I’m currently preparing a sermon on Psalm 1 for a trip to PA this weekend. I’ve preached on Psalm 1 a few times. After putting together my outline, I looked back at previous sermons on this text. I was a bit surprised at how different they were, and the different emphases. I think they show how my own heart has changed, and therefore how my preaching has changed.
The first is from 2001. I delivered it at a chapel for a Christian school. Here it is.
Intro: “You don’t stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing.”
I. Godliness starts with a heart commitment (vv. 1-2). Psalms and Proverbs begin with same idea. Our top priority gives shape to the rest of our lives. Paul picks up on this in Colossians 3. Commitment to Christ doesn’t just alter what we do, but why we do it. If God is not first in our lives something will fill that gap. Our spouses, our children, our jobs, retirement or ourselves become of exaggerated importance and warp our lives. We live for those things and Christ and His will are squeezed out. Commitment to pursue God and to pursue sin cannot co-exist. We must forsake one or the other. Ill. Max and Huck. What does this heart commitment to God look like?
A. Godly people desire God’s blessing. The Psalmist is using covenant language here. He recognizes that true blessing does not come from being committed to anything less than God. Hebrew poetry uses these parallel statements to describe a life separated from God. Such people go about their business without regard for God and His revealed will. The godly person, though among them, does not join them in living that way. He realizes their ways are cursed by God. His heart is set on pleasing God, and being blessed by God. I’m NOT talking about health, wealth and earthly success. I’m talking about walking with God regardless of our circumstances. Ill. Joni Tada.
B. Godly people love God and His Word. Rather than man’s wisdom, the godly person seeks God’s wisdom precisely because He loves God. His delight, or “great interest”, is not in sin, but God’s law. Apart from the work of the Spirit this is impossible according to Paul. So we see here a person who has been born again. This is not someone trying to earn salvation by works. This person meditates on the Law at all times. Most people then didn’t read, but memorized things and repeated them aloud. The idea is to relate the Bible to your daily experience. You stop to ponder how God’s truth applies to whatever I happen to be doing at that moment. Is this something that pleases, or displeases, God? God and His revealed will act as filters on the many voices we hear in a given day. In this way He keeps our priorities in check, moves us toward obedience and convicts us of sin.
Transition: What happens when we choose to live well?
II. Godly people prosper in God’s care (vv. 3-5). The psalmist contrasts the final end of the wicked and the righteous. The image of the tree is one of endurance, growth and fruit bearing. Chaff is useless and easily blown way by the wind. The wicked come to a bad end when they least expect it. Jesus warns us, it is not just hearing His word that matters, but putting it into practice. So sitting here right now the important thing is this- living it out determines your true heart commitment. What can we learn from the tree?
A. Godly people grow in grace. This is a tree near a steady water supply. With a drought we understand this. The Word of God is a primary means of grace. When we are meditating on it day and night we have access that water supply. And so we can grow strong like that big tree by the lake.
B. Godly people bear great fruit. Eventually we will bear fruit. Every tree reproduces at the proper time. If we are abiding, as Jesus puts it in John 15, we will bear fruit. But if we are not believing and obeying the truth, we will not bear fruit. You were made to bear the fruit of the Spirit and make disciples of others. If you aren’t bearing good fruit, it may be because your commitment is to something other than Jesus. What prospers is not your own agenda, but an agenda shaped by God’s word. This person puts his hand to God’s agenda. Each tree bears a particular fruit- an apple tree will not prosper if it tries to bear an orange.
Transition: What does God do to help us live well?
III. Godly people have hope in God’s promises (v. 6). Yes, God provides incentive for us. The contrast between the righteous and the wicked returns. The wicked perish, but God offers hope to those that seek Him.
A. Godly people are known by God. This is alluded to in verse 5 where the wicked are not known and accepted by God. The word translated “watches over” is the verb “to know”. You know: Adam knew Eve. God knows the godly in the same way- he is deeply committed to their well-being because He loves them. As a result He watches over them. His watching over us is to take care of us, not just observe. He actively works for our benefit- just like any good father.
B. Godly people are kept by God. He watches over them to keep them. This is alluded to in verse 3 in terms of prosperity. It is the prosperity of the soul, not health, wealth or success. Life won’t be easy, but you will grow closer to God and become more like Him. That is living well.
Conclusion: Those who seek to live for someone or something less than God will end up without Him. We should not kid ourselves. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his own soul? That is what you do if you live for your kids, or your spouse. That is what you do if you live for your job or your retirement. Living well requires that your heart be in the right place- loving God above all things. Living well occurs when we seek God in all things.
First, this was way too long. I was at a point where I was probably preaching too long. At this point in my ministry I was just beginning to understand the need for a redemptive-historical approach. As you can see, I really didn’t connect this to the history of redemption. I wrote this sermon as though it was written directly to Christians, not as though it had to be seen through the lens of the Cross and Jesus’ finished work for us.
Fast forward to 2004. I was candidating at a church in NJ. It was a difficult weekend because Hurricane Charley had just torn through Winter Haven and allergies were wrecking havoc with my head. I ended up not taking the position.
Intro: Election year- 2 voices call for 2 paths and 2 futures.
Big Idea: God invites us to walk a path that leads to great fulfillment.
I. Two Voices Call Us (vv. 1-2). The 2 parties call for our allegiance.
– The benefits of the covenant are offered to those who respond to God’s wisdom.
– Those in hell are there because they chose earth over heaven (Baxter).
– Earth-focused live as if God did not exist, and all things are lawful (Dosteovsky).
– The parallel statements show a downward progression- listener to mocker.
– It begins with accepting wrong-doing to eventually approving and enabling it.
