sunday, august 16, 2009 speaker: doug virgint

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The Happiness of the Godly Man,The Ruin of the Ungodly Man

Psalm 1Message 2 in our series called The Blessed Person

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Speaker: Doug Virgint

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Psalm Psalm 11

The The happiness happiness

of the of the Godly Godly manman

The ruinThe ruin

of the of the Ungodly Ungodly

manman

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To every man there openethTo every man there openeth

A Way, and Ways and a WayA Way, and Ways and a Way

And the High Soul climbs the High wayAnd the High Soul climbs the High way

And the Low Soul gropes the lowAnd the Low Soul gropes the low

And in between, on the misty flats,And in between, on the misty flats,

The rest drift to and froThe rest drift to and fro

But to every man there openethBut to every man there openeth

A High way and a LowA High way and a Low

And every man decidethAnd every man decideth

The Way his soul shall go.The Way his soul shall go.John OxenhamJohn Oxenham

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Two roads diverged in a woods, and I –Two roads diverged in a woods, and I –

I took the one less travelled by,I took the one less travelled by,

And that made all the difference.And that made all the difference.Robert FrostRobert Frost

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Midway this way of life we’re bound Midway this way of life we’re bound upon,upon,

I woke to find myself in a dark wood,I woke to find myself in a dark wood,

Where the right road was wholly lost Where the right road was wholly lost and gone.and gone.

Dante AlighieriDante Alighieri

(The Divine Comedy)(The Divine Comedy)

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Enter through the narrow gate. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate For wide is the gate

and broad is the road and broad is the road that leads to destruction, that leads to destruction,

and many enter through it. and many enter through it. But small is the gate But small is the gate and narrow the road and narrow the road

that leads to life, that leads to life, and only a few find it.and only a few find it.

Jesus Christ Jesus Christ (Matthew 7: 13,14)(Matthew 7: 13,14)

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1) Introduction1) Introduction

2) The Godly person:2) The Godly person:a) His patha) His pathb) His pleasureb) His pleasurec) His prosperityc) His prosperity

3) The Godless 3) The Godless personperson

a) He is drivena) He is drivenb) He is doomedb) He is doomedc) He is damnedc) He is damned

4) Conclusion4) Conclusion

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This psalm is called the “Preface “ This psalm is called the “Preface “ PsalmPsalm

(Jerome, Spurgeon)(Jerome, Spurgeon)

It finds its parallel in Jeremiah 17: 5-8It finds its parallel in Jeremiah 17: 5-8

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This is what the LORD says: This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who depends on flesh for his strength who depends on flesh for his strength

and whose heart turns away from the and whose heart turns away from the

LORD. LORD.

He will be like a bush in the He will be like a bush in the wastelands; wastelands;

he will not see prosperity when it he will not see prosperity when it comes. comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of He will dwell in the parched places of the the desert,desert,

in a salt land where no one lives. in a salt land where no one lives.

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"But blessed is the man who "But blessed is the man who trusts in trusts in the the LORD, LORD, whose confidence is in him. whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the He will be like a tree planted by the water water

that sends out its roots by the that sends out its roots by the stream. stream.

It does not fear when heat comes; It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of It has no worries in a year of

drought drought and never fails to bear fruit.“ and never fails to bear fruit.“

(Jeremiah 17: 5-8)(Jeremiah 17: 5-8)

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It is a wisdom psalm – with themes and It is a wisdom psalm – with themes and vocabulary similar to the book of vocabulary similar to the book of Proverbs:Proverbs:

the company we keepthe company we keep two ways set before ustwo ways set before us moral typesmoral types scoffersscoffers images from natureimages from nature

Its wisdom is rooted in the Law of the Its wisdom is rooted in the Law of the LordLord

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The Psalter is introduced byThe Psalter is introduced bytwo untitled Psalms:two untitled Psalms:

Psalm 1 – the lawPsalm 1 – the lawPsalm 2 – the prophetsPsalm 2 – the prophets

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This Psalm stands as a faithful This Psalm stands as a faithful doorkeeper, confronting those who doorkeeper, confronting those who would be in the “congregation of the would be in the “congregation of the righteous”:righteous”:

with the basic choice that alone with the basic choice that alone gives gives reality to worshipreality to worship

with the divine truth that informs with the divine truth that informs itit

and with the ultimate judgement and with the ultimate judgement that that looms up beyond it.looms up beyond it.

