Great Chapters of the Bible

Scripture: I Samuel 13:13-14; II Samuel 23:1-2

C.I.: Psalm 1

Andrew Fletcher (17 th Century Scottish patriot), “Let me write the songs of a nation, I don't care who writes the laws.” American Academy of Pediatrics. All of you musicians need to write the music for the songs of the Psalms!

I. God Contrasts the Righteous and the Wicked, (Psalm 1)

A. The Song's First Verse: “The Progressive Nature of Sinful Activities & Relationships,” (v. 1)

“How blessed [Blessed = approved of by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”

1. walk = lifestyle, ( Eph. 2:1-2 ), “You were dead in your sins…when you walked ….”
a. When this is HOW we live – it's no wonder that we will listen to bad advice
b. Counsel = Advice, ( Pro. 12:5 ), “The counsels of the wicked are deceitful.”
c. Wicked = Wicked does not mean evil, - it simply means they give no thought to God.
1) ( Rom. 1:28-31 ), “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God anymore , God gave them over to a depraved mind to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness … and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are
worthy of death, they not only do the same, but give hearty approval to those who practice them!.

2. “But isn't ‘standing in the path of sinners” something we all do every day?! Doesn't God tell us to do this?!”
a. “Stand” = to prefer the company of…
b. The difference between “Go into all the world…” & “Nor stand in the path…” is our purpose/motivation.
1) ( Mk. 2:14-15) , “And He saw Levi [Matthew] the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to Him, ‘Follow Me!' And he rose and followed Him. And it came about that He was reclininsg at the table in his house, and many tax-gatherers and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him .”
2) Jesus “had an agenda” (to reach the lost). But Satan also has an agenda for us, ( I Cor. 15:33 ), “Do not be deceived, bad companions corrupt good morals.”
b. Their “path” is clearly not the one that the people of God should choose…
1) ( Matt. 7:13 ), “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is… broad is the way/ path is broad….”

3. Sit = to commit to a life of sin (sitting is not accidental – it is a commitment!)
a. Scoffers = Ridicule God & all that is His; word, people, etc.
1) ( Pro. 1:22 ), “Naïve love being simple-minded, and scoffers delight themselves in scoffing.”
2) ( Pro. 21:24 ), “ Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names, who acts with insolent pride. ”

4. Thus, God's blessings (approval) are for those who choose to avoid certain relationships and activities!
a. Notice the progressive nature of this verse: Walk – Stand – Sit, and Wicked (no thought of God) - Sinners (violate the will of God) – Scoffers (ridicule God & the things of God)!
B. The Song's Beautiful Chorus of the Righteous, (vs. 2-3)

1. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night,” ( v. 2 ).
a. What makes you happy? If you knew God was pleased w/you, would that do it?!
1) Knowing the Bible's source and value – the child of God delights in the word of God
2) ( Jn. 8:31-32 ), “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine….”


2. God gives a beautiful simile us to show 4 ways He blesses those who choose Him…
a. #1 – God places us right where He wants us, “He will be like a tree firmly planted ….”
1) True spiritually, ( I Cor. 12:18 ), “God has placed the members of the body, each one of them,…..”
2) True physically, Esth. 4:14 ), “How do you know it wasn't for such a time as this that you have….”

b. Those who delight in God's word will be constantly refreshed/nourished - “…by streams of water”
1) ( Matt. 5:6 ), “Blessed are those who hunger & thirst after righteousness, they will be satisfied.”

c. Those who delight in God's word will produce what God desires “…which yields its fruit in its season.”
1) ( Matt. 13:23 ), “The one on whom the seed is sown in the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it; who brings forth fruit, some 100-fold, 60-fold, 30-fold.”

d. The one who delights in God's word will prosper , “…and its leaf does not whither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
1) Prospers in life , ( II Tim. 3:16 ), “All scripture is inspired by God is profitable for teaching….” 2) Prospers spiritually – ( Eph. 1:3 ), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus….”

e. Thus, the curses of God are upon those who reject Him and His word. – But His blessings will be upon all who come to Him and live their lives according to His word!!!

C. The Song's Sad Final Verse: “The Wicked are Not So,” (vs. 4-5)

1. “The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.”
a. Remember; wicked aren't evil – they just give no thought to God!
b. “Chaff” = that part of the grain which was useless – ( Matt. 3:12 ), “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean His threshing floor; and will gather His wheat into His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

2. “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.”
a. If people do not stand for God now - they will not stand with God in the Judgment either!
b. Everyone appears at the Judgment ( II Cor. 5:10 ), wicked don't remain ( Matt. 7:23 )

INVITATION: “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish,” ( v. 6 ).

God's song is for all of us – but what part was for you (verse 1? Verse 2? Or the chorus?) If you want to be sure of your salvation – Matthew 28:19!

•  FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

•  AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: Impact of Music Lyrics and Music Videos on Children and Youth (RE9144)

•  COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS

Pediatrics 2010; 98:6 1219-1221

The effect that popular music has on children's and adolescents' behavior and emotions is of paramount concern. Lyrics have become more explicit in their references to drugs, sex, and violence over the years, particularly in certain genres. A teenager's preference for certain types of music could be correlated or associated with certain behaviors. As with popular music, the perception and the effect of music-video messages are important, because research has reported that exposure to violence, sexual messages, sexual stereotypes, and use of substances of abuse in music videos might produce significant changes in behaviors and attitudes of young viewers. Pediatricians and parents should be aware of this information.