WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480 we're following our school calendar and we've been preaching through the gospel according to 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:07.320 John the fourth gospel and then bouncing back about once a month to an Old Testament book. 00:00:07.419 --> 00:00:12.720 We preach through the book of Ruth and halfway through Jonah. But now we kick off what we're 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:17.940 doing over the summer which is one psalm per week. I'm really excited and preparing for the psalms 00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:24.519 was way harder. So we'll begin with Psalm 1 today. The genre that we're going to read here is 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:33.640 it's wisdom for life in God's kingdom. There are 150 psalms. The psalms they cover a span of 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:42.120 1,000 years. They're arranged into five books. Most likely was begun with David the first book. 00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:48.420 The next two books by under the leadership of King Hezekiah and then the last two books under the 00:00:48.420 --> 00:00:53.739 leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah. So five books and the genre I think is really important. That's 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:57.940 the biggest thing I've been learning to rightly understanding it especially on how to apply it. 00:00:59.219 --> 00:01:07.020 There's a great variety in the psalms. There's variety in length. Psalm 117 has only two verses. 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:18.000 Psalm 119 just too later has 176 verses. There's variety in mood, style, purpose, variety in metaphor. 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:23.219 Every psalm is going to take us to Israel. We're going to be in Israel. There are going to be metaphors 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:31.500 that will open up that ancient middle, yeah like that part of the world in a way that I think for 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:36.519 us will be so enriching for our life now in the spiritual kingdom of our Lord Jesus. There's also 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:44.439 variety in purpose. There are hymns of lament, hymns of thanksgiving. There are hymns of confidence like a 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:51.579 battle cry or an anthem for an army. There are hymns of wisdom and there are hymns of divine kingship. 00:01:51.579 --> 00:01:59.280 John Calvin said of the psalms, they are in anatomy of all the parts of the soul. All emotions of which 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:05.459 anyone can be conscious are here in the psalms represented as a mirror. The Holy Spirit has 00:02:05.459 --> 00:02:11.599 depicted for God's people in the Psalter all the griefs, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:18.520 all distracting emotions by which the minds of men become agitated. That's the end of Calvin's quote. 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:26.140 So as we read Psalm 1, remember this is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient 00:02:26.140 --> 00:02:30.540 word of God for you, his people. When I'm done reading, I'll say this is the word of the Lord. 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:34.460 You can respond by saying, thanks be to God. Psalm 1. 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:43.000 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, 00:02:43.420 --> 00:02:51.020 nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law 00:02:51.020 --> 00:02:58.700 doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth 00:02:58.699 --> 00:03:06.759 forth fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:16.599 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:22.939 shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:30.060 knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.020 Thanks be to God. Indeed, you may be seated. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:45.520 We read in Isaiah 40 that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:51.800 abides and remains forever. Would you pray with me? 00:03:52.939 --> 00:03:53.379 Amen. 00:03:59.060 --> 00:04:06.780 Oh Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, we ask. 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:08.699 For Christ's sake, amen. 00:04:12.659 --> 00:04:18.899 Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, there are two ways to live. 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:24.939 That's why Psalm 1 says, there are only two ways to live. 00:04:26.979 --> 00:04:36.739 C.S. Lewis wrote, if you, see if you and I, if we live for the next world, we get this one in the deal. 00:04:37.739 --> 00:04:42.479 But if you only live for this world, you lose them both. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:46.400 There are two ways to live, and only two. 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:55.860 I'd like to walk through Psalm 6 with six different, Psalm chapter 1, sorry, Psalm 1 with six questions. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:56.280 There we go. 00:04:57.280 --> 00:04:59.180 I gave you whiplash there, didn't I? 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:00.680 Flipping forward a few pages. 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:04.420 Psalm chapter, Psalm 1, and it's going to be six questions. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:10.319 The first question is, how does Psalm 1 describe the two ways? 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:11.360 That's the first one. 00:05:11.400 --> 00:05:12.020 What does it say? 00:05:12.340 --> 00:05:13.819 How are these two ways described? 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:20.520 This is poetry, and it's meant to be a prayer book, a song book, a devotional meditation for God's people. 00:05:21.020 --> 00:05:24.100 So how are the two ways to live described in Psalm 1? 00:05:25.080 --> 00:05:26.379 Well, the two ways, what are they? 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:30.540 First of all, there's the blessed way, the way that is blessed. 00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:33.439 And then secondly, there is the way that perishes. 00:05:34.520 --> 00:05:38.260 Now you'll notice, the very first word in Psalm 1, what is it? 00:05:39.760 --> 00:05:41.200 Blessed, blessed. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:43.600 And what is the very last word in Psalm 1? 00:05:45.080 --> 00:05:45.560 Perish. 00:05:46.320 --> 00:05:47.800 There's the contrast set up. 00:05:48.320 --> 00:05:53.700 Not only are those the first and the last words of this psalm, it's arranged beautifully as a little poem. 00:05:53.820 --> 00:05:55.259 It's very symmetrical in that way. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:06:02.120 But in the Hebrew, the first letter of the word blessed is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:07.599 And the first letter of the word perish is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:11.839 So the beginning, focus on blessed. 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:17.699 The end, the contrast, the opposite end, as far away as could be from a blessed life. 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:22.639 Let's talk about the blessed way first. 00:06:22.779 --> 00:06:27.500 So the blessed, that word blessed, it's found in all five books of the Psalter. 00:06:27.599 --> 00:06:31.039 Remember, 150 Psalms divided into five books. 00:06:31.719 --> 00:06:36.919 And I do believe that in the editing, in the arranging of the Psalter, the Holy Spirit was working. 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:44.159 So even though the context and the way that every single song and hymn was arranged was under the oversight of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:49.580 And so this is a very important theme that will be found throughout the entire Psalter, to be blessed. 