a successful business? 249 00:09:20,095 --> 00:09:21,235 6 figure salary? 250 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,860 A mansion, a home, a spouse. 251 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:28,679 Now there's nothing wrong with wanting these things. 252 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,160 I wanna be absolutely clear about that. However, 253 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:32,679 my point is this, that is that to 254 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:33,740 pursue happiness 255 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:35,340 apart from God 256 00:09:35,845 --> 00:09:37,605 is really like trying to fill up a 257 00:09:37,605 --> 00:09:38,745 strainer with water. 258 00:09:39,845 --> 00:09:41,845 It's it's it's like trying to satisfy the 259 00:09:41,845 --> 00:09:43,625 hunger of a lion with a carrot. 260 00:09:44,004 --> 00:09:45,784 Or it's like trying to empty 261 00:09:46,164 --> 00:09:46,825 the ocean 262 00:09:47,205 --> 00:09:49,304 of its water by using a bucket, 263 00:09:49,629 --> 00:09:50,769 and only a bucket. 264 00:09:51,949 --> 00:09:54,529 Sure there might be momentary moments of happiness 265 00:09:54,589 --> 00:09:57,230 in this world apart from God, but very 266 00:09:57,230 --> 00:09:58,990 much like, you know, a kid who is 267 00:09:58,990 --> 00:09:59,809 chasing bubbles, 268 00:10:00,269 --> 00:10:02,610 once you touch it, there it vanishes. 269 00:10:03,324 --> 00:10:05,985 Right? True lasting happiness, true lasting 270 00:10:06,365 --> 00:10:09,164 blessedness in this life begins with God, and 271 00:10:09,164 --> 00:10:11,904 the way of the righteous are those who 272 00:10:11,964 --> 00:10:12,704 not only, 273 00:10:13,884 --> 00:10:15,904 know that they have favor with God, 274 00:10:16,220 --> 00:10:17,980 and the gifts that they receive come from 275 00:10:17,980 --> 00:10:19,840 God, more importantly it's recognizing 276 00:10:20,379 --> 00:10:22,639 that the gift is actually God himself. 277 00:10:23,019 --> 00:10:23,840 He is 278 00:10:24,540 --> 00:10:27,100 both the gift giver and the gift, and 279 00:10:27,100 --> 00:10:29,840 this is what makes them blessed. 280 00:10:30,904 --> 00:10:32,845 God is the source of their happiness. 281 00:10:33,225 --> 00:10:34,605 This is the way of the righteous. 282 00:10:36,264 --> 00:10:38,745 2nd, look with me at verse 1. The 283 00:10:38,745 --> 00:10:40,524 righteous reject 3 things. 284 00:10:42,919 --> 00:10:44,839 The way of the righteous walks not in 285 00:10:44,839 --> 00:10:47,480 the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in 286 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:48,779 the way of sinners, 287 00:10:49,319 --> 00:10:51,419 nor sits in the seat of scoffers. 288 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,879 The counsel of the wicked, that word counsel 289 00:10:55,879 --> 00:10:57,019 there is a reference 290 00:10:57,714 --> 00:10:58,695 to the beliefs 291 00:10:59,235 --> 00:11:00,375 of those that neither 292 00:11:01,394 --> 00:11:03,475 know God or his law. These are those 293 00:11:03,475 --> 00:11:06,595 who are morally bankrupt, morally corrupt. These are 294 00:11:06,595 --> 00:11:08,754 those people that call that which is good 295 00:11:08,754 --> 00:11:09,254 evil, 296 00:11:10,034 --> 00:11:12,054 and that which is evil good. 297 00:11:13,350 --> 00:11:15,370 The righteous do not seek the counsel, 298 00:11:15,909 --> 00:11:16,649 the advice, 299 00:11:17,110 --> 00:11:17,929 the philosophy 300 00:11:19,190 --> 00:11:21,370 from these sorts of individuals or people. 301 00:11:23,190 --> 00:11:25,690 When the psalmist writes the way of sinners, 302 00:11:26,325 --> 00:11:27,065 the way, 303 00:11:27,365 --> 00:11:29,125 that phrase there is a reference to the 304 00:11:29,125 --> 00:11:29,625 behavior 305 00:11:30,325 --> 00:11:33,045 of those that neither know God or his 306 00:11:33,045 --> 00:11:35,285 law. The word sin, it's a word that 307 00:11:35,285 --> 00:11:37,445 we often use, simply means both in the 308 00:11:37,445 --> 00:11:39,500 Greek and the Hebrew, to miss the mark, 309 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:41,920 and here in this Psalm, when it's describing 310 00:11:42,059 --> 00:11:45,740 sinners, it's describing the people who conduct their 311 00:11:45,740 --> 00:11:48,399 life in such a way as to oppose 312 00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:49,519 God's law 313 00:11:49,899 --> 00:11:50,399 habitually 314 00:11:51,019 --> 00:11:51,759 and intentionally. 315 00:11:53,235 --> 00:11:55,394 The way of the righteousness does not conduct 316 00:11:55,394 --> 00:11:56,134 his life 317 00:11:56,595 --> 00:11:59,475 in this way. He rejects this sort of 318 00:11:59,475 --> 00:11:59,975 behavior 319 00:12:00,355 --> 00:12:00,855 entirely. 320 00:12:01,154 --> 00:12:02,774 The righteous walk it away 321 00:12:03,154 --> 00:12:05,735 that aims to honor and please 322 00:12:06,035 --> 00:12:07,815 God. They seek to aim, 323 00:12:08,259 --> 00:12:10,659 they seek to obey God's law at all 324 00:12:10,659 --> 00:12:11,159 costs. 