Psalm 1:1-6 www.christconversation.com
Scott Downing Christ Conversation 6/26/2016
Christ Conversation Sunday, June 12, 2016 Pselected Psalms for Pspiritual Pstrength: Psalm 1 - The Blessed Believer Psalm 1 (ESV) 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.
This ‘simple’ contrast—one path or another—was also used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Its simplicity is not to be taken as simplemindedness. Jesus talks of two storehouses for treasure (Matthew 6:19-21); two masters (24); two gates (Matthew 7:1314); two trees (7:15-20); two houses and their foundations (7:24-27) and two roads.
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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. 4 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; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
In some sense Psalm 1 defines the entire book of Psalms: all the rest of Psalms is development of this first song. It is a Psalm of two contrasts: those who live in the blessings of the Lord and those who do not. Because this Psalm 1 is similar in style to Proverbs in its contrasting paths, some have suggested that it was written by Solomon and placed at the beginning of this collection of his father’s songs (King David being his father). Outside of Scripture, no poem has had as much impact on me as Robert Frost’s, The Road Not Taken. The end of the poem gives the contrast: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Frost wasn’t the first to talk of roads upon which one had to make a choice. Dante’s The Divine Comedy, starts Canto 1 with: MIDWAY upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost.
Taking the right path, as Frost reminds us, makes all the difference. Fortunately for us, the Psalmist gives us the path to take and the reasons why we would be blessed or not. We are not left to wonder how or why. We are not left to stumble in the dark. While our culture likes to talk about many paths all leading to the same place, Scripture says there are two paths and they lead to different destinations. This very thought will be part of the discussion in verse 1. Note the present tense of this Psalm: “blessed is the man; his delight is in; he is like a tree; in all that he does . . .” This is a Psalm about here and now. Psalm 1:1i Blessed – happy, but more. Joyous, but more. It comes from a verb meaning to advance, to go forth, lead the way. This is a person of joy because they are pressing forward in the heart and purpose of God. The Psalmist first defines blessedness by stating that which does not lead there. It moves to the negative soon because that is where we start. Our end, without the first phrase of v. 1, is the last word in v. 1
Walk • Wicked or ungodly Stand • Sinners Sit
• Scoffer
An increasing nuance downward; a movement from joy to scoffing; from happiness to mockery.
Who are the Ungodly? Who are the Sinners? Who are the Ungodly?
The Ungodly: those who live life without any dependency on God, His Spirit or His Son. This is the most common word in the Old Testament for those live apart from God. Counsel: Advice leading to action. It is the underlying assumptions, philosophy and morality of people who will not be dependent on God or His Word that the person who would be blessed must reject. This does not mean you should ignore an unbelieving podiatrist’s advice about the corn on your big toe. Read Amos 3:3 and all apply it to this walking. The Sinner: The Sinner excludes God. The Sinner’s ways and directions are wrapped up in themselves. The word for sinner is not simply a description of one who does acts of sin; it describes the inner motivation of the person – they go where their values and goals are – and they do not include God. Read 1 Corinthians 10:12 and apply it to standing. The Scoffer: The opposite of happiness is not sadness; the opposite of happiness is mockery, scoffing, disdain. The mocker is dissatisfied with the joys and happiness of others. The mocker lives a life judging other people’s happiness. Scoffer are – they don’t just scoff. Sitting is settling in. And sitting has the nuance of authority: Jesus sat and taught; the elders of Israel sat in the gates to adjudicate matters as well as watch over access and egress to the village or city. Read Psalm 69:9-12 and apply it to sitting. Psalm 1:2 Like many of the Proverbs, the Psalmist now sets the contrast: “But . . .” Where does the Blessed Believer dwell? In the Word of the Lord. In meditation on the Word. This is the antidote to the downward spiral of walk, stand sit. This is the how of living the in the blessings of the Lord. [I have asked Brad to cover Psalm 1:2. Specifically, I have asked him to talk about what it means to delight in the law of the Lord (a term CS Lewis puzzled over) and
to give specific examples of meditating on Scripture. He will cover that next Sunday.] Psalm 1:3 Getting the imagery: Trees – often used to speak of people(s)): Psalm 52:8; 92:12; 128:3; Ezekiel 31:3; Hosea 14:6 (and many more) Water - used to speak of the longing for the presence of God, the Word and the Spirit: Presence of God: Psalm 42:2; 63:1; Ezekiel 47:1-2; Isaiah 44:3-4 Word: Ephesians 5:26 (Many other passages which talk about purifying, which would mean water for ritual cleansing. For example: 1 Peter 1:22 Of the Spirit: John 4:14 cross reference (cf) John 7:37-39 The Blessed Believer is like a tree planted.
Planted is an act of intention. God has placed us right next to the ‘waters.’
The Blessed Believer is planted next to waters.
This, too, is intentional. The word for ‘waters’ refers to the most common form of watering in Israel (as well as Egypt and Babylon) were irrigation canals. See Ecclesiastes 2:4-6
How would you see this imagery applied to God’s work in us? Might is also relate to the person blessed? In what way? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ The Blessed Believer yields fruit seasonally.