00:06:50.140 --> 00:06:55.860 So the question I want you to reflect on as we look at the two ways is, why is this Psalm number one? 00:06:56.760 --> 00:07:00.920 When you open up a great Psalter, whatever you read first is very significant. 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:02.560 I want you to think about why is that? 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:03.800 Why is it Psalm one? 00:07:05.220 --> 00:07:07.340 Well, the word blessed is used in the plural. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:09.060 Thrice blessed. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:12.820 The blessednesses, as one translator put it. 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:17.959 And it's not to be changed in the gender of who this refers to. 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:23.279 It says literally would be, oh, the blessednesses of the man. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.579 That's what the first line says. 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:27.399 That's how the entire Psalter begins. 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:33.060 It's a man who is not influenced by pagan thoughts or words. 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:36.339 Verse two, the blessed man's delight. 00:07:36.339 --> 00:07:40.039 The delight of his heart is in the law of the Lord. 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:43.119 And in this law does he meditate day and night. 00:07:43.479 --> 00:07:50.839 The word meditate, it means to murmur, to be talking back through it in undertones. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:57.419 The Orthodox Jews to this day, as they have the Torah in front of them, they're reading it with their eyes, 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:02.459 but they're also reciting, they're talking back, they're getting it inside of them using their lips as well. 00:08:02.459 --> 00:08:10.500 That's the picture of meditating on the law, to memorize it, to rehearse the law, to get it inside of you. 00:08:11.739 --> 00:08:20.259 Verse three, the blessed man shall be like a tree full of life, planted by the rivers of water. 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:29.579 A tree that's planted by water like that, you picture a desert in Israel, but then you see this constantly flowing stream. 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:35.960 This part that will always have green and life all around it, where the birds will find shelter and food. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:40.799 And this entire little ecosystem develops along the river. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:47.539 This is that great tree that rises up, and there will not be a moment in the year where this tree lacks water. 00:08:47.539 --> 00:08:54.759 Endurance, abundance, resources that are plenty. 00:08:57.419 --> 00:09:02.599 He brings forth his fruit in his season. 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:06.779 His leaf also shall not wither. 00:09:07.219 --> 00:09:10.779 So this is true even into old age of this blessed man. 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.059 Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:19.539 Verse five, the blessed man stands in the judgment. 00:09:21.239 --> 00:09:22.479 He has a place. 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:23.199 He is welcome. 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:27.299 He is not cast out of the congregation of the righteous. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:30.939 And notice verse six, the Lord. 00:09:31.699 --> 00:09:37.219 It's the Lord himself who knows the way of the righteous, the blessed man. 00:09:37.220 --> 00:09:43.180 A professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, Mark Futado, said, 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:51.540 The purpose of the book of Psalms is to serve as an instruction manual for experiencing the abundant life that God intends, 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:54.720 both in creation and redemption. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:10:00.759 And this description of this blessed man who is flourishing in this life, 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.740 he is a man who walks in the way of the Lord. 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:11.860 But there's two ways to live, the blessed way and the way that perishes. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.980 So let's look at that second way to live, the way that perishes. 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:16.919 Look at verse four. 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:19.639 The ungodly are not so. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:24.120 See, the ungodly walk in a way that is not blessed. 00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:31.100 Verse one, the way that perishes is a way that walks in the counsel of the ungodly. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:36.820 Some have observed that when you're walking with someone, your focus is on what you're hearing. 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:42.460 You're usually looking ahead, but your conversation, it's through the ears that you're being influenced. 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:45.580 The ungodly stand in the way of sinners. 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:48.620 When you're standing, you are looking. 00:10:48.800 --> 00:10:50.279 Now it's the focus on the eyes. 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.860 And sits in the seat of the scornful. 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:59.139 When you're seated, you're comfortable, you're contributing, you're part of that conversation. 00:10:59.300 --> 00:11:01.139 It's a focus on the mouth. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:04.220 That's the way that perishes. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:11.340 Proverbs 9.7 says, you correct a scoffer and you're getting abuse for yourself. 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:16.879 Verse two, the way that perishes does not delight in the law of the Lord, 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:19.680 does not meditate on the law of the Lord. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:25.559 No, all the influence, all the stimuli is coming from scornful, sinful men. 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:29.599 Verse four, the ungodly do not prosper. 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:30.679 They are not rooted. 00:11:31.079 --> 00:11:32.159 They do not bear fruit. 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.919 They're not like the blessed man. 00:11:34.439 --> 00:11:38.759 But they are like chaff, which the wind drives away. 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:42.559 So you picture a barley field in Israel. 00:11:43.459 --> 00:11:48.039 And at harvest time, they come through with a sickle and they cut off the grain. 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:53.939 And then what's left is the straw that's been cut off, the roots that are dead and dry. 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:59.159 And that chaff, it's so lifeless that even the wind blows it to nothing. 00:12:01.339 --> 00:12:08.500 Verse five, if you walk in this way, the way that perishes, then you shall not stand in the judgment. 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:12.259 You will be like the chaff cut down, blown away by the wind. 00:12:12.579 --> 00:12:14.639 John the Baptist taps into this image. 00:12:14.719 --> 00:12:16.500 He says, you will be thrown into the fire. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:18.879 I was pulling weeds this time of year. 00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:20.139 Weeds are popping up everywhere. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:25.500 And I pulled some big ugly ones before someone complains to me through the HOA. 00:12:25.820 --> 00:12:27.299 And we had this little fire pit. 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:31.279 And I just pulled these weeds out and I put them straight inside the fire pit because they're going to wither up. 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:32.360 They're going to be dry. 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.840 And they'll serve as kindling. 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:36.620 That's the picture of the way that perishes. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.960 It's like a weed. 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:40.000 It amounts to nothing. 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:46.379 See, verse six, the Lord does not know the wicked who walk in this way. 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:50.659 This way, it goes the opposite of the way that the Lord knows. 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:54.240 The Lord knows not those who walk away from him. 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:58.799 And it's the way of the ungodly that will perish. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.600 The word perish means comes to nothing. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:04.620 I'm reminded of that little phrase. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:06.500 You'll see it sometimes displayed on a window. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:09.100 I adapted it a bit. 00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:10.240 And it says this. 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:17.860 This one life will soon be passed and only what's lived in Christ will last. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:20.420 All else perishes, you see. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.480 That's what the Bible teaches. 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.940 All else comes to nothing. 00:13:24.900 --> 00:13:26.560 That's an unhappy life. 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:29.160 That's a life that is not blessed. 00:13:31.280 --> 00:13:33.360 There are two ways to live. 00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:40.340 If you look at your life now, what is it that will last? 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.640 That's how you know which way you're on. 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:49.080 As you're living your life, what will last and what will perish? 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.759 I want to draw one final contrast between the two. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:54.319 It's this. 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:58.100 This trajectory is set. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:00.879 And I'm wondering, what is it that directs the path? 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:02.199 That you will stay on that path? 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:06.240 So first of all, what directs the way of the man that is blessed? 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:09.659 Verse 2, his delight is in the law of the Lord. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:13.700 And in his law does he meditate day and night. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:21.100 The way that's blessed is directed by the law, the word, the Psalter, the Torah. 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:23.259 It's directed by the word of the Lord. 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:26.379 That's what directs the path day and night of the way that is blessed. 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:36.480 Some have observed how just as there are five books of the law, the Torah is the first five books of the Bible. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:40.519 So that's the editors here dividing the Psalter into five books of the law. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:46.659 And so by meditating on the Psalter, you're taken into all of God's counsel. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:47.860 You're taken into the Torah. 00:14:48.439 --> 00:14:53.740 And the Psalter will trigger you of the history of God's people, the history of redemption, how God has been so faithful. 00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:58.120 You're meditating through his word on all of redemptive history. 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:04.980 Calvin said the psalmist exhorts the faithful to read the Psalms as you read all of God's word. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.299 That's the way that's blessed. 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.580 What about the way that perishes? 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:12.220 What directs that way, the way that perishes? 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:15.360 Well, we see it in verse 1. 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.460 It's directed by the counsel of the ungodly. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:24.340 It's directed by words and thoughts that are flooding into your mind. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.480 You're standing in the way of sinners. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:29.780 So you're putting yourself where you know sin will be. 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:34.259 And you are gazing at temptation and sitting with the scornful, 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:41.340 so comfortable in this world that there is no evidence that you are not of the world. 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:47.720 There are two ways to live, the way that is blessed and the way that perishes. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:52.680 There are only two ways, and it matters how you live this life. 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:57.660 So let me ask you this question before we move on to our second point. 00:15:59.040 --> 00:16:00.139 You see the two ways. 00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:02.180 Which way do you want to live? 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:05.040 Which way do you want to live? 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:08.559 Second observation. 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:12.399 What's the context here? 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:20.939 We saw how the two ways are described, but why is this the first psalm, and what's the context? 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:25.419 I've mentioned that the Psalter is divided into five books. 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:31.839 Richard Gaffin, another seminary professor, he pointed out that this first grouping of books, 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.000 we could call it the book of confrontation. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.440 The main theme is this. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:45.039 The first book presents the divinely called king in his struggle over against the enemies of the Lord and his people. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:50.039 That's why I emphasize that this is really directions for a king. 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:53.759 Blessed is this type of man, this type of king. 00:16:56.259 --> 00:17:03.679 Psalm 1 is a song for God's law to rule over the king of Israel. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.779 That's the immediate context. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.240 That's the immediate context. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:11.940 So it's like saying, listen, all of Israel, all you people, you need to know. 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:16.700 You need to know the law of the Lord because that law rules over your king. 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:19.099 So it's for all the people. 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:22.980 But it's an exhortation on the king. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:27.299 There are two ways for God's appointed king to live. 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:31.519 Let me give you a bit broader context. 00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:34.219 Deuteronomy 17.14 says this. 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:36.819 Now, Deuteronomy, this is from the pen of Moses. 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:40.039 And Moses didn't even get into the promised land. 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:43.500 It would be much later that Israel would become a nation with a king. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:47.920 But listen to what God told the people through Moses way back before they even entered. 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:50.720 Deuteronomy 17.14. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:56.359 When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you will say, this is the people, they will say, 00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:59.299 we will set a king over us like all the other nations. 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:04.359 God says to them, you may set a king over you whom the Lord will choose. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:08.420 See, but Psalm 1 gives us this insight. 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:18.400 I will only bless the king that is not like all the other nations, that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly pagan nations without God and without his law. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:29.240 I will only bless a king who does not stand in that way like those sinful nations, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, thinking that they're above the law or above God. 00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:30.700 That's not the king God will bless. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:43.700 Deuteronomy 17 says, when the king sits on the throne of my kingdom, he shall write for himself a book, a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:50.980 See, the king's first job when he sits on the throne is to make a copy with his own hand of the law of God that is over him. 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:55.400 And his copy of the law must be approved by the Levitical priests. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:00.059 That's the role of the law through the king over the people of Israel. 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:02.359 It's a king under the law. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:18.899 And the law, it shall be with him and he shall read it in all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord, his God, by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes and doing them. 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:22.099 That's what the king of Israel was to do. 00:19:22.419 --> 00:19:24.299 That's what the law called for. 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:37.440 Psalm 1 verse 2 says, the delight of this blessed man shall be in the law of the Lord and on his law he shall meditate day and night. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:39.139 Do you hear that similarity of language? 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:45.980 There's a theological implication for the people of God. 00:19:46.520 --> 00:19:55.660 It's that God's blessings upon the divinely appointed king are conditional upon the king's keeping of God's law. 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:57.500 That's a very important point. 00:19:57.500 --> 00:20:05.960 God's blessings upon this divinely appointed king are conditional upon that king keeping God's law. 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:09.299 Well, who can do that? 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:13.799 We know David, who's often held up as the most God-fearing man. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:17.420 Did he keep God's law perfectly, personally, and perpetually? 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.839 No. 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:22.200 No, he was considered himself like Paul, the worst of sinners. 00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:25.779 Who can keep God's law perfectly this way? 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:28.200 Who can meditate on God's law day and night? 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:34.480 God's blessings upon the divinely appointed king are conditional. 00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:38.759 And it's a condition that no man can keep. 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:44.139 So the condition of the law upon the king of Israel, it's a law that slays. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:48.399 Romans 3, 10, 11 confirms this. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:53.279 As it is written, so here's Paul writing to the church in Rome, but he's citing Psalm 53. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.440 None is righteous. 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:57.200 No, not one. 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:59.019 No one understands. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:02.099 No one seeks after God. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.160 Who can keep the law? 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:18.279 I was talking to a guy at work, and he just said with his new job, his new role, I won't give details to not make you guess, but he just said he's had to change how he acts in public. 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:24.279 He said, you know, I go to the store, I know I got eyes on me, and here's how he said it. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:28.899 Everywhere I go, I need to be on my best behavior all the time. 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:36.000 He said, I might just start shaking and blow up because I have to be so good. 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.519 See, the law slays. 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.879 Who can be that good? 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.859 We just sang this, didn't we? 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:45.740 Your perfect law exposes me. 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:50.180 I feel my sin and desperate need. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:56.900 My best good works are powerless to satisfy your righteousness. 00:21:58.339 --> 00:22:00.359 There are two ways to live. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:06.440 There's the way that's blessed and the way that perishes, and it matters how you live. 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:10.000 Let the law slay you right now. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:12.779 Do you meditate on God's law day and night? 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:17.379 Do you think you're a little bit better than those failed kings over Israel? 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:26.000 Can you earn one blessing, one blessing by law keeping perfectly for yourself? 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:26.839 I can't. 