325 00:12:11,699 --> 00:12:13,000 And then we see the 3rd, 326 00:12:13,699 --> 00:12:15,699 stanza there, and it says, the seat of 327 00:12:15,699 --> 00:12:18,419 the scoffers. That seat there, it's a Hebrew 328 00:12:18,419 --> 00:12:21,139 word that is also used for marriage. This 329 00:12:21,139 --> 00:12:21,799 is where, 330 00:12:23,195 --> 00:12:25,514 people find their belonging. It's a reference to 331 00:12:25,514 --> 00:12:27,595 the belonging of those that know that do 332 00:12:27,595 --> 00:12:29,375 not know God or his law. 333 00:12:29,995 --> 00:12:32,394 These are the scoffers that mock God and 334 00:12:32,394 --> 00:12:33,774 his law openly. 335 00:12:34,475 --> 00:12:36,095 These are those that are unashamedly 336 00:12:37,509 --> 00:12:39,529 anti God, anti Christian. 337 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:40,889 And the righteous 338 00:12:41,429 --> 00:12:43,129 are those that do not sit 339 00:12:43,909 --> 00:12:45,990 with them, do not sit in their committee 340 00:12:45,990 --> 00:12:48,570 boards. They do not sit at their dinners 341 00:12:48,789 --> 00:12:49,514 or their 342 00:12:49,835 --> 00:12:51,774 other committees. They do not participate 343 00:12:52,475 --> 00:12:54,315 with them in their hatred on the one 344 00:12:54,315 --> 00:12:55,215 whom they treasure. 345 00:12:57,274 --> 00:12:59,674 Now the psalmist is not suggesting that we 346 00:12:59,674 --> 00:13:00,495 cease to 347 00:13:01,035 --> 00:13:03,820 disengage with these individuals, to not engage these 348 00:13:03,820 --> 00:13:06,139 individuals, but really what the psalmist is getting 349 00:13:06,139 --> 00:13:07,919 at here is that we do not entertain 350 00:13:08,059 --> 00:13:10,379 them. One pastor put it this way, that 351 00:13:10,379 --> 00:13:12,379 we are not to be a party at 352 00:13:12,379 --> 00:13:13,200 their parties. 353 00:13:14,379 --> 00:13:15,919 This is the way of 354 00:13:16,225 --> 00:13:16,965 the righteous. 355 00:13:17,345 --> 00:13:19,264 And the simple reason is this, Paul puts 356 00:13:19,264 --> 00:13:21,424 it very well in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 357 00:13:21,424 --> 00:13:23,904 verse 33 when he says, do not be 358 00:13:23,904 --> 00:13:24,404 deceived, 359 00:13:25,585 --> 00:13:28,085 bad company ruins good morals. 360 00:13:30,019 --> 00:13:32,740 Do not be deceived. Bad company ruins good 361 00:13:32,740 --> 00:13:34,039 morals. Dear friends, 362 00:13:34,419 --> 00:13:37,139 contrary to what the world may say, what 363 00:13:37,139 --> 00:13:39,059 Psalm 1 is teaching us here, and the 364 00:13:39,059 --> 00:13:40,440 three things that the righteous 365 00:13:40,980 --> 00:13:41,480 reject, 366 00:13:42,475 --> 00:13:44,794 is that there really is happiness in saying 367 00:13:44,794 --> 00:13:45,294 no. 368 00:13:46,394 --> 00:13:47,695 There really is joy 369 00:13:48,154 --> 00:13:48,894 in disassociating 370 00:13:49,674 --> 00:13:52,095 from different world views, people, and philosophies. 371 00:13:52,634 --> 00:13:53,855 We don't have to accept 372 00:13:54,315 --> 00:13:54,815 everything. 373 00:13:56,009 --> 00:13:58,250 And when we do, we are quick to 374 00:13:58,250 --> 00:14:00,429 be deceived. The the righteous, 375 00:14:00,889 --> 00:14:02,730 those who are righteous, those who seek to 376 00:14:02,730 --> 00:14:04,429 walk a righteous way, 377 00:14:04,809 --> 00:14:07,290 understand the progressive nature of sin. Look with 378 00:14:07,290 --> 00:14:08,970 me at the text again. We have look 379 00:14:08,970 --> 00:14:11,595 at the verbs. It says, walk, sit, stand, 380 00:14:11,595 --> 00:14:12,095 and 381 00:14:12,475 --> 00:14:14,714 sit. Walk, stand, and sit. And isn't this 382 00:14:14,714 --> 00:14:16,894 how sin functions and operates 383 00:14:17,434 --> 00:14:18,254 in the world? 384 00:14:19,034 --> 00:14:20,894 Right? First, it starts off with advice, 385 00:14:22,075 --> 00:14:22,975 then it 386 00:14:23,580 --> 00:14:24,800 moves into action, 387 00:14:25,340 --> 00:14:26,879 and then into association. 388 00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:30,460 This is what happened at the fall. First 389 00:14:30,460 --> 00:14:32,960 it started with, did God really say? 390 00:14:35,595 --> 00:14:36,334 To delighting 391 00:14:36,875 --> 00:14:40,394 and disobeying God, to then actually touching and 392 00:14:40,394 --> 00:14:43,534 eating the forbidden fruit. It starts with the 393 00:14:44,154 --> 00:14:46,235 the the the words into the head, into 394 00:14:46,235 --> 00:14:48,235 the heart, and out into the hands. And 395 00:14:48,235 --> 00:14:49,615 the righteous know 396 00:14:50,029 --> 00:14:52,750 that just as sin ruined the blessed estate 397 00:14:52,750 --> 00:14:55,230 of our parents in the garden, so also 398 00:14:55,230 --> 00:14:57,710 will it ruin our estate and blessedness in 399 00:14:57,710 --> 00:14:58,450 this life. 400 00:14:59,389 --> 00:15:01,230 Sin is not something to be trifled with. 401 00:15:01,230 --> 00:15:03,330 It's not something to pets. It's not something 402 00:15:03,470 --> 00:15:04,450 to play with. 403 00:15:04,865 --> 00:15:06,084 And who we 404 00:15:06,464 --> 00:15:09,024 surround ourselves with, things that we fill our 405 00:15:09,024 --> 00:15:09,845 minds with, 406 00:15:11,024 --> 00:15:12,644 this will eventually control 407 00:15:13,024 --> 00:15:15,684 our mind, which will eventually control our hearts 408 00:15:15,985 --> 00:15:18,644 and our actions. When we befriend sin, 409 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:20,540 there we will find misery. 