Psalm 1 - Contrast Of The Righteuos And Wicked

Psalms - The psalms are the production of various authors. "Only a portion of the Book of Psalms claims David as its author. Other inspired poets in successive generations added now one now another contribution to the sacred collection, and thus in the wisdom of Providence it more completely reflects every phase of human emotion and circumstances than it otherwise could." But it is especially to David and his contemporaries that we owe this precious book. In the "titles" of the psalms, the genuineness of which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, 73 are ascribed to David. Peter and John (acts 4:25) ascribe to him also the second psalm, which is one of the 48 that are anonymous. About two-thirds of the whole collection have been ascribed to David.

The whole collection extends over a period of about 1,000 years. There are in the New Testament 116 direct quotations from the Psalms.

The Psalms are divided, after the analogy of the Pentateuch, into five books, each closing with a doxology or benediction:

Pray – open meeting

·        The word Psalms for all practical purposes means praise song.

·        This is first psalm and it points out the reward of the righteous and the wicked.

·        The word righteous literally means right standing with God. – How do we get to have right standing with God? (HIS SON, Invite to be saved)

·        The Word Of God is called by the Psalmist David (73), a lamp unto my feet – it is our road - map

Psalm 1

 1 Blessed is the man
    who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
    or stand in the way of sinners
    or sit in the seat of mockers.

God always tells us what is good for us but at the same time, gives us the choice what to do, whether to follow His direction or not. In this verse, He uses the word “blessed” to imply what is good for us – but this verse also implies we have a choice.
Duet 6 : 7-9 - read
Josh 24:15 – read

 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

His Love for us is unconditional – His love is unconditional. His blessings, however, depend on us fulfilling a condition. Nothing but being obedient. - how? (meditate on His Word – all the time)  Read -Josh 1:8

^{Exodus 1:18-20  18} Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”¹⁹ The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.²⁰ So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous

Interesting to note that for God to further His Master Purpose – restoring His Kingdom on earth HIS end does seamingly justify the means. However, when looked at in the context of love (for humanity, His children – us, nothing is more important than His “kids”) it is consistent with his command of being under authority (civil, familial, workplace, etc).  He only does what is best for us. The Egyptians had the chance to follow just as all of humanity did.

Ex 2:23 & 24   23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites still groaned beneath their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their pleas for deliverance rose up to God. 24 God heard their cries and remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their welfare.

Also – GOD Always keeps His promises – in this case His covenant to 

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.
    
 ·        God's children are so saturated with his grace, that whatever comes to them,                works and tends to their salvation as long as they are rooted in Him.

·        He want His children to “yield fruit” – work for The Kingdom

·        To be successful so as not to be discouraged

4       Not so the wicked!
       They are like chaff
       that the wind blows away.   

4 &5 dealt with equally here :  (read)Isaiah & 17Mat 3:12 

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous            

          
 The idea here is that people who do not have right standing with God (righteousness, Gained by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior) through His Son Jesus, will be discarded like the waste of harvesting wheat. 
Many times in the Word is the Kingdom and It’s principles likened to a harvest. – Mat 9:37 -38                                                   

6   For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
     but the way of the wicked will perish.

2 Tim 2:19 - read

·        We can know the lord by being / staying in HIS WORD everyday. Find a verse first thing every morning – learn it, write it down if you need to, lay the ground work to meditate on that verse 4 – 5 times in that day.

·        Do right! Plain and simple. Always keep your word, even if not convenient, always do what you say you are going to do – if not let that person know.

Prov 14:12 - read

• God’s Word is the road map
• Lean not to your own understanding – God is saying “ trust Me” – over and over again in HIS WORD – that is His plea to us – “trust Me”

Rom 6:21 - read

• God says to you and me, quit doing things your way,  know  Me, trust me even though My Ways don’t make sense to you or the world sometimes. Your ways only screw things up. Rely on me and I will give you  the /  My wisdom to make the right decisions,

And what happen then?  Josh 1:8 says we will be prosperous and successful.

It will not always be easy, opposition by friends, family, enemy -  (examples)                 When things going good car breakdown, pressure on marriage, finances etc. In the long run though, I have read the end of the book and we win!