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:34.720 Well, the next question then is, what did Psalm 1 mean for all of God's people? 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:37.379 What is the principle then? 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:40.819 If this is the first Psalm to set the tone over the nation, 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:43.740 what did this mean for the nation? 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:47.919 And here's the principle in the words of Myles Van Pelt, 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:50.240 one of my favorite Old Testament guys to learn from. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.200 He's a Hebrew scholar. 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:54.259 Here's the principle, and I'll prove this next, okay? 00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:59.519 As goes the king, so goes his kingdom. 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.720 As goes the king, so goes his kingdom. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.659 Why should the people of Israel care? 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.299 Why does it matter? 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:10.799 Because as goes the king, so goes the kingdom. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:13.359 Don't you see that principle as you read through the Old Testament? 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:21.319 God's blessings will only flow to God's people through His divinely appointed king who is under God's law. 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.919 Now let me show you something super cool. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.359 I would have never picked this up on my own. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.740 See if you agree with this. 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:29.839 Look in Psalm 1, and then Psalm 2 is right next to it. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.980 You've got to ask, why is this Psalm 1? 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.180 And then why is that Psalm 2? 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:37.340 And you'll notice as well, Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 don't have a superscription. 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:42.539 They don't have a reference to say who wrote it, or what the context was, or what style it should be sung. 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:45.240 So Psalm 1 and 2 are very special. 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.660 They're almost like the introduction. 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:49.759 Some have even seen them as one psalm. 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:52.160 It's kind of like part A, part B of the introduction. 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:57.560 Now, we looked at how blessed is the first word in Psalm 1. 00:23:57.559 --> 00:24:02.839 Notice what the last verse of Psalm 2, how it starts. 00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.879 Psalm 2, verse 12. 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:09.299 Blessed are they that put their trust in Him. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:14.599 And next week we'll look at Psalm 2 to see exactly who this Him is. 00:24:14.679 --> 00:24:17.919 This great king, God Himself over the people. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:23.799 So many have pointed out all of David's psalms, when he starts with blessed, he ends with blessed. 00:24:23.919 --> 00:24:25.000 That's called an inclusio. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.419 He's creating bookends. 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.980 He's showing you there's unity here. 00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:30.039 Everything I'm going to say here is going to be related. 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.960 So what does Psalm 1 mean for the people? 00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:36.539 As goes the king, so goes the kingdom. 00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:40.840 Only the blessed king can bring blessing on all the people. 00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:46.019 See how Psalm 2 ends with, blessed are all of you who put your trust in this great king. 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:49.840 The theme continues from Psalm 1 into Psalm 2. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:25:01.539 Now, before we jump too far ahead in redemptive history, we can't skip back these other kings to set up this contrast of the two ways to live and the two ways that a king can live. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:06.439 Let me show you this contrast in the book of 2 Kings and in 1 Kings. 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:08.220 2 Kings 22, 2. 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:10.160 I want to give you the positive example first. 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.039 Josiah. 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:14.880 What's a king in Israel that walked the blessed way? 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.500 Josiah, 2 Kings 22. 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:20.539 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:25.539 He walked in all the way of David his father and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:29.779 That sounds like the command in Deuteronomy 17, doesn't it? 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:31.159 Sounds like Psalm 1. 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:36.619 You could say Josiah, though not perfectly, the pattern is being set up for us. 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:38.619 As goes the king, so goes the kingdom. 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:40.579 When was the time when Israel was blessed? 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:48.139 Well, Josiah, again, not perfectly or perpetually or personally, but Josiah, in comparison to all the other kings of Israel, 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:51.399 he was like a tree planted by rivers of water. 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:57.180 And he bore fruit in season and through him came blessing on the land. 00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:58.720 Israel prospered. 00:25:58.800 --> 00:26:00.340 The Lord was teaching them this pattern. 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:02.080 As goes the king, so goes the kingdom. 00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:06.560 But there's the contrast to the other side, which is the majority of all the kings of Israel. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:08.560 1 Kings 11, 3. 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:11.800 God says this of all the people. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:18.360 He says, they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules. 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:23.740 What's the consequence for the king and the people forsaking God? 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.479 It's that they will be banished. 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.599 They will be cursed. 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:31.619 Well, Israel followed that way. 00:26:31.719 --> 00:26:34.659 Then the prophecy comes to Judah, the two remaining tribes. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.039 Which way will you walk? 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:40.740 Will you walk in the way that's blessed or will you walk in the way of Israel and go to banishment? 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:48.279 And in 2 Kings 16, 3, we're told of a wicked king, Ahaz, to give this other contrast. 