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Counseling through the Psalms – Psalm 1 – Only Two Ways

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Introduction

There are only two ways (confer Matthew 7:13-27)

Two Gates:

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Two Trees and Two Fruits

Matthew 7:16–19 ESV
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Two Houses and Two Foundations

Matthew 7:24–27 ESV
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Who is the wise person?

Exposition

Learning

Two People

1. The Blessed Person

2. The Wicked Person

Two Ways

  1. The Blessed Person
    • Satisfied – “blessed”
    • Separated
      • Beliefs – “walks not in the counsel”
      • Behaviors – “nor stand in the way (manner/lifestyle) of sinner”
      • Banter – “nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (cynics, jokers, slanders)
    • Saturated
      • “his delight is in the law of the LORD”
      • “he meditates day and night”
    • Secured – “like a tree planted by streams of water”
      • Flourishing and fruitful
  2. The Wicked Person
    • Chaff – blown away, useless, worthless, burned by fire (judgment )
    • Floundering and fruitless

Excursus: Bad Company Corrupts

  1. Walk – casual acquaintance
  2. Stand – involvement
  3. Sit – entrapment

Be careful of small compromises that lead to breaking down fences. This progression goes from bad to worse. The longer a person stays in this pattern the more likely a life dominated pattern of sin will take place.

Two Destinies

  1. Wicked – “shall not stand in the judgment”
  2. Righteous
    • Congregation – community
    • Declared righteous – no condemnation, no separation from the love of God (Romans 8)
    • Known by the LORD – to be known with affection and approval (ESV SB)
      • not merely intellectual but intimate

Application

Loving

  • Loving God

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

  • Loving God’s Word

John 14:21 ESV
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 15:10 ESV
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Living

  • Abiding
  • Loving
  • Obeying
  • Joy

Personalize the Psalm:

Learn

  1. What did I learn?
  2. Where has my thinking, beliefs, and values been challenged in this Psalm?
  3. Do you find any of the characteristics ways of thinking or behaving of the ungodly in your life? List and describe those areas in which you struggle.

Love

  1. What does this psalm teach me about God?
  2. Has my thinking about God changed?
  3. How have I learned to love God more and others selflessly as the result of the Psalm?
  4. Have I learned ways that I have acted unlovingly towards others that I must change?

Live

  1. What are practical steps that I can take to apply to what I have learned in this psalm?
  2. Where must I change? What do I need to repent and confess?
  3. How will pondering and personalizing this Psalm change how I live my life today and moving forward?

 

 
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