(Kidner)(Kidner)

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This Psalm does not say everything This Psalm does not say everything about life:about life:

the seeming prosperity of the the seeming prosperity of the wickedwicked

troubles in the life of the godlytroubles in the life of the godly

injustice and the origin of evilinjustice and the origin of evil

It is an introduction – it presents a It is an introduction – it presents a simple universal principle – a long term simple universal principle – a long term principleprinciple

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2a) The Godly person – his path2a) The Godly person – his path

He is happy !He is happy !

Blessed is plural in the originalBlessed is plural in the original

- the plural of intensity- the plural of intensity- there is no such thing as a single - there is no such thing as a single

blessing!blessing!

““O how very happy is the person …”O how very happy is the person …”

The word is found 26 times in the The word is found 26 times in the Psalms.Psalms.

Our Lord started his first sermon with Our Lord started his first sermon with this word.this word.

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Three parallel descriptions of lifestyle:Three parallel descriptions of lifestyle:

walkwalk counselcounsel wickedwicked

standstand wayway sinnerssinners

sitsit seatseat mockersmockers

Three aspects – three degreesThree aspects – three degrees

Note the progression - a downward Note the progression - a downward spiral!spiral!

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walkwalk stepssteps

standstand practicespractices

sitsit settled attitudesettled attitude

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counselcounsel thinking,thinking, plan, principle plan, principle

wayway behaving,behaving, manner of manner of livingliving

sitsit belonging, belonging,

These verbs are all in the perfect tenseThese verbs are all in the perfect tense- settled behaviour- settled behaviour

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wickedwicked - internally corrupt (restless)- internally corrupt (restless)

sinnersinner - active, habitual doers of evil- active, habitual doers of evil

mockermocker- scoffs at God and holy - scoffs at God and holy thinkingthinking

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Think about the word “counsel”: Think about the word “counsel”: (advice, opinions, (advice, opinions,

content)content)

The Psalm begins with the mind as The Psalm begins with the mind as the the first bastion to defend.first bastion to defend.

Whatever shapes a person’s mind Whatever shapes a person’s mind shapes shapes his life.his life.

Avoid sinful philosophies, practices Avoid sinful philosophies, practices and and associations.associations.

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Think about the word “counsel”: Think about the word “counsel”:

Think about Satan’s promise to Eve:Think about Satan’s promise to Eve:

““You will be like God”You will be like God”

It was a lie!It was a lie!

She became like Satan!She became like Satan!

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2a) The Godly person - his path2a) The Godly person - his path

Think about the word “mockers”: Think about the word “mockers”: (openly deriding what they reject)(openly deriding what they reject)

““Scoffers, if not the most scandalous Scoffers, if not the most scandalous of sinners, are the farthest from of sinners, are the farthest from repentance.”repentance.”

(Kidner)(Kidner)

““The seat of the scoffer may be very The seat of the scoffer may be very lofty,lofty,

but it is very near to the gate of hell!but it is very near to the gate of hell!(Spurgeon)(Spurgeon)

““That which a man spits against That which a man spits against heavenheaven

shall fall back on his own face.”shall fall back on his own face.”

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2b) The Godly person - his 2b) The Godly person - his pleasurepleasure

Verse 2 starts with the word “but”Verse 2 starts with the word “but”- a very strong adversary word- a very strong adversary word

““But it is in the law of the Lord that he But it is in the law of the Lord that he takes delight.”takes delight.”

Meditate – the same word as “plot” Meditate – the same word as “plot” (Ps. (Ps. 2:1)2:1)

““The law of the Lord” in contrast withThe law of the Lord” in contrast with““the counsel of the wicked” in verse the counsel of the wicked” in verse

1.1.

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Parallel passage in Joshua 1: 8Parallel passage in Joshua 1: 8

““Do not let this Book of the Law depart Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”will be prosperous and successful.”

Positive delight – meditation – Positive delight – meditation – continuancecontinuance

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2b The Godly person - his 2b The Godly person - his pleasurepleasure

Think about the word “delight”.Think about the word “delight”.

Reading and thinking about God’s word Reading and thinking about God’s word is not a troublesome or unwelcome is not a troublesome or unwelcome fetter!”fetter!”