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:52.440 Ahaz walked in the way of the kings of Israel. 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:56.359 He walked the way that perished, being from the two tribes in the south as well. 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:58.359 Listen to how wicked he became. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:03.079 He even burned his own son as an offering, 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:10.439 according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before Israel. 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:15.539 See him sitting in the way of the wicked and the counsel of like all the other nations, 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:18.339 to the point of offering his own son. 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:24.899 Psalm 1, verse 4 describes King Ahaz. 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.799 He was not so. 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:28.539 He was not like the blessed man. 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:32.220 He was more like the chap that the wind would drive away. 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:35.359 He did not stand in God's judgment. 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:41.259 Instead, he was banished from God's righteous congregation in the land. 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:44.960 First Israel, then Judah. 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:49.480 There's no king over Israel that could fulfill God's law, 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:52.359 that could truly become the blessed man. 00:27:52.359 --> 00:28:01.219 Now, Psalm 1 gives us some images of a river and of tree and fruit. 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:05.939 And then he gives us the image of chaff and judgment. 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:11.139 For the Israelites, this would have brought back to mind creation. 00:28:12.199 --> 00:28:16.379 Psalm 1, placed at the very beginning, loaded with these images of Eden. 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:20.939 Adam was told to rule and subdue all creation. 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:23.980 He was like the king over Eden. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:30.220 And instead of enjoying the tree of life and the abundant fruit, 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.559 Adam rebelled. 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:37.299 And he was banished east of Eden. 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:40.980 Just as Israel was taken east to Assyria, 00:28:41.840 --> 00:28:43.680 Judah was taken east into Babylon. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:47.980 Would there be a second Adam? 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:51.799 Would there be one great blessed king? 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:56.019 Because God's blessings will only flow to God's people 00:28:56.019 --> 00:29:00.200 through a divinely appointed king who is under God's law. 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:06.740 A new Adam, a new king is needed for God's blessings to flow to his people. 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:13.200 A new Adam is needed to enter into the holy of holies. 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:19.240 The temple represents the presence of the holy God meeting with sinners. 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:21.799 And you know which way the door of the temple faces. 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.519 It's east. 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:25.359 Christ would be the one to reenter, 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:27.759 to bring his people back into the fellowship, 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.599 the kingdom of his father. 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:32.139 And Psalm 1 makes this clear. 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.939 There are only two ways to live. 00:29:34.439 --> 00:29:37.240 And as goes the king, so goes his kingdom. 00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.799 Romans 5 says, 00:29:39.219 --> 00:29:42.099 All are under the federal headship of Adam. 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:45.519 And as Adam went, so went all of humanity. 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:48.279 We are all cursed, banished. 00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:50.480 We are in the domain of darkness. 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:54.419 We are in the kingdom of chaff. 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:57.420 We are in this perishing fiefdom. 00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:01.259 And it matters how we live. 00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:05.680 Which kingdom dominates the way you live now? 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:08.539 Are you still under the curse of Adam in the wilderness? 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:12.759 Well, the fourth observation here 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:18.200 is how does Psalm 1 speak of the great king? 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:23.980 It matters for us how our great king lived. 00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:26.160 Not only that he died for us. 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:28.460 How did our great king live for us? 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:31.779 Look at Psalm 1 verse 6. 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.039 See? 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:36.000 I think this is a gospel hint. 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.420 Verse 6 says, 00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:42.440 The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous. 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:46.840 God himself knows the blessed way. 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:51.439 It's God alone who knows the way of righteousness. 00:30:52.459 --> 00:30:53.819 All other men are wicked 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:57.819 and know only the way of the ungodly that perishes. 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:03.319 But Jesus came as the true and better Joshua. 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:06.619 He would be the one to lead them into this kingdom. 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:10.819 This spiritual kingdom of peace and bounty and abundance. 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:14.339 Listen to Joshua chapter 1 verse 8. 00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:17.439 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:21.220 but you shall meditate on it day and night. 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.759 I read this from Joshua 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:25.179 because this is what Christ knew he had to fulfill. 00:31:25.679 --> 00:31:27.279 To be the greater Joshua. 00:31:27.659 --> 00:31:30.579 To enter and lead the people out of banishment and exile 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:32.339 into God's promised kingdom. 00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:35.139 This is what he had to fulfill with his life. 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:40.820 Know God's law so that you may be careful to do 00:31:40.820 --> 00:31:42.560 according to all that is written. 00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:46.940 For then you will make your way prosperous 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:50.680 and then you will have good success. 