410 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,000 And where we make a practice of sin, 411 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:24,299 there we will find destruction. 412 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,559 And where we fellowship with the wicked, there 413 00:15:27,559 --> 00:15:30,779 we will find death. The righteous are not 414 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:31,580 guided 415 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:32,860 by the beliefs, 416 00:15:33,764 --> 00:15:34,264 behaviors, 417 00:15:34,884 --> 00:15:35,704 and belonging 418 00:15:36,164 --> 00:15:39,225 of the world. Rather, the righteous truly seek 419 00:15:39,365 --> 00:15:41,464 to follow and obey God's 420 00:15:41,845 --> 00:15:42,345 law. 421 00:15:43,284 --> 00:15:45,284 And we know that. Read with me verse 422 00:15:45,284 --> 00:15:45,784 2. 423 00:15:46,940 --> 00:15:48,860 It says, but his delight, that is the 424 00:15:48,860 --> 00:15:49,759 righteous one, 425 00:15:50,139 --> 00:15:52,220 his delight is in the law of the 426 00:15:52,220 --> 00:15:54,320 Lord, and on his law he meditates 427 00:15:54,700 --> 00:15:57,820 day and night. That word, God's law, in 428 00:15:57,820 --> 00:15:59,660 the Hebrew is Torah. And it's it's a 429 00:15:59,660 --> 00:16:02,954 reference to God's commands, God's teachings, 430 00:16:03,654 --> 00:16:06,375 God's instructions, and for the for the way 431 00:16:06,375 --> 00:16:09,014 of the righteous, for the righteous one, God's 432 00:16:09,014 --> 00:16:10,794 law is not merely a preference. 433 00:16:12,294 --> 00:16:13,674 It's actually his pleasure. 434 00:16:15,379 --> 00:16:16,120 He enjoys 435 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:17,320 and delights 436 00:16:17,620 --> 00:16:18,840 in God's 437 00:16:19,379 --> 00:16:19,879 law. 438 00:16:20,420 --> 00:16:21,879 He says like the psalmist, 439 00:16:22,180 --> 00:16:23,639 in Psalm 119, 440 00:16:25,059 --> 00:16:27,684 the law of your mouth is better to 441 00:16:27,684 --> 00:16:28,824 me than thousands 442 00:16:29,125 --> 00:16:30,745 of gold and silver pieces. 443 00:16:32,485 --> 00:16:34,804 Or how sweet are your words to my 444 00:16:34,804 --> 00:16:38,084 taste? Sweeter than honey to my mouth. And 445 00:16:38,084 --> 00:16:41,044 how do the righteous demonstrate their delight of 446 00:16:41,044 --> 00:16:42,024 God's law? 447 00:16:43,789 --> 00:16:46,289 Well, the answer here is the act 448 00:16:46,829 --> 00:16:47,649 of meditation. 449 00:16:48,990 --> 00:16:51,329 And now typically when we think of meditation, 450 00:16:52,750 --> 00:16:54,589 the image that is conjured up in our 451 00:16:54,589 --> 00:16:57,470 mind is one of an individual sitting out 452 00:16:57,470 --> 00:16:58,690 in nature with, 453 00:16:59,284 --> 00:17:01,044 with maybe sitting in a in a very, 454 00:17:01,204 --> 00:17:04,105 an Indian style, legs crossed, eyes closed, 455 00:17:04,484 --> 00:17:06,744 sort of humming to enter into this, 456 00:17:07,365 --> 00:17:07,865 tranquil 457 00:17:08,404 --> 00:17:09,464 state of being. 458 00:17:10,244 --> 00:17:12,025 And really the the idea 459 00:17:12,470 --> 00:17:14,230 or the the objective there is sort of 460 00:17:14,230 --> 00:17:16,470 to escape the reality in which they live. 461 00:17:16,470 --> 00:17:18,490 This is really new age spirituality. 462 00:17:19,829 --> 00:17:21,130 Well, biblical meditation 463 00:17:21,750 --> 00:17:23,289 is not that. 464 00:17:24,470 --> 00:17:25,609 And I think Psalm 465 00:17:27,295 --> 00:17:30,595 chapter 143 verse 5 really clarifies what biblical 466 00:17:30,734 --> 00:17:32,255 meditation is. And I want I want us 467 00:17:32,255 --> 00:17:34,894 to listen carefully here. Because there's 3 stanzas 468 00:17:34,894 --> 00:17:35,795 in this verse, 469 00:17:36,494 --> 00:17:39,134 and each each word here that we're gonna 470 00:17:39,134 --> 00:17:41,295 point out is just simply another word used 471 00:17:41,295 --> 00:17:44,279 for meditation. The psalmist writes, I remember the 472 00:17:44,279 --> 00:17:45,259 days of old. 473 00:17:46,039 --> 00:17:48,059 I meditate on what you have done, 474 00:17:48,839 --> 00:17:51,179 and I ponder the work of your hand. 475 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,200 Here we have the words remember, meditate, and 476 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,599 ponder. In other words, to meditate is to 477 00:17:56,599 --> 00:17:57,659 actually remember. 478 00:17:58,474 --> 00:18:00,355 To ponder. It's it's a it's a act 479 00:18:00,474 --> 00:18:02,414 it's an intellectual activity 480 00:18:02,955 --> 00:18:04,815 of engaging with God's law. 481 00:18:05,595 --> 00:18:08,715 And therefore, biblical meditation is not emptying the 482 00:18:08,715 --> 00:18:11,215 mind, but rather it is filling the mind. 483 00:18:12,430 --> 00:18:15,250 It's not eliminating thought like New Age Spirituality, 484 00:18:15,630 --> 00:18:17,009 but it is redirecting 485 00:18:17,309 --> 00:18:19,410 thought on the wonderful works of God, 486 00:18:19,710 --> 00:18:21,570 on his truth, on his commandments. 487 00:18:22,349 --> 00:18:23,330 It's not forgetting 488 00:18:24,345 --> 00:18:26,204 the world in which we live, but it's 489 00:18:26,265 --> 00:18:28,505 remembering the one which created the world that 490 00:18:28,505 --> 00:18:29,164 we live. 491 00:18:30,904 --> 00:18:31,724 His truth. 