Fruit is expected from a fruit tree. You have been planted in a place that allows for all the resourced needed. The resources are activated, so to speak, through the process in verse 2. Fruit is seasonal. There are times in our lives that we almost seem barren. We see no fruit
and grow frustrated. We have forgotten the seasons God has established. There is a resting, a strengthening in the “off-season” of fruitfulness. The Blessed Believer knows life is present – even ‘off season’ – due to leaves still green.ii
When Isaiah was speaking of the ungodly of his time, he spoke of them in a manner completely opposite of Psalm 1: But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks that you desired; and you shall blush for the gardens that you have chosen. For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water. (1:28-30)
their health. Planted next to the waters, the Psalmist sings, There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah – Ps. 46:4-7 Psalm 1:4-6 (Closing thoughts) Unlike a tree, rooted and watered, the ungodly are like chaff moved by the wind. Trees benefit from water. Chaff, no matter how well watered, will not grow or produce or even find use for nourishing people. Chaff cannot hold up when the winds come – it is separated from that which is beneficial, the wheat.
The Blessed Believer is prosperous in all his ways.
What ways? Many Believers have found themselves in situations that one could hardly speak of succeeding. A business that has to fold. The loss of a house in a housing bust. The word for ‘prosper’ means to press through, to go over. It can mean to succeed, but success is a reference to its intention, to its goal. The Believer is being likened to a tree. How does a tree prosper? A tree prospers by producing the fruit that is in its nature to produce. No one expects an apple tree to produce oranges or an oak tree to produce anything other than acorns. The activation of the fruit is, as already noted, in its planting and proximity to the water. The Blessed Believer prospers in going through to the very purpose to which God has called them and planted them. Prospering is watered in the presence of God, by His word in in His Spirit. Prospering is like a tree able to sustain through storm and drought because it has been planted where resources are provided. It is growing in maturity and lasting when others fail. This is where delighting in the Law and meditating upon it day and night (understanding that the ‘law’ means the totality of Scripture) comes into constant focus. Trees that fail have not spent time in the means of
Chaff cannot face the judgment. I already alluded to the present tense of this Psalm, so I see this first as a statement about the many judgments that come in this life. God is not absent in the present, nor is His blessing waiting only for the end of our life. Just as blessings are present, so are judgments. Just as trees are present, so is chaff. This present judgment points to a later judgment in the same way the present blessings point to greater blessing as we face the Lord. Present judgments are acts of grace. They are given as warnings and opportunities to repent and change direction. The Blessed Believer turns from mockers and meditates in the Word. The unbeliever is given the contrast of living in blessings or living under judgment. When verse 5 informs us that the wicked will not stand, the word there means “to rise, to maintain oneself.” Because the unbeliever had depended on themselves through their own internal planting and watering, they are not able to maintain themselves in times of judgment. They cannot ‘hold their heads up” when facing God. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live! I also call on you to love the Lord your God, to obey him and be loyal to him, for he gives you life
and enables you to live continually in the land the Lord promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (NET) Just as the Blessed Believer is not to be found walking, standing or sitting in the company of the ungodly; so the unbeliever will not be found standing in the congregation of the righteous. The Lord knows the way of the righteous. This is not simply God knowing you are “doing well” in your meditation and taking in the Word – it is more than that! While the word here (yâda‘ for all you Seinfeld fans!) for ‘knows’ can mean to see—as in God sees what we are doing—it also denotes a familiarity, an intimacy. To be known by God is to be found in His presence, in His favor.
Joshua stood before the people and issued the challenge (Joshua 24:14-15): “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The Psalmist is giving us a clear path. It’s straightforward and simple. What’s your decision?
We see this in the call of Deuteronomy 30 (quoted above): it was not just about making the right decisions and doing the right things; it is about loving God. The person who can delight in God’s laws is the person who loves the Giver of the law.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
There are two ways: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked (Psalm 1:6). One is filled with multiplied blessing. One is destined to perish. One is to sustain in present blessings; one is to be empty and tossed with the wind. One is to be known by God; one is to perish.
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This Psalm cannot be taken to mean that Believers do not associate with unbelievers. How could we go into all the world or be salt and light if we withdrew from the world? Jesus went to the sinner, the unbeliever and touched the leper and the dead. This Psalm is about where we find our hearts, minds and fidelities. While Jesus went to the world, He ‘homed’ with His disciples and followers. ii I know the comparison of green leaves on an evergreen tree verses trees that shed their leaves annually (deciduous trees) is not a statement that those trees lack health. Deciduous trees are healthy and will show leaves in due season. The comparison here is of a tree that that should be showing green leaves in its proper season – but is not. Jesus curses a fig tree for showing foliage without figs. Signs of life were present, since fig trees show leaves at the same time small, early figs are present, but fruit was absent. To quote F.F. Bruce, "The other miracle is the cursing of the barren fig tree (Mk. xi 12 ff.), a stumbling block to many. They feel that it is unlike Jesus, and so someone must have misunderstood what actually happened, or turned a spoken parable into an acted miracle, or something like that. Some, on the other hand,
welcome the story because it shows that Jesus was human enough to get unreasonably annoyed on occasion. It appears, however, that a closer acquaintance with fig trees would have prevented such misunderstandings. ‘The time of the fig is not yet,’ says Mark, for it was just before Passover, about six weeks before the fully-formed fig appears. The fact that Mark adds these words shows that he knew what he was talking about. When the fig leaves appear about the end of March, they are accompanied by a crop of small knobs, called taqsh by the Arabs, a sort of fore-runner of the real figs. These taqsh are eaten by peasants and others when hungry. They drop off before the real fig is formed. But if the leaves appear unaccompanied by taqsh, there will be no figs that year. So it was evident to our Lord, when He turned aside to see if there were any of these taqsh on the fig-tree to assuage His hunger for the time being, that the absence of the taqsh meant that there would be no figs when the time of figs came. For all its fair foliage, it was a fruitless and a hopeless tree." (Bruce, Are The New Testament Documents Reliable? [Intervarsity Press; Downers Grove, Ill, fifth revised edition 1992]