How to have favor with The Lord

• Keep company with people who know God – when you ask advice get it from Godly people –

Meditate on the Word every day – get close to & know God – He longs to have fellowship with us. He thinks about us -        

 Psalm 8  says :  3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers,
          the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

                                        4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you  care for him?

Get to know God through prayer and reading The Word, do the right thing on purpose, help people (remember, He says that when we draw near to Him He will draw near to us). – He never changes, it is always up to us!

Psalm 103 - What Is God Like?

Praise

Pray

          So much in this Psalm

  One of most loved Psalms.

·        Written by David late in his life

·        Thought to summarize God’s dealings with him

1.   divided into two main divisions : vs 1-10 & 11 – 22

a.   1-10 divided twice: 1-5 & 6-10

b.   11-22 divided three times. 11-14,15-18,19-22

c.   each verse, in keeping with the rules of Hebrew poetry, starts each verse with the consecutive next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. – Perfect symmetry – but then what do we expect with inspiration from The God Of The Universe?

d.   Seems like praise for answered prayer and blessing in spite of fact that David made some very grave mistakes in life.  Attitude of gratitude – Gratefulness for all of the forgiveness he experienced or given by God in his lifetime. – account of Bathsheba is most glaring.

2.Vs 1-5

1^st vs. -  1  Praise the LORD, O my soul;
       all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

a.  the very, very least he could do – This was a command of David to David. He often talked to his inward self. Talked to his spirit when he did not understand his emotions. Spirit is closer to God – booK of Jn tells us “God is a spirit”  Rom 12:1  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to    offer your bodies as living   sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

                   
b. “oh my soul” God is a spirit I must worship Him in spirit and truth

Jn 4:23 – “worship in spirit and truth”

c. “all that is within me” – so much to give thanks for it takes    all I (we) have & that still not enough / the best we can give

3.  2nd vs.  -  Praise the LORD, O my soul,
       and forget not all his benefits-   repeats stirring up self to worship – most rewarding relationship possible, then points out that the rewards or “benefits” of that relationship are endless. There is a feeling of “incomprehensible things he will do for His children”

a.   Again, he repeats “praise” or “bless” – must be important.

b.   To all who know or want to know God, praise and thanksgiving are the most important things.

 c.          4 who forgives all your sins
                   and heals all your diseases,

        a. benefits of knowing, being obedient to, The God Of The Universe who wants to be “Abba Father”& give His Wisdom to His kids. David lists benifits

        b. forgiveness of sins

c.   heals ALL of your diseases

5.   Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with            lovingkindness and tender mercies;

a. “for by grace ye are saved” – Eph 2:8-9

6. 5 who satisfies your desires with good things
       so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

a.   Like natural parents – only wants good things for His kids. “who would give their child a stone if he asks for a loaf of bread” Matt. 7:11 says it like this – (read

b. Renews your youth. Our spirits renewed even born again when we come to know Him.

c. Eagle’s feathers renewed yearly

Being a follower of Jesus is not by any means a negative. People who don’t know Him tend to focus on the negatives of serving Him. They see the Christian life as full of negatives based on worldly, unknowing and in some cases closed-minded and or fearful and untrue ideas and attitudes. Psalm 
103 vs 5-8 tell us: who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s, The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed..He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel:

We have all heard that the God of the Old Testament is full of wrath, murderous and vengeful. While the God of The New Testament is full of grace, love and mercy. Yet David declares in Psalm 103 verses 8-11: The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

We know the God of The Old Testament and the New Testament are the same God. David testifies to a loving God when he speaks of His unfailing love, mercy, the fact that He is slow to anger and does not remain angry.

Before He chose the Israelites to bring His righteousness to the world, people in every corner of the world had an opportunity to come to Him. Romans 1:20 tells us that God reveals Himself in nature so those who don’t recognize Him are “without excuse”. He did not want His Chosen People polluted and diluted by pagans. By the same token,  read Revelation 14. That chapter tells how He will pour out His Wrath on the unbelievers (in Jesus) of the world.