492 00:18:32,184 --> 00:18:34,285 And really meditation is that activity 493 00:18:35,304 --> 00:18:37,865 of calling the mind to think, dwell, and 494 00:18:37,865 --> 00:18:40,580 apply the word of God, his promises, his 495 00:18:40,580 --> 00:18:42,840 commandments, the truth that it is found therein, 496 00:18:43,940 --> 00:18:46,980 to oneself. Meditation is not simply reading God's 497 00:18:46,980 --> 00:18:48,580 word, even though we want to do that, 498 00:18:48,580 --> 00:18:50,500 we want to also pray God's word, but 499 00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:53,815 it's studying, it's pondering, it's memorizing it in 500 00:18:53,815 --> 00:18:55,894 such a way that it becomes one with 501 00:18:55,894 --> 00:18:56,394 you. 502 00:18:57,414 --> 00:18:59,434 That you could carry it with you. 503 00:19:01,734 --> 00:19:02,475 Dear friends, 504 00:19:03,975 --> 00:19:05,595 when we delight in a person, 505 00:19:06,055 --> 00:19:08,075 we wanna spend time with that person. 506 00:19:09,710 --> 00:19:11,869 When there's a song that we really enjoy, 507 00:19:11,869 --> 00:19:13,329 we want to listen to it. 508 00:19:14,670 --> 00:19:15,809 When there's a movie 509 00:19:16,269 --> 00:19:18,529 that we like, we repeatedly watch it. 510 00:19:22,404 --> 00:19:24,005 Also, what Psalm 1 is teaching us here 511 00:19:24,005 --> 00:19:25,845 is that if we delight in God's law, 512 00:19:25,845 --> 00:19:27,445 and if we say that we delight in 513 00:19:27,445 --> 00:19:30,664 God's law, then we won't meditate upon it. 514 00:19:32,565 --> 00:19:34,964 And since the act of biblical meditation is 515 00:19:34,964 --> 00:19:37,269 an act of really filling the mind, I 516 00:19:37,269 --> 00:19:38,650 think the question for us 517 00:19:39,190 --> 00:19:41,509 is not whether we meditate, but what do 518 00:19:41,509 --> 00:19:42,730 we meditate upon. 519 00:19:46,549 --> 00:19:49,130 What we fill our minds with truly reveals 520 00:19:49,509 --> 00:19:50,970 where our delight is. 521 00:19:51,744 --> 00:19:53,044 Sort of the the opposite, 522 00:19:53,825 --> 00:19:56,065 of what we find here. So what do 523 00:19:56,065 --> 00:19:58,085 we fill our minds with the most? 524 00:20:00,704 --> 00:20:02,804 Who do we spend the most time watching 525 00:20:02,944 --> 00:20:05,424 and listening to? What is the content that 526 00:20:05,424 --> 00:20:07,250 is found there? Is it honoring to God 527 00:20:07,250 --> 00:20:08,950 or is it not honoring to God? 528 00:20:09,649 --> 00:20:10,630 Because whatever 529 00:20:12,049 --> 00:20:14,130 you meditate upon, whatever you fill your mind 530 00:20:14,130 --> 00:20:15,990 with, will eventually control you. 531 00:20:16,609 --> 00:20:18,585 And the way of the righteous knows this, 532 00:20:18,664 --> 00:20:20,585 and it is the reason why he reads 533 00:20:20,585 --> 00:20:23,065 and meditates and prays upon the word of 534 00:20:23,065 --> 00:20:26,345 God. This is the way of the righteous. 535 00:20:26,345 --> 00:20:28,585 Just as a philosopher meditates on the laws 536 00:20:28,585 --> 00:20:29,244 of logic 537 00:20:30,505 --> 00:20:32,980 to sort of instruct his thinking, 538 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,599 just as a physicist may meditate on the 539 00:20:35,599 --> 00:20:38,240 laws of physics for his experiments, so also 540 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:39,059 does the righteous 541 00:20:39,599 --> 00:20:42,339 person meditate upon the law of God to 542 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,880 direct his heart, mind, and soul, and life, 543 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:45,539 his entire 544 00:20:45,944 --> 00:20:48,265 body. And dear friends, it is important that 545 00:20:48,265 --> 00:20:48,924 we meditate 546 00:20:49,304 --> 00:20:52,424 upon God's law. I think one Puritan is 547 00:20:52,424 --> 00:20:54,765 right when he when he says, without meditation, 548 00:20:55,384 --> 00:20:58,024 the truths of God will not stay with 549 00:20:58,024 --> 00:20:58,524 us. 550 00:20:59,269 --> 00:21:02,009 The heart is hard. The memory is slippery, 551 00:21:02,069 --> 00:21:04,730 and without meditation, all is lost. 552 00:21:05,349 --> 00:21:07,929 When we encounter temptation in this world, 553 00:21:08,309 --> 00:21:10,470 how are we to fight it? The way 554 00:21:10,470 --> 00:21:12,149 that we see Jesus did is that he 555 00:21:12,149 --> 00:21:14,005 quoted scripture. He had 556 00:21:14,384 --> 00:21:16,805 scripture a part of his battle with temptation 557 00:21:17,105 --> 00:21:19,184 and sin in this world. If we are 558 00:21:19,184 --> 00:21:21,345 to discern the will of God in certain 559 00:21:21,345 --> 00:21:23,105 circumstances, we ought to know it, and one 560 00:21:23,105 --> 00:21:24,705 of the ways we do it is by 561 00:21:24,705 --> 00:21:25,205 meditation. 562 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:28,559 How will we lead others as well into 563 00:21:28,559 --> 00:21:29,940 the way of righteousness? 564 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,359 And it's through meditation. And there's a couple 565 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,759 of ways that the psalmist actually notes how 566 00:21:35,759 --> 00:21:36,259 meditation 567 00:21:36,799 --> 00:21:39,200 benefits us. The psalmist continues in verse 3. 