““Delighting in the law of God is an Delighting in the law of God is an indication of the new birth, for the indication of the new birth, for the natural mind is hostile to God.”natural mind is hostile to God.”

(John Stott)(John Stott)

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Think about the word “meditate”.Think about the word “meditate”.

““The order of the divine mind The order of the divine mind embodied in the Divine Law is embodied in the Divine Law is beautiful. This is the language of a man beautiful. This is the language of a man ravished by moral beauty”ravished by moral beauty”

(C. S. Lewis)(C. S. Lewis)

(An illustration)(An illustration)

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2c) The Godly person - his 2c) The Godly person - his prosperityprosperity

It is hard for us to capture the force of It is hard for us to capture the force of this illustration for a people who this illustration for a people who regularly experienced drought and regularly experienced drought and lived near to the desert.lived near to the desert.

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Note:Note:

treetree vitalityvitalityplantedplanted stabilitystabilitystreams of waterstreams of water fertilityfertilityin its seasonin its season

appropriatenessappropriatenessleaf does not witherleaf does not wither perpetuityperpetuitywhatever… prosperswhatever… prospers prosperityprosperity

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““The God-centred life draws its life-The God-centred life draws its life-sustaining nourishment and spiritual sustaining nourishment and spiritual vitality from its roots in the Word of vitality from its roots in the Word of God”.God”.

Fruit in its season Fruit in its season – “– “distinct and quiet growth”distinct and quiet growth”

““The immunity of the leaf from The immunity of the leaf from withering is not independence from the withering is not independence from the rhythms of seasons, but freedom from rhythms of seasons, but freedom from the crippling damage of draught.”the crippling damage of draught.”

(Kidner)(Kidner)

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For the tree is no mere channel, piping For the tree is no mere channel, piping the water unchanged from one place to the water unchanged from one place to another, but a living organism that another, but a living organism that absorbs it, to produce in due course absorbs it, to produce in due course something new and delightful, proper something new and delightful, proper to its kind and its time.to its kind and its time.

(Kidner)(Kidner)

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3a) The Ungodly person - driven3a) The Ungodly person - driven

Not so! – the worst that can be said of Not so! – the worst that can be said of them.them.

Not trees – chaff!Not trees – chaff!

Once again, an image less familiar to us Once again, an image less familiar to us than to the people in that agriculturally than to the people in that agriculturally based society…based society…

The contrast is not just between a The contrast is not just between a healthy tree and a dry shrub !healthy tree and a dry shrub !

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3a) The Ungodly person - doomed3a) The Ungodly person - doomed

This judgement goes far beyond This judgement goes far beyond ordinary calamitiesordinary calamities

chaff: what unsparing conclusion!chaff: what unsparing conclusion!worthless, rootless, worthless, rootless,

weightlessweightless

The tree defies the windstormThe tree defies the windstorm- the chaff is driven before it!- the chaff is driven before it!

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3a) The Ungodly person - damned3a) The Ungodly person - damned

The ultimate end of a life lived The ultimate end of a life lived without without God – wind blown chaff – God – wind blown chaff – useless and lost useless and lost forever !forever !

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There are only two ways and two There are only two ways and two destiniesdestinies

- on which way are you travelling?- on which way are you travelling?

He who stands in the way of sinners He who stands in the way of sinners will not stand in the day of judgment!will not stand in the day of judgment!

What a terrible thing to perish!What a terrible thing to perish!

The very “way” of the wicked will The very “way” of the wicked will perish!perish!

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Since the time of Augustine and Since the time of Augustine and Jerome, this Psalm has always been Jerome, this Psalm has always been understood to point to the Lord Jesus understood to point to the Lord Jesus Christ.Christ.

Only when we know Him, turn to Him, Only when we know Him, turn to Him, can we live this type of life – and enjoy can we live this type of life – and enjoy this type of destinythis type of destiny

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Psalm Psalm 11

The The happiness happiness

of the of the Godly Godly manman

The ruinThe ruin

of the of the Ungodly Ungodly

manman

sunday, august 16, 2009 speaker: doug virgint

Documents

godly person

way of life

man decideththe way

wisdom psalm

high soul

godless persona

lord1 introduction

prophets1 introduction