In The Bible, God does not spend a whole lot of time trying to convince us that He is God. Most of His effort goes into telling us what He is like. He has effectively told us that His love is perfect, without end, unstoppable once it is poured out. Also what I get out of The Word (The Bible) is that His wrath is equally as perfect, without end, unstoppable once it is poured out.

The fact is, if we want to see His mercy, love, grace we must accept the sacrifice He directed His only Son to make in our behalf.

Train Up The Saints

·         Praise

·         Pray

      

Text scripture:

Eph 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 *One  separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ.

·         Psalm 16:3    But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

·         Rom 1:7    To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

·         Eph 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

·         My only point here is that the Bible calls  those who believe in and confess Christ as Lord and Savior are saints.

·         Interesting that in the 4^th century, the believer was relegated to a common person and the Biblical term for believer “saint” was made a title of high esteem. (you had to have been an apostle of Jesus, performed miracles or both and be dead)

·         We can then understand our text scripture Eph 4:12 better.  (re-read)

1.    Paul reminds Ephesians who they are and what they are to be doing. (I know – but we can logically surmise that if they are to “perfect the saints” it is implied that they are saints themselves).

2.    Revelation given to Paul regarding building the Church (body of Christ, re-establishing The Kingdom Of God)

3.    We are to teach people, who teach people, who teach people, who teach people – etc.

4.    If we are to be effective in “perfecting the saints” we must 1st realize who we are in Him, and what Christ has done for us.

 

·         Who we are in Christ can be defined by what He has done for us!

·        We must realize – God’s plan to re-establish Kingdom depends on believers in Christ spreading the Church - perfecting the saints

·        We need to realize it will be done with - or without you and I.

Jesus told disciples that the gates of Hades would not withstand The Kingdom Of God – NOTHING WILL STOP THE CHURCH!

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (explain Gate of Hades being a real place real place)

This is a point many Christians lose sight of in a culture of declining morality. They think the Church will be derailed. They don’t know - or forget that all along, God’s plan was to re-establish His Kingdom right over the top of Pagan religions that ran rampant in those days.

·        We will do it because we love Christ – He loved us first

  1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us  -

·         God sent His only Begotten Son to make a sacrifice we can’t imagine on behalf of us

        John 3:16, (read) (father who’s son dies – let alone sending Him to His death)

        

   Col 2  14 Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

·         Christ sacrificed Himself for us – to preserve us, the only way we will be preserved is if the Church is established and The Kingdom is re-established

·         Think of this – Christ entrusted the establishing of His Church on earth to 12 disciples who did not have a clue until that final 3 years of Jesus life.

·         He trusted them and now He trusts you and me

·         If we are His servants – bought and paid for with his blood we must realize a few things:

1.   We have a mission: Great Commission -  Mark 16 -  15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

2.   After He told us what to do He empowered us to do it:

Mark 16 (next verses) 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes

with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

What can I do to do my part in fulfilling The Great Commission?

1.   Know who you are In Christ (all in Christ scriptures are what He has done for you – sometimes said through Christ)

Romans 3:24
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 2:13  At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. That has brought you near to God.

2.    Stay in relationship – meditate on scripture, Pray daily

3.    Confess daily (remind yourself) of what God, in Christ, has done for you and who you are in Christ,:

2 Cor. 9:8, 1 John 2:27, Matt 19:26, 2 Cor 5:17, 1 John 4:4, Phil 4:13, 1

Cor 3:16 (the list goes on and on)

4.    Know who God is and wants to be in you and to you -  1 Cor 3:17, Pslams138:5, Eph 3:16      ….  (the list goes on and on)

5.    Remember when you were in grade school you prob. Heard someone say “my dad can whip your dad”? The truth is if you’re in Christ The God Of The Universe wants to be “Abba” to us – Gal 4:4, Rom 8:15

Your Heavenly Father truly is the toughest guy ANYWHERE -  Eph 1:21

6.    Get in a Bible TEACHING church or atmosphere as soon as you can.

Almost all churches believe in the Bible, but not all teach the Bible.

·         This is important so you can know who you are

·         Who God is

·         Know where you are in history

·         Find your gifts

·         Find your place

·         Help you find ministry opportunities

·         Realize that you may think you are over qualified for what you are doing – be faithful, don’t complain, do all the best you can!