568 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:40,099 Read with me. 569 00:21:40,565 --> 00:21:42,804 The one who meditates, the psalmist says, is 570 00:21:42,804 --> 00:21:45,785 like a tree planted by streams of water 571 00:21:46,164 --> 00:21:48,565 that yields its fruit in its season, and 572 00:21:48,565 --> 00:21:50,884 its leaf does not wither, and all that 573 00:21:50,884 --> 00:21:52,345 he does he prospers. 574 00:21:54,659 --> 00:21:56,259 And so first we see that the one 575 00:21:56,259 --> 00:21:58,819 who meditates upon God's law, he's compared to 576 00:21:58,819 --> 00:21:59,480 a tree. 577 00:22:00,740 --> 00:22:03,139 And a tree that's planted by streams of 578 00:22:03,139 --> 00:22:05,539 water, and that water is God's word, and 579 00:22:05,539 --> 00:22:08,585 it's multiple streams. In other words, God's law, 580 00:22:08,585 --> 00:22:10,044 the object of our meditation, 581 00:22:10,904 --> 00:22:11,964 is never ending. 582 00:22:12,505 --> 00:22:13,325 It's abundant. 583 00:22:13,944 --> 00:22:15,944 And it could do nothing but give you 584 00:22:15,944 --> 00:22:16,444 life. 585 00:22:17,625 --> 00:22:19,784 And it's something that will never end as 586 00:22:19,784 --> 00:22:22,105 well. I'm a seminary student, and the more 587 00:22:22,105 --> 00:22:24,320 that I study God's word, the more that 588 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,559 I, study the old and the new testament, 589 00:22:26,559 --> 00:22:28,900 the more that eventually you begin to understand, 590 00:22:29,279 --> 00:22:31,360 the less you know, and just the depths 591 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:33,299 of God's word itself. There is 592 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,299 so much to meditate upon, 593 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:37,380 and it is good for us. 594 00:22:38,015 --> 00:22:40,414 2nd, the one who meditates upon God's laws 595 00:22:40,414 --> 00:22:42,575 compared to a tree that yields fruit in 596 00:22:42,575 --> 00:22:43,315 its season. 597 00:22:45,695 --> 00:22:48,174 You see, meditation here conforms us more and 598 00:22:48,174 --> 00:22:49,875 more to the image of Christ. 599 00:22:50,269 --> 00:22:52,269 The more that we meditate, the more that 600 00:22:52,269 --> 00:22:53,789 we are gonna bear the fruit of the 601 00:22:53,789 --> 00:22:54,289 spirit. 602 00:22:54,589 --> 00:22:56,609 Love, joy, peace, and kindness. 603 00:22:57,950 --> 00:22:59,470 For those who are married, you will know 604 00:22:59,470 --> 00:23:00,769 this. For those who, 605 00:23:01,470 --> 00:23:03,169 who are not married, be informed. 606 00:23:03,544 --> 00:23:05,544 The more you spend time with your wife, 607 00:23:05,544 --> 00:23:06,904 the more you will pick up on their 608 00:23:06,904 --> 00:23:07,404 mannerisms. 609 00:23:08,105 --> 00:23:09,304 The more that you will pick on the 610 00:23:09,304 --> 00:23:11,625 way that they talk. The more that you'll 611 00:23:11,625 --> 00:23:13,065 pick on the way, pick up on the 612 00:23:13,065 --> 00:23:15,144 way that they react. And here it's sort 613 00:23:15,144 --> 00:23:17,579 of the same. The more that we meditate 614 00:23:17,579 --> 00:23:19,099 upon the word of God, the more that 615 00:23:19,099 --> 00:23:21,420 we know Christ through the scriptures, the more 616 00:23:21,420 --> 00:23:23,519 that we will become like Him. 617 00:23:24,539 --> 00:23:26,700 Mortifying the flesh. This is one of the 618 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:29,420 reasons why we ought to meditate on the 619 00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:29,920 scriptures. 620 00:23:31,214 --> 00:23:31,714 Meditation, 621 00:23:32,414 --> 00:23:34,355 God's word helps us with spiritual 622 00:23:34,654 --> 00:23:35,154 maturity. 623 00:23:35,775 --> 00:23:38,335 3rd, the one who meditates upon God's law 624 00:23:38,335 --> 00:23:40,194 says does not wither. 625 00:23:41,855 --> 00:23:44,335 That is even in the difficult seasons of 626 00:23:44,335 --> 00:23:47,029 life, there is a spiritual life in the 627 00:23:47,029 --> 00:23:47,529 righteousness. 628 00:23:47,829 --> 00:23:50,149 It it it will withstand the heat, the 629 00:23:50,149 --> 00:23:51,369 blizzards, the storms. 630 00:23:52,309 --> 00:23:55,029 As long as this tree is meditating or 631 00:23:55,029 --> 00:23:57,589 or sitting by the stream of water, it 632 00:23:57,589 --> 00:23:58,809 will not experience 633 00:23:59,109 --> 00:24:00,569 death. It will not experience 634 00:24:01,125 --> 00:24:01,625 physical 635 00:24:01,924 --> 00:24:02,744 or spiritual 636 00:24:03,445 --> 00:24:03,945 death. 637 00:24:07,285 --> 00:24:09,384 The psalmist of Psalm 119, 638 00:24:10,805 --> 00:24:13,384 verses 92 to 93 writes, 639 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,180 if your law had not been my delight, 640 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:18,740 I would have perished 641 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:20,180 in my affliction. 