– The God-focused person delights in God’s law or Word. Ill. Dad vs. Jesus
– The God-focused person sees that God wants the best for us.
– The God-focused person meditates or chews on God’s Word, starting with faith.
– This is very positive, focusing on the benefits of living right.
– The siren call of the world is attractive. Ill. Odyssey.
– Only attentive care to the call of the Gospel and His promises can drown it out.
Transition: Two voices vie for our attention and allegiance in a battle for our hearts.
II. The 2 Voices Point to 2 Paths (vv. 3-4). Personal responsibility vs. Gov’t intervention.
– The voices want our attention to determine the path we take- how we live!
– The God-focused person is pictured as a well-watered tree.
– It grows strong and produces fruit at the right time, enduring through hardship.
– God supplies what we need to be spiritually strong and productive in His Word.
– Those who listen AND by faith act stand firm in storms. Ill. Charley/tree
– The earth-focused person lacks this and is unproductive. Ill. Chaff
– This psalm isn’t calling us to a decision, but a lifestyle shaped by decisions.
– Each day we make decisions about work, sex, money and time.
– Each day, each moment we decide which path we walk. Ill. Susan
Transition: Each voice calls us to walk a different path with different lifestyles.
III. The Two Paths Lead to Two Destinations (vv. 5-6). Capitalism vs. Socialism.
– Those who live for this world, and themselves, won’t stand on the D of J.
– They took the road that seemed right to them, but it ended in death.
– They will reap the penalty for the evil they did. Actions have consequences.
– They are not welcome in the gathering of God’s people in the New Jerusalem.
– The God-focused will stand and be welcome among God’s people.
– Jesus gives them His obedience, and bore the penalty for their disobedience.
– Jesus qualifies all who trust Him to enter and remain in God’s presence.
– He watches over them NOW, showing His love by His constant care.
Conclusion: Whether you vote or not, one party will win and chart the course for the next few years, resulting in either prosperity or frustration for years to come. Far more important is which voice you respond to each day- God’s or the world’s. God offers you great wisdom about relationships, money, time and more that lead to a meaningful and significant life. The world offers you short-term pleasure, but brings long-term pain. God’s path may mean short-term pain, but it guarantees long-term pleasure. Which voice you listen to determines how you will live each day, and where you will spend eternity. I recommend that you choose wisely.
I’d been learning how to apply a redemptive-historical approach for 3 years. I still had no mastered it by any means. I connect it to the gospel, but still focus too much on what we do. I really liked the Baxter quote though. But this is still not fundamentally different from what you might hear in many non-Christian, but religious, contexts.
Now, 2009.
Intro: Valley of Death: draws on trees’ need for water to make his point.
Big Idea: Jesus sustains His people by His Word & Spirit.
I. You are influenced by 2 things: the Word & the world (vs. 1).
– God’s Word & the world compete for attention & influence.
– It is, in a sense, a battle for our hearts. Ill. Kids clamoring at worship
– Wicked– criminals, those who disrupt & destroy community.
– Sinners– habitual sinners who are subject to punishment for their actions
– Scorners/mockers- proud, resistant to reproof.
– But walking, standing & sitting imply granting them influence. Ill. TV (4 hrs)
– You can’t avoid the conflict, but you must recognize it.
Transition: We are influenced each day as the Word & the world compete for attention.
II. What you desire determines your character & destiny (vv. 2-5).
– 2 words for blessing: benediction vs. congratulations- result of walking straight.
– The Word & world shape our choices about $, marriage, work => character!
– Current choices produce future character: today forms who you are tomorrow.
– The Word will bring us blessing thru wisdom, but the world condemnation.
– They are like chaff, good for nothing, and eventually come to nothing (Prov.).
– Contrast that with the one who delights or desires God’s Word.
– If there is no desire/delight for God’s Word, something is wrong.
– Godly desire can be quenched by over-saturation with the World. Ill. Snacks/Eli
– Where there’s delight, a person meditates or mentally chews on it- internalization.
– This person is compared to a tree by a steady source of water: growing, fruitful.
– Trees depend on water like Christians depend on the Word. Ill. Oaks
– Fruit comes in season, at the right time. Growth is slow. Ill. Bamboo (2 ft/day)
– With deep roots, this person is able to withstand storm & drought.
– Guilt? We need the Word like we need food. Settle for too little.
Transition: What we give our attention to shapes our choices, character and destiny.
III. Jesus works in us to believe & obey Him (vs. 6).
– Desire the Word because Jesus reveals Himself in the Word.
– To know the Living Word, you must meditate/chew on the Written Word.
– Desire the Word because Jesus reveals His work for us in the Word- 2 Tim 3.
– We all have walked, stood & sat with sinners, as a sinner- deserve condemnation!
– Jesus earned blessing for us by delighting in & obeying God’s Word.
– Jesus sends the Spirit to help us believe the Word. Word necessary, insufficient.
– All who believe receive the Spirit, a stream of living water to sustain us (John 7).
– The Spirit works by the Word so ministry Spirit = ministry Word.
– Jesus sends the Spirit to help us obey the Word (James 1).
– The Spirit gives us new desires, moving us toward obedience.
– Confess your lack of desire & pray for the Spirit to give you a greater desire.
Conclusion: This Psalm sets forth a great picture of the ministry of the written Word in the life on someone who believes in the Living Word, Jesus. It is by the written Word that Jesus sustains His people, nurturing them so they grow and bear fruit.
This is not my final outline. There a few thoughts that show up from previous sermons. What I think is different is that I connect the Psalm with our need for the finished work of Christ. Apart from Him we cannot/will not delight in His Word. Instead we will be like the wicked who will vanish, blown away like chaff. Only Christ, who provides the Spirit, sustains us through the Word.
Cavman Considers 
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