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:54.780 Jesus knew that he had to take on the flesh 00:31:54.780 --> 00:31:57.740 and he had to live the perfect sinless life. 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:59.100 And the way to do that 00:31:59.100 --> 00:32:03.280 was by having the law of God on his mouth. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:07.619 See, we saw that this law of God, 00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:09.519 it slays us in our pride, doesn't it? 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.299 Our law keeping. 00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.799 We come up short every time. 00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:14.819 John Gill, he pointed out, 00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:17.000 the law of Moses was a fiery law. 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:20.420 It was a law of works, a law of wrath. 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:22.039 It accuses of sin. 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:23.220 It pronounces guilty. 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:26.220 It curses and condemns you to death. 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:29.099 So then we have a problem. 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:32.019 Psalm 1 verse 2 says, 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:35.179 the delight of the blessed man. 00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:37.299 The delight is on the law of the Lord. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:39.559 And if that's how the law is, 00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:41.679 how can you delight in that type of a law? 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.139 And Gill goes on to write, 00:32:44.939 --> 00:32:48.359 unless the law is in the hands of Christ 00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:51.799 and as fulfilled by Christ, 00:32:52.159 --> 00:32:53.919 who is the end of the law, 00:32:54.459 --> 00:32:58.079 as it is written on the heart of the regenerate man, 00:32:58.079 --> 00:33:04.339 only then can anyone delight in the law of God. 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:09.079 It becomes a law that changes his delights. 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:10.720 It changes your desire. 00:33:11.899 --> 00:33:13.419 It's a law inside you, 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:15.199 in the inward being. 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:17.799 And it serves. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:20.740 It serves as the voice of God, 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:23.500 the Holy Spirit directing the way 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:26.039 that you walk in the blessedness of Christ. 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:28.139 We can sing, 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.000 praise God, 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:32.420 there's one who lived for me. 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:33.240 His life, 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:35.180 my only victory. 00:33:36.139 --> 00:33:36.859 His death, 00:33:37.339 --> 00:33:37.899 forever, 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.579 sealed in time, 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.399 that I am His 00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:43.019 and He is mine. 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:45.399 See, it's the righteousness of God 00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:47.539 lived on earth, 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.539 in history, 00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.720 by Jesus Christ. 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:52.099 That is your righteousness. 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:55.179 The good news is that 00:33:55.179 --> 00:33:56.740 the righteousness of Christ 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:58.019 cannot be corrupted. 00:33:58.179 --> 00:33:59.299 It is sealed in time. 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:02.339 Christ will not sin. 00:34:02.459 --> 00:34:03.399 He never did sin. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.259 He lived. 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.980 The Father rose Him from the dead 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.779 to confirm. 00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:08.079 He merited, 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.659 not because of anything He lacked, 00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:11.219 but He merited for you and for me 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.119 the righteousness 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.779 we could never hope for. 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.880 That's why it matters for us 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.239 how our great King lived. 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:22.719 Now the way of the wicked perishes. 00:34:22.899 --> 00:34:25.079 The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, 00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:26.659 nor sinners in the congregation 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:28.359 of the righteous one. 00:34:29.959 --> 00:34:32.019 See, when the kingdom of heaven 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:33.359 is pictured on earth, 00:34:33.419 --> 00:34:34.099 it's the church. 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.759 This kingdom, 00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:37.199 this kingdom of heaven, 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:39.079 it's represented in the church. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.779 And Jesus says, 00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:42.079 this is the day of salvation. 00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.879 Go out into the highways 00:34:43.879 --> 00:34:44.599 and the byways, 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.819 shake the bushes, 00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:49.140 compel sinners to come to Christ now. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.840 Now is the hour of His salvation. 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:53.160 Come into this congregation 00:34:53.160 --> 00:34:54.580 of those who have been clothed 00:34:54.580 --> 00:34:56.100 with the righteousness of Christ. 00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:59.559 But there is a day of judgment coming 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:01.660 when Christ comes for the second time. 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.380 There is a day where 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:05.760 unless you are covered in Christ's righteousness, 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:08.480 you cannot stand before God. 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:11.180 Listen to how Jude describes this. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:12.340 Jude 15, 16. 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:14.720 Behold, the Lord comes 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:17.720 with 10,000 of His holy ones 00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:20.600 to execute judgment on all 00:35:20.600 --> 00:35:22.720 and to convict all the ungodly 00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:24.880 of all their deeds of ungodliness 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:27.940 and of all the harsh things, 00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:29.720 the mocking things, 00:35:29.820 --> 00:35:30.880 the scoffing things 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.280 that the ungodly sinners 00:35:32.280 --> 00:35:34.480 have spoken against Him. 00:35:35.160 --> 00:35:37.380 There is a day of judgment coming. 