642 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:23,140 I will never forget your precepts, 643 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,140 for you have given me life by them. 644 00:24:28,184 --> 00:24:31,144 It's often in the struggles and trials of 645 00:24:31,144 --> 00:24:31,644 life 646 00:24:32,105 --> 00:24:34,345 where, you know, the Christian life ends up 647 00:24:34,345 --> 00:24:35,484 becoming very difficult. 648 00:24:36,184 --> 00:24:37,484 Despair will lead into 649 00:24:37,944 --> 00:24:39,484 easily falling into temptation. 650 00:24:40,024 --> 00:24:42,825 Despair will easily lead into doubting the goodness 651 00:24:42,825 --> 00:24:43,484 of God. 652 00:24:44,059 --> 00:24:45,980 But if we are to meditate upon God's 653 00:24:45,980 --> 00:24:47,660 word, it not only prepares us for that 654 00:24:47,660 --> 00:24:49,740 coming, but also helps us to endure those 655 00:24:49,740 --> 00:24:50,880 trials as well. 656 00:24:51,819 --> 00:24:52,799 Those who meditate 657 00:24:53,579 --> 00:24:56,380 will not wither. Meditation on God's word prepares 658 00:24:56,380 --> 00:24:58,960 us to endure the hardship of the Christian 659 00:25:01,355 --> 00:25:03,275 life. And so so far we've looked at 660 00:25:03,275 --> 00:25:04,875 the way of the righteous. How the way 661 00:25:04,875 --> 00:25:07,134 the righteous live. What they reject. 662 00:25:07,595 --> 00:25:08,575 Who they love. 663 00:25:10,875 --> 00:25:13,115 What they do, they meditate, their delights. And 664 00:25:13,115 --> 00:25:15,210 now we look at the way of the 665 00:25:15,210 --> 00:25:17,789 wicked. This is our final and last heading. 666 00:25:19,529 --> 00:25:21,230 And look with me at verse 4. 667 00:25:21,529 --> 00:25:22,269 It reads, 668 00:25:23,690 --> 00:25:26,009 says, the wicked are not so, but are 669 00:25:26,009 --> 00:25:27,309 like chaff 670 00:25:27,684 --> 00:25:30,565 that the wind drives away. Verse 4 is 671 00:25:30,565 --> 00:25:31,464 really short. 672 00:25:31,765 --> 00:25:33,305 It is a short description 673 00:25:34,085 --> 00:25:34,904 of the wicked. 674 00:25:36,325 --> 00:25:37,464 And it's really revealing. 675 00:25:39,045 --> 00:25:39,865 The wicked 676 00:25:40,164 --> 00:25:42,710 live their life and act in such a 677 00:25:42,710 --> 00:25:45,509 way that the words not so is actually 678 00:25:45,509 --> 00:25:46,009 sufficient 679 00:25:46,390 --> 00:25:47,690 to describe them. 680 00:25:48,150 --> 00:25:50,410 Of just how opposite they are 681 00:25:50,710 --> 00:25:51,609 of the righteous. 682 00:25:53,590 --> 00:25:54,090 So, 683 00:25:55,029 --> 00:25:57,130 case example that if you were to ask, 684 00:25:57,404 --> 00:25:59,805 do the wicked delight in God's law? The 685 00:25:59,805 --> 00:26:01,265 answer is not so. 686 00:26:04,684 --> 00:26:06,525 If you were to ask, do the wicked 687 00:26:06,525 --> 00:26:08,765 meditate upon God's law? You could be assured 688 00:26:08,765 --> 00:26:11,099 that the answer is not so. Does the 689 00:26:11,099 --> 00:26:13,180 wicked reject the way of the sinner? The 690 00:26:13,180 --> 00:26:15,420 the the seed of the scoffer? The the 691 00:26:15,420 --> 00:26:16,720 answer is not so. 692 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:18,880 It is sufficient to 693 00:26:19,180 --> 00:26:22,140 describe them, but the psalmist even goes further, 694 00:26:22,140 --> 00:26:24,220 and he compares them to something that is 695 00:26:24,220 --> 00:26:24,720 completely 696 00:26:25,019 --> 00:26:25,519 opposite 697 00:26:25,894 --> 00:26:28,794 of the righteous. He uses another agricultural metaphor. 698 00:26:29,014 --> 00:26:31,595 He compares the wicked to chaff. 699 00:26:32,375 --> 00:26:34,134 And if you're unfamiliar with what chaff is, 700 00:26:34,134 --> 00:26:35,115 chaff is that, 701 00:26:35,894 --> 00:26:39,014 sort of thin membrane that surrounds a seed. 702 00:26:39,014 --> 00:26:41,640 And when it came to harvest time, especially 703 00:26:41,700 --> 00:26:43,480 grain, you would break this seed, 704 00:26:43,859 --> 00:26:44,920 because it was necessary 705 00:26:45,380 --> 00:26:46,119 to harvest, 706 00:26:46,420 --> 00:26:48,920 the seed. So you were separating the chaff 707 00:26:48,980 --> 00:26:50,440 and the seed from itself. 708 00:26:51,380 --> 00:26:53,940 And this husk that surrounds it is really 709 00:26:53,940 --> 00:26:57,335 dry. It's it's scaly. It's fragile. If we 710 00:26:57,335 --> 00:26:59,255 were to compare it to maybe what it 711 00:26:59,255 --> 00:27:02,455 might look like, it is, the closest thing 712 00:27:02,455 --> 00:27:03,434 maybe to sawdust. 713 00:27:04,855 --> 00:27:06,695 If anybody's ever cut wood, there's usually a 714 00:27:06,695 --> 00:27:09,355 pile of just sawdust sitting around there. 715 00:27:10,509 --> 00:27:12,829 This would be a comparison to what chaff 716 00:27:12,829 --> 00:27:15,089 is. Chaff is something that is rootless. 717 00:27:15,789 --> 00:27:18,190 That is, it's dead. It's not connected to 718 00:27:18,190 --> 00:27:19,410 any sort of life. 719 00:27:21,069 --> 00:27:22,529 Chaff is also weightless. 720 00:27:23,215 --> 00:27:25,855 The farmer would have his winnowing fork and 721 00:27:25,855 --> 00:27:27,855 shuffle through the grain, and when he would 722 00:27:27,855 --> 00:27:29,235 lift the grain, the 723 00:27:29,695 --> 00:27:31,615 chaff would blow away in the wind, and 724 00:27:31,615 --> 00:27:33,394 the seed would would drop. 725 00:27:33,695 --> 00:27:36,539 This is just how easily this chaff is, 726 00:27:36,539 --> 00:27:37,039 is 727 00:27:37,420 --> 00:27:38,880 is blowing. It's easily 728 00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:41,519 moved around. And lastly, 729 00:27:42,460 --> 00:27:43,519 chaff is worthless. 