SERMON TITLE: A BELIEVER’S DELIGHT

SERMON TEXT: “ ...His delight is in the law of the LORD...”(Psalm 1:2).

SERMON THESIS: In order to avoid the path of the ungodly it is essential for us to study God’s teaching and fellowship with His people.

INTRODUCTION: A man was passing through the Alps and lost his way. He met a man who was walking in the opposite direction. He immediately sought directions from the stranger, informing him of his desired destination. The stranger pointed to a road sign and said, “Persons going to that place take that road.”

In this life, there are two roads to travel, the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly. It behooves each of us to make sure that we are going in the right direction. God’s Word is our road map to assure us that we are going in the right way.

In Psalm one, the way of the righteous person is contrasted with the way of the wicked person. As the Psalmist contrast these two ways, I want to call our attention to three laws of life, as I see it, unfolding in this Psalm.

I. THE LAW OF DISSOCIATION (v. 1).

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”(v. 1).

Here we see clearly the law of dissociation. The righteous person must dissociate himself/herself from the ungodly. It was the writer of Proverbs who said . . .

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away”(Proverbs 4:14-15).

The words of Paul, likewise, admonishes us with these words...

“Do not be bound together with unbelievers, for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?”(2 Cor. 6:14-15).

In the words of one writer, “To avoid this path we must study God’s Word and fellowship with God’s people.” The difference is seen in these two ways described herein. The good life makes a tremendous difference in the here and now, and in eternity, as contrasted with the evil life. Let us observe this contrast...

The person who takes the way of righteousness becomes...

 1) Stable 2) Gracious 3) Prosperous

The persons who takes the way of the ungodly becomes...

 1) Empty 2) Futile 3) Forgotten

We need to note at this point, the meaning of “blessed” as it is used in this passage. “Blessed” means “happy” or it can be translated in the Hebrew as, “Oh, the happiness of.” This is perhaps the best rendering of the Hebrew word (‘ashre). Note, however, that this word has more to do with the outward circumstances than it does with inward blessing.

 It is at this point that the law of dissociation applies. To experience happiness, or happy feelings, a person must dissociate themselves from the wicked. If one does not dissociate themselves from the wicked, a downward progression will ensue. This downward progression is seen clearly in verse one. Not these following phrases...

“Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked”(v. 1).

“Nor stand in the path of sinners”(v. 1).

“Nor sit in the seat of the scornful”(v. 1).

Now see the obvious progression of these three verbs; “walk,” “stand,” “sit.” This downward progression is often subtle and may begin like this. First, a man may begin to entertain godless ideas allowing his mind freedom to roam. Ideas like Satan planted in the woman’s mind in the Garden of Eden, when he said, “Indeed has God said”(Gen. 3:1). “Well, maybe, there is something to be attained from the counsel of the ungodly!” One might reason in their mind.

Second, the person engages in godless practices. In other words, “He stands in the path of sinners.” He forgets worship; turning a progressively blind eye to God’s commandments, such as...

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy”(Ex. 20:8).Or as the writer of Hebrews put it...

“Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching”(Hebrews 10:25).

Third, like the proverbial frog in the pan of lukewarm water, the person finds himself/herself “sitting in the seat of the scornful.” Sitting with those individuals who thumb their nose at God, and holding everything that is righteous in utter contempt.

Needless to say, this is not the way of delight, and it is certainly not the way to godliness. In fact, it is the way that leads to destruction, according to the Psalmist.

Having looked at the negative qualities of this Psalm, we will now turn to the positive side as we consider...

II. THE LAW OF DELIGHT (vv. 2-3).

The Psalmist goes on to say...

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”(vv. 2-3).

1. According to The Interpreters Bible, the word “delight” is used in the later Hebrew sense of that in which one takes delight - one’s business or occupation. The good man’s chief interest is to fulfill the law, the content of which is indicated in Psalm 19:7-10.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:7-10). 

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you;bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:1-3). 

Where did the Psalmist delight himself?

“His delight is in the law of the Lord.”

 This was not a foreign concept to the Apostle Paul. He like the Psalmist said,

“I delight in God’s law . . .”(Romans 7:22).

Likewise, it was the writer of Proverbs who instructs us with these words,

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways”(Proverbs 23:26).

2. He meditates upon God’s Word . . . “day and night.” Meditation was no stranger to godly saints of the Old Testament...

Joshua of old was instructed to meditate on God’s Word ...

“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and thou shall have good success”(Joshua 1:8).

“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou are the God of my salvation; on Thee I wait all day”(Psalm 25:5).

“My soul shall be satisfied with morrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches”(Psalm 63:5-6).

It was the prophet Isaiah who said, “In quietness and trust is your strength”(Isaiah 30:15).

Paul places a special, and an almost exaggerated emphasis on the devotional life, when he writes, “Pray without ceasing”(I Thess. 5:17). One writer made this statement, “It would be interesting to know in actual time measurement how long we spend each day, solitary with our minds and thoughts.”

What the righteous man will become (v. 3). Many other passages support this truth. For example ...

“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green” (Psalm 92:12-14). 

“For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8). 

“Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the waters; It was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant waters” (Ezekiel 19:10). 

“The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Genesis 39:2-3). 

“The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper” (Genesis 39:23). 

“When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you” (Psalm 128:2). 

In the words of Charles J. Ellicott, from Bishop Hall, Ellicott quotes these words...

“Look where you will in God’s Book, you shall never find any lively member of God’s house, and true Christian, compared to any but a fruitful tree.”

The last law of life for us to consider is...

III. THE LAW OF DIVISION (vv. 4-6)

A few moments of meditation on these three verses, may help us reclaim the forgotten value of plain fear, and the consequences of a life lived without God. One writer said,

“The way of the righteous persists because it exists in the mind and the will of God; but the way of the ungodly is not known to Him.”

In the New Testament, Jesus, likens, this division in terms of sheep and goats...

“And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He shall put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world” (Matthew 25:32-34).

For the ungodly, or the goats, the law of division includes a harsh word...

“And then will I profess unto them, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity”(Luke 13:27).

CONCLUSION: A believers delight is found in the worship of the Lord.

 It was the Psalmist who said,

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart”(Ps. 37:4).

Joy is the sure sign that Christ lives in us. To find this joy, this delight, we must be diligent in studying God’s Word, and in fellowship with His people. The Psalmist said,

 “Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in His commandments”(Psalm 112:1).

Are you experiencing the believers delight?