Sermon Notes - Psalms 1 - Littleby Baptist Church - October 23, 2022

1.     We are going to take a short break from John and take a look at a couple of Psalms.

a.      Many of us find great comfort in reading the Psalms.

b.     Reading them can help us feel like someone else has felt like we have.

c.      Spending time in them can give us peace, encouragement and strength.

d.     They can lift our spirit.

e.      What we call Psalms in Hebrew is Tehillim, the full meaning is Psalms of Praise.

f.      The Book of Psalms is lyrical poetry, poetry that expresses the emotions of the poet.

g.     It is believed to be the largest collection of ancient lyrical poetry in existence.

h.     Commonly accepted that David is the author of many of the Psalms, but that is disputed in some circles.

i.       Those that believe that he is one of the author’s agree that he is not the only author.

j.       While we are not going to work through each of the Psalms, especially for this pause in John, we are going to start with Psalms 1.

2.     Psalms 1:1

a.      Happy is the one… blessed in the one… righteous is the one…

b.     The hand of God is with the one who does NOT…

c.      Walk in the advice of the wicked… have a conversation with someone and be led astray.

d.     One who is Happy should not think like the wicked.

e.      They are to follow the ways of God.

f.      Does not stand in the pathway with sinners… travel the same path as the sinners, following them in words and deeds.

g.     One who is blessed should not behave like those choosing to live in sin.

h.     The third was that they do not sit in the company of mockers… make plans for the future or pursue wealth with mockers.

i.       A mocker is someone who is full of contempt and ridicule for others.

j.       One who is working to live righteously should not make deals, should not be in business with mockers.

k.     A Godly person will do what they can to avoid evil influence in their lives.

l.       Does not mean we don’t love people who are not Christian.

m.   Does not mean that we don’t work with them, talk with them…

n.     Romans 12:2

o.     We are not to let the wicked, sinners, and mockers have influence over our thoughts, actions, and the choices we make.

p.     We are to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and the study of God’s Word so that we may follow the Lord’s will with our thoughts, actions, and choices.

3.     Psalms 1:2

a.      A happy, blessed, and righteous person is focused on the Word of God.

b.     When this was written, it would have been the Torah the first 5 books of the Bible.

c.      Today this includes the entirety of Scripture.

d.     We should find Joy and be excited about spending time learning from the Word of God.

e.      2 Timothy 3:16-17

f.      All of Scripture helps us to grow into the people that God wants us to be.

g.     It is one of the ways that the Holy Spirit points out the truth that we need to hear.

h.     I have been asked before about the best Bible reading plan.

i.       To be honest, I cannot answer that for anyone else.

j.       It is personal and it changes.

k.     I have enjoyed reading the Bible through, I have spent a year reading the NT 3-4 times, I have focused on the OT for a year, I have read it chronologically, and I have gone more of a free form.

l.       There are many options, and it is not a one size fits all.

m.   What it comes down to is that we are to spend time in the Word of God, not as a chore but as a way of embracing our God and the work He is doing in our lives.

n.     Scripture tells us that God loves a cheerful giver, I would say that He also loves when we cheerfully read His Word.

o.     He probably loves it when something speaks to us.

p.     We get excited when we see something click for our kids, I would expect God loves it when something in His Word clicks for us.

q.     Open your minds and hearts to what God is teaching you when you crack open your Bible or pull up your favorite Bible app.

4.     Psalms 1:3

a.      Jeremiah 17:7-8

b.     If we are studying the Word of God and letting it get a hold of us.

c.      We will be like this tree.

d.     We will have a solid foundation built on Truth.

e.      We will bear fruit through the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

f.      The Holy Spirit will mold us, shape us, and guide us.

g.     As we follow the Lord’s plan for us, we will be blessed.

h.     We will carry out His will for our lives.

i.       The Word of God will carry us through the good times and the bad.

5.     Psalms 1:4

a.      This sounds poetic, but these are some really strong words.

b.     The wicked, our minds tend to jump to those who are blatantly evil.

c.      Those who choose to commit evil acts on fellow humans.

d.     The thing is it includes those who pursue their wants and desires instead of God.

e.      It includes those people who do a lot of good in life but are not honoring God.

f.      It includes those who may sit in church most Sundays but have never repented of their sins.

g.     The wicked here refers to any who fail to see that they need a Savior.

h.     According to the psalmist, the wicked are like chaff.

i.       They are like worthless husks of the grain that is blown away by the wind.

6.     Those that follow God and delight in His Word will bear fruit.

7.     Those who turn away from the gift God is offering are lost in the wind.

8.     Psalms 1:5

a.      Matthew 3:11-12

b.     Jesus will gather the wheat, the fruit, those who have repented of their sins and are following Him.

c.      He will gather them as they are blessed.

d.     The others, the chaff, the ones who have chosen this world will burn in the fire that never goes out.

e.      Following Jesus brings blessings eternal.

f.      The other option brings the eternal wrath of God.

9.     Psalms 1:6

a.      The Lord watches the way or also translated as the Lord Knows the way of the righteous.

b.     The Lord knows the motivation of those who follow Him.

c.      The Lord knows those who have repented and follow Him.  

d.     He knows whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, Rev. 21:27.

e.      Those who are not known to Jesus face a different outcome.

f.      Revelation 20:15

10.  The choice before us is clear.

11.  There are options:

a.      Righteous or wicked.

b.     Following God or heading to ruin.

c.      Be blessed as we follow His will or being burnt like chaff.

12.  As we sit here today the choice is before us.

13.  From last week, John 3:36

14.  Do we follow Jesus or our own pursuits?

a.      Do we call out to Him as our Savior?

b.     Have we repented of our sins and are following Him?

c.      If you don’t know Jesus this morning, I would love to talk to you.

d.     If you do, find joy in learning more about Him.

e.      Pray for the Lord to give you an excitement for His Word.

f.      Pray for the Holy Spirit to make the Word of God come alive for you.

g.     Spend time in Scripture and learn more, and more, and more… and watch God work in your life.