730 00:27:45,019 --> 00:27:47,019 It's the reason why chaff is just simply 731 00:27:47,019 --> 00:27:50,220 used for either starting fire or just throwing 732 00:27:50,220 --> 00:27:51,279 in the fire itself. 733 00:27:52,724 --> 00:27:54,184 Dear friends, the the wicked 734 00:27:54,565 --> 00:27:57,065 are compared to chaff. That which is rootless, 735 00:27:57,285 --> 00:27:57,785 weightless, 736 00:27:58,164 --> 00:27:59,865 and worthless. And it's a reality 737 00:28:00,325 --> 00:28:01,944 that we should all consider. 738 00:28:05,039 --> 00:28:07,600 Now lastly, we read verses 5 and 6. 739 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:09,680 Read with me these verses. Therefore, the wicked 740 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,039 will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners 741 00:28:13,039 --> 00:28:15,279 in the congregation of the righteous. For the 742 00:28:15,279 --> 00:28:17,039 Lord knows the way of the righteous, but 743 00:28:17,039 --> 00:28:19,140 the way of the wicked will perish. 744 00:28:19,474 --> 00:28:20,214 And here 745 00:28:20,595 --> 00:28:23,494 is a text that speaks about the final 746 00:28:23,795 --> 00:28:26,035 judgment that the Old and New Testament talk 747 00:28:26,035 --> 00:28:26,535 about. 748 00:28:26,914 --> 00:28:29,255 That one day the Lord will bring 749 00:28:29,634 --> 00:28:32,275 every thought, word, and deed, whether good or 750 00:28:32,275 --> 00:28:32,775 evil, 751 00:28:33,154 --> 00:28:34,055 into judgment. 752 00:28:35,829 --> 00:28:38,169 The book of Ecclesiastes says this exact thing. 753 00:28:38,390 --> 00:28:39,849 Chapter 12 verse 13. 754 00:28:40,390 --> 00:28:42,490 For God will bring every deed into judgment 755 00:28:42,710 --> 00:28:44,970 with every secret thing, whether good or evil. 756 00:28:45,429 --> 00:28:47,349 John the Baptist warned about this as well 757 00:28:47,349 --> 00:28:48,789 in the book of Matthew, when he said, 758 00:28:48,789 --> 00:28:51,625 his winnowing fork is in his hand, and 759 00:28:51,625 --> 00:28:54,524 he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor. 760 00:28:54,904 --> 00:28:56,825 And he will gather his wheat into the 761 00:28:56,825 --> 00:28:59,144 barn, and he will burn up the chaff 762 00:28:59,144 --> 00:28:59,964 with unquenchable 763 00:29:00,585 --> 00:29:01,085 fire. 764 00:29:04,299 --> 00:29:06,380 The psalmist, in harmony with the rest of 765 00:29:06,380 --> 00:29:06,880 scripture, 766 00:29:07,820 --> 00:29:10,299 teaches that the wicked will not stand before 767 00:29:10,299 --> 00:29:12,240 God on the final day. 768 00:29:13,099 --> 00:29:15,259 They will not be in the assembly or 769 00:29:15,259 --> 00:29:16,960 the congregation of the righteous. 770 00:29:18,365 --> 00:29:20,684 And why is that? Well verse 6 tells 771 00:29:20,684 --> 00:29:23,105 us. For the Lord Yahweh 772 00:29:23,805 --> 00:29:25,505 knows the way of the righteous. 773 00:29:27,085 --> 00:29:29,404 On the final judgment, when the Lord clears 774 00:29:29,404 --> 00:29:31,585 the threshing floor, he will 775 00:29:31,890 --> 00:29:33,830 not have a hard time distinguishing 776 00:29:34,529 --> 00:29:35,509 who is righteous 777 00:29:35,890 --> 00:29:37,269 and who is wicked. 778 00:29:37,570 --> 00:29:40,210 Just as a farmer could distinguish between a 779 00:29:40,210 --> 00:29:42,309 tree and chaff, and just as a carpenter 780 00:29:42,369 --> 00:29:42,869 can, 781 00:29:43,410 --> 00:29:45,410 distinguish between what is wood and what is 782 00:29:45,410 --> 00:29:45,910 sawdust, 783 00:29:46,384 --> 00:29:48,085 so also on that day, 784 00:29:48,865 --> 00:29:50,945 before the judgment of God, the Lord will 785 00:29:50,945 --> 00:29:54,065 be able to distinguish the righteous and the 786 00:29:54,065 --> 00:29:54,565 wicked. 787 00:29:56,465 --> 00:29:58,384 And that word know is not merely an 788 00:29:58,384 --> 00:30:00,785 intellectual knowledge of where they're at and who 789 00:30:00,785 --> 00:30:03,170 they are, but it's one and that of 790 00:30:03,170 --> 00:30:03,830 a shepherd. 791 00:30:04,369 --> 00:30:06,130 It's a knowing that is intimate. It is 792 00:30:06,130 --> 00:30:07,109 a knowing that, 793 00:30:07,730 --> 00:30:10,529 cares, feeds, protects, and defends those we love. 794 00:30:10,529 --> 00:30:12,450 This is one of the reasons why the 795 00:30:12,450 --> 00:30:15,170 righteous are considered blessed, and why they're in 796 00:30:15,170 --> 00:30:16,630 this blessed estate. 797 00:30:18,044 --> 00:30:20,284 Well, this final destination of the wicked, however, 798 00:30:20,284 --> 00:30:23,164 is simply described in one last word, which 799 00:30:23,164 --> 00:30:23,984 is perish. 800 00:30:26,125 --> 00:30:27,984 The righteous are those who obtain 801 00:30:28,444 --> 00:30:30,284 life, those who are blessed, those who are 802 00:30:30,284 --> 00:30:32,250 in that estate, and those who are 803 00:30:32,730 --> 00:30:34,509 a part of the wicked perish. 