The Stable and Unstable Paths: Lessons from Psalm 1 on Blessing and Destruction

Summary

Drawing from Psalm 1, this message contrasts the stable path of the righteous with the unstable path of the wicked. Those who avoid evil and delight in God’s Word are like fruitful trees planted by water, fulfilling God’s purpose. The ungodly are rootless and unstable, destined for judgment. God watches over the righteous, guiding their way, while the wicked wander toward destruction.

The Stable Path of the Blessed

If we heed evil advice, we will eventually live as evil people do. They will tempt us to adopt the most fatal of evil attitudes, mocking. In the Old Testament, among evil people, the mocker was the farthest from repentance.

On the other hand, blessed, being so happy as to be envied, describes those who avoid the evil path. In the Old Testament, blessed is always associated with doing something.

Delighting in and Meditating on God’s Word

In Psalm 1:1, it is choosing to avoid evil. Avoiding evil is essential, but not enough. We must delight ourselves in what is good. Others know us by our delights.

Moses was known as a man of God (Ezra 3:2). Are we known as people of God because we delight in and meditate upon the law of the Lord? In addition to avoiding evil, we must delight in and meditate upon the law of the Lord to prosper.

God wants the highest and best for us. His word teaches us how to live with one another. It tells us how to approach Him who can meet our every need. Those who delight in it are never put to shame.

We must think hard about God’s ways. They, not the advice of the wicked, must shape our thinking and living. Meditation equips us to make our earthly lives count for eternity.

Fruitfulness and God’s Purpose

The stability and prosperity of those who walk in God’s ways are like a tree firmly planted by the rivers of water. It is planted where it is to yield its unique fruit. We are to bear the fruit of the Spirit uniquely.

To prosper is to fulfill God’s purpose. We are like a fruit tree planted near the water, which produces attractive fruit.

Let us prosper where God plants us. We are all necessary. Our fruit is equally important. It attracts our children and others to Christ and His church.

 The Unstable Path of the Ungodly

The ungodly are like worthless chaff the wind drives away. They are without root or fruit, devoid of life, the prey of the slightest breeze, blown about like tumbleweeds. They are unstable. They are wasting their lives.

The ungodly must live with the eternal consequences of choosing the unstable path. In the judgment, they will be without excuse. They will have no place with God’s people.

The Parting of the Stable and Unstable Paths

Psalm 1:6 describes the parting of the paths of the righteous and wicked. The Lord watches over the way of the righteous. He is their goal and guide. Where He leads, they follow.

He is the picture. They are the frame. Their role is to draw attention to the picture. By contrast, the wicked wander endlessly in their way. Ultimately, that way leads to destruction. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.   #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources

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