The Gift of His Word
Introduction
The greatest revelation of God is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”
The second greatest revelation of God is His Word, the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:15-17: “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Word of God inspires, informs, encourages, sanctifies, directs, builds, blesses, warns, etc.
He Frees
John 8:32: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
He Sanctifies
John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
What a Gift! The Word of God.
We are promised that if we delight and meditate in the Word we will be delivered from the ways of the wicked, sinners and scoffers and be made fruitful, durable and prosperous.
The Lord begins the 150 chapter journey through the Psalms with a jewel that points the way to blessing and warns about divine judgment. It is as though this Psalm stands here as a faithful doorkeeper, confronting those who would be in “the congregation of the righteous.”
This Psalm, along with the Proverbs, often use the same theme of wisdom writing, with their interest in the company a man keeps, in the 2 ways set before him.
This Psalm seems to parallel with the Prophet Jeremiah’s teaching.
Jeremiah 17:5-8
“Thus says the Lord:
"’Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.’”
Two of the most popular words in the Christian vocabulary are bless and blessing. God wants to bless His people. He wants us to be recipients and channels of blessing. God blesses us to make us a blessing to others, but He has given certain conditions for receiving blessings.
Note the first and last words of Psalm 1 indicate the alternatives. Blessed is the righteous person who delights in God’s law; the ungodly, on the other hand, will perish.
In handling these 2 themes, the author is anticipating what Jesus Himself was to teach, that men and women are either on the broad road that leads to destruction or on the narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13,14).
I. THE DIRECTION HIS LIFE TAKES 1
NOTE: The triplets in this passage:
Walks, Stands, Sits
Counsel, Path, Seat
Ungodly, Sinners, Scornful
PROGRESSION: True of the righteous and ungodly.
David Duran-Memorizing/Studying
It would be possibly reaching too much into these words to draw a “moral’ from the apparent process of slowing down from walking to sitting, since the journey was in the wrong direction from the start.
The 3 complete phrases show 3 aspects, in 3 degrees, of departure from God, by portraying conformity to this world.
THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS:
1. Accepting its advice.
2. Being party to its ways.
3. Adopting its attitude.
The 3 negatives are followed-up by a positive.
“but delight in the law of the Lord” – the law of the Lord stands opposed to the counsel of the wicked, to which it is ultimately the only answer.
The Psalm is content to develop this one theme, implying that whatever really shapes a person’s thinking shapes his life.
Psalms 119:97
“Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.”
Psalms 119:103
“How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
A. Direction Formed By Counsel
“walks not in the counsel of the ungodly” – this speaks of attempting to lead your life based on WRONG PRINCIPLES. This is about your thinking. BELIEVING.
Proverbs 23:7a
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Ungodly- people who are willfully and persistently evil. Have no place for God in their thoughts.
B. Direction Formed By Others’ Conduct
“nor stands in the path of sinners” – this speaks of attempting to lead your life based on WRONG PRACTICES. This is about your behaving. We normally live what we believe; we need a Biblical world view.
Here we have moved from taking the world’s advice to being committed to their way of life; you model your conduct on their advice.
“Sinners” – are those who miss the mark of God’s standards but who don’t care.
C. Direction Formed By Others’ Company
“nor sits in the seat of the scornful” – this speaks of attempting to lead your life by WRONG PARTNERSHIPS.
This is about belonging; note the progression: believing, behaving, belonging. Remember, no blow-outs, only slow leaks.
“Scornful” – makes light of God’s laws and ridicules that which is sacred.
II. WHAT HE DELIGHTS IN 2
A. God’s Word Captures Our Affection
“delight” – to bend toward; speaks of entire and full inclination towards an object or person. The Psalmist looked to God’s Word as the guide of life.
Psalms 37:4
“Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
To the believer, their whole being approves and endorses God’s Word. “Law” refers to direction and instruction. Whatever delights us directs us.
Psalms 40:8
“I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart."
How can I come to delight in the Word of God?
1. Pray for new taste buds on the tongue of your heart.
2. Meditate on the promises of God to His people.
B. God’s Word Claims Our Attention
“meditation” – to pour over; meditation is to the spirit what digestion is to the body. The Word becomes a source of spiritual nourishment for us. Deliberate, Pondering.
III. HOW GOD DEVELOPS HIM 3
Verse 3 is a result of verses 1 & 2.
“like a tree” – this metaphor is common in the Bible. The tree clearly enjoys the secret of health and vigor, its fruit ripening in its season, and its leaf not withering, even under the heat of the sun; for the tree draws constant nourishment from the water through its roots, so through daily meditation in the law of the Lord the righteous refresh and replenish their soul in God. Such a tree is firmly planted.
A. Strength
“planted” – unlike the grass, which will be mowed down, a tree sends its roots down deep in the soil. It has a deep, hidden life. Healthy trees grow in two directions; its roots grow deeper into the ground, its branches grow higher and wider. We are blessed to be a blessing. Depth-Breadth.
“You take care of the depth of your life, The Lord takes care of the breadth.”
B. Steadfastness
“by the rivers of water” – Speaks of an unfailing source of life. A tree needs light, water, and roots to live. We all have resources upon which we draw life. You depend on your own resources and you will become dry and withered.
C. Success
Psalms 1:3
“He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.”
“fruits” – speaks of provision for others. Trees do not provide for themselves. You become a blessing to others.
“in its season” – there are times for fruit bearing, times for growth, and times for rest. As long as we are abiding in Him, we need not worry about the fruit. It will come in its season.
“whose leaf also shall not wither” – not affected by the winter or the weather, always the same. Controlled by source, not seasons or circumstances.
“whatever he does shall prosper” – faith, family, friend; how about finances? If the first three are prospering, the fourth will not unsettle you.
1. Fruitful – refreshing and nourishing to be around; they feed.
2. Durable – A changeless source.
3. Prospering – God’s favor; His smile; succeeds in God’s good purpose.
CONCLUSION
“The phrase its fruit in its season emphasizes both the distinctiveness and the quiet growth of the product; for the tree is no mere channel, piping the water unchanged from one place to another, but a living organism which absorbs it, to produce in due course something new and delightful, proper to its kind and to its time. The promised immunity of the leaf from withering is not independence of the rhythm of the seasons, but freedom from the crippling damage of drought.” Derek Kinder
COMPARE
1. Righteous: “in the congregation of the righteous; Tree. 5
2. Ungodly – Perish 6
“chaff”- rootless; weightless, useless.