804 00:30:35,529 --> 00:30:37,710 And dear friends, these are solemn verses, 805 00:30:39,369 --> 00:30:41,049 and therefore I wanna bring us back to 806 00:30:41,049 --> 00:30:42,650 the question that we sought to answer at 807 00:30:42,650 --> 00:30:44,569 the very beginning, which is, am I in 808 00:30:44,569 --> 00:30:45,230 the congregation 809 00:30:45,609 --> 00:30:46,430 of the righteous, 810 00:30:47,025 --> 00:30:48,404 or am I in the congregation 811 00:30:49,025 --> 00:30:49,924 of the wicked? 812 00:30:51,265 --> 00:30:53,205 That was the question for us this morning. 813 00:30:53,904 --> 00:30:56,224 And Psalm 1 is placed at the head 814 00:30:56,224 --> 00:30:57,285 of the 150 815 00:30:57,585 --> 00:30:59,525 Psalms because this question 816 00:31:00,130 --> 00:31:01,809 is what he wants us to ask. This 817 00:31:01,809 --> 00:31:03,429 is that question of supreme 818 00:31:03,809 --> 00:31:06,769 importance. It is truly the difference, or may 819 00:31:06,769 --> 00:31:08,710 be the difference between eternal life 820 00:31:09,009 --> 00:31:10,230 and eternal death. 821 00:31:12,335 --> 00:31:13,934 And I think if we're all honest with 822 00:31:13,934 --> 00:31:16,015 ourselves, when we read the Psalm, it really 823 00:31:16,015 --> 00:31:17,234 weighs heavy because 824 00:31:17,615 --> 00:31:18,994 I think we all know 825 00:31:19,694 --> 00:31:20,194 that 826 00:31:20,575 --> 00:31:22,115 we have stood in the counsel 827 00:31:22,894 --> 00:31:23,795 of the wicked. 828 00:31:25,089 --> 00:31:27,569 We have walked in the way of sinners. 829 00:31:27,569 --> 00:31:29,990 We have sat at the seat of scoffers. 830 00:31:31,329 --> 00:31:33,649 Right? We fail to delight in God's law, 831 00:31:33,649 --> 00:31:34,149 period. 832 00:31:34,849 --> 00:31:35,669 Not always. 833 00:31:37,585 --> 00:31:40,304 Especially, we struggle or even may even refuse 834 00:31:40,304 --> 00:31:40,964 to meditate, 835 00:31:41,744 --> 00:31:43,284 especially day and night. 836 00:31:46,224 --> 00:31:47,845 We know that we are all unworthy 837 00:31:48,464 --> 00:31:50,960 when we read the Psalm of the title 838 00:31:51,179 --> 00:31:53,259 of righteous, or to even be in the 839 00:31:53,259 --> 00:31:53,759 congregation 840 00:31:54,299 --> 00:31:56,779 of the righteous. And that is what the 841 00:31:56,779 --> 00:31:58,940 Psalm is intended to do to us. And 842 00:31:58,940 --> 00:32:01,119 it's not meant to make us 843 00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:03,659 fall into despair, but rather to seek a 844 00:32:03,659 --> 00:32:04,960 deliverer for this. 845 00:32:07,075 --> 00:32:07,894 Dear friends, 846 00:32:09,234 --> 00:32:11,875 let Psalm 1 not lead you and me 847 00:32:11,875 --> 00:32:14,755 to despair, but to seek deliverance in the 848 00:32:14,755 --> 00:32:17,394 one who is righteous, and the one who 849 00:32:17,394 --> 00:32:18,054 is righteous 850 00:32:18,759 --> 00:32:21,240 ness for us, which is Jesus Christ. The 851 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,880 good news is that God sent his only 852 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:24,940 begotten son 853 00:32:25,799 --> 00:32:27,559 to die a death that we deserve, but 854 00:32:27,559 --> 00:32:29,160 not only that, but to live the life 855 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:30,059 that we cannot 856 00:32:30,964 --> 00:32:33,525 to reconcile us and save us unto God. 857 00:32:33,525 --> 00:32:35,765 He is the door that leads into the 858 00:32:35,765 --> 00:32:36,265 congregation 859 00:32:36,884 --> 00:32:37,785 of the righteous. 860 00:32:38,325 --> 00:32:40,404 When we place our faith in him, God 861 00:32:40,404 --> 00:32:43,045 promises that our sins are not only removed 862 00:32:43,045 --> 00:32:44,724 as far as the east is from the 863 00:32:44,724 --> 00:32:47,309 west, but he actually gives us the righteousness 864 00:32:47,369 --> 00:32:48,669 of his own son 865 00:32:48,970 --> 00:32:50,890 and credits it to us. It's the reason 866 00:32:50,890 --> 00:32:53,450 why when we believe in Christ, he declares 867 00:32:53,450 --> 00:32:54,349 us justified. 868 00:32:54,890 --> 00:32:55,789 That is righteous, 869 00:32:56,490 --> 00:32:56,990 innocent. 870 00:32:57,384 --> 00:32:59,164 He credits his own son's righteousness 871 00:32:59,704 --> 00:33:01,224 to us, and it's one of the reasons 872 00:33:01,224 --> 00:33:01,724 why, 873 00:33:02,265 --> 00:33:04,825 all Christians have eternal life, and there's no 874 00:33:04,984 --> 00:33:07,144 there's not a fear anymore of that last 875 00:33:07,144 --> 00:33:07,644 day 876 00:33:08,025 --> 00:33:08,924 in judgment. 877 00:33:10,690 --> 00:33:13,109 The only way sinners stand before a holy 878 00:33:13,170 --> 00:33:15,509 and righteous God is if we believe upon 879 00:33:15,809 --> 00:33:18,210 the one who is righteous. Jesus says, and 880 00:33:18,210 --> 00:33:20,690 we'll end with this. In John chapter 5 881 00:33:20,690 --> 00:33:21,509 verses 24, 882 00:33:22,210 --> 00:33:24,789 truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears 883 00:33:25,125 --> 00:33:27,684 my words and believes in him who sent 884 00:33:27,684 --> 00:33:29,144 me has eternal 885 00:33:29,684 --> 00:33:30,184 life. 886 00:33:31,204 --> 00:33:32,825 He does not come into judgment, 887 00:33:33,525 --> 00:33:36,345 but has passed from death to life. 888 00:33:37,204 --> 00:33:38,565 This is the word of the Lord. Let 889 00:33:38,565 --> 00:33:39,305 us pray.