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.260 Unless you are covered 00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:39.559 in Christ's righteousness, 00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:41.199 you cannot stand 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:42.840 on that day of His judgment. 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.599 So how do you respond? 00:35:47.299 --> 00:35:48.460 Well, let's let the Psalter 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:49.759 teach us how to respond. 00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:52.059 Psalm 32, 1 and 2. 00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.480 Listen to how it picks up 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.400 on this same theme. 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:56.960 Blessed. 00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.119 Blessed. 00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:59.400 Blessed is the one 00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.239 who is blessed. 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:02.019 Blessed is the one 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:04.360 whose transgression is forgiven, 00:36:04.779 --> 00:36:05.719 whose sin is covered. 00:36:06.279 --> 00:36:07.400 Blessed is the one 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.700 against whom the Lord 00:36:08.700 --> 00:36:10.579 counts no iniquity, 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.780 in whose spirit 00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:13.119 there is no deceit. 00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.320 Blessed is the one 00:36:15.320 --> 00:36:16.599 who can acknowledge 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:18.460 my sin to you. 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:20.980 I did not cover up 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.680 my iniquity. 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.139 I said, 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:23.059 I will confess 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.960 my transgressions 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.599 to the Lord. 00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.519 And look at the response 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:26.980 of God. 00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:29.180 You forgave 00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:30.240 the iniquity 00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:31.180 of my sin. 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:33.980 Praise the Lord 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:36.019 that He forgives 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:37.139 and He blesses 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:38.219 sinners like me 00:36:38.219 --> 00:36:38.820 and like you. 00:36:39.740 --> 00:36:40.900 Now the final response 00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:41.719 in Psalm 32 00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:42.179 is says, 00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.119 I will, 00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.039 I will now 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.840 out of gratitude 00:36:44.840 --> 00:36:46.199 standing in His righteousness 00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:47.440 blessed because 00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:48.440 He is gracious. 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.240 I will instruct you 00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.659 and teach you 00:36:51.659 --> 00:36:52.900 the way you should go. 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.179 He doesn't send you 00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:55.079 back into the wilderness 00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:56.539 without His law. 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.800 If you're in His kingdom, 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:59.119 His law rules over you 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:00.039 and His Spirit 00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:01.719 gently instructs you 00:37:01.719 --> 00:37:02.260 and makes you 00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:02.980 to delight 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:04.560 in what pleases Him. 00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:06.960 Do you see how 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.800 Psalm 1 makes this 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:08.300 very clear? 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:09.020 There are two ways 00:37:09.020 --> 00:37:09.380 to live 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.080 and it matters 00:37:10.080 --> 00:37:10.840 how you live. 00:37:13.600 --> 00:37:14.460 And it matters 00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:15.280 how we live 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:17.640 because it mattered 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:18.640 how our Lord Jesus 00:37:18.640 --> 00:37:20.300 lived for us. 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:23.200 The value of your life now, 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:24.000 how you live, 00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:25.620 the fruits that He's bearing 00:37:25.620 --> 00:37:26.240 in your life, 00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:28.040 it matters so much. 00:37:28.120 --> 00:37:28.980 That's why He came 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.980 to live for you. 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:32.220 It matters how He lived 00:37:32.219 --> 00:37:32.819 for you. 00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.259 And now it matters 00:37:34.259 --> 00:37:35.839 how you live in Him. 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:38.399 Well, the fifth observation 00:37:38.399 --> 00:37:39.980 is what Psalm 1 means 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:41.359 now for His global kingdom. 00:37:41.959 --> 00:37:42.739 Because you remember 00:37:42.739 --> 00:37:43.839 that principle in Israel? 00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:45.480 As goes the king over Israel, 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.379 so goes the kingdom. 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:48.159 This has to be true 00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:48.980 now of Christ. 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:50.799 As goes Christ 00:37:50.799 --> 00:37:52.399 in glory, 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.619 so goes His kingdom 00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:54.399 on earth. 00:37:54.679 --> 00:37:55.559 This gives us hope. 00:37:57.159 --> 00:37:58.259 King Jesus said, 00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:59.280 the other kings 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:01.260 are like hirelings. 00:38:01.820 --> 00:38:02.840 All the other kings 00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:03.420 of the nations. 00:38:03.540 --> 00:38:04.540 Why would you go after them? 00:38:04.580 --> 00:38:05.600 That's the way that perishes. 00:38:06.040 --> 00:38:06.440 Do you remember 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:07.620 in John chapter 10? 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.420 He says, 00:38:08.640 --> 00:38:09.200 all the other kings 00:38:09.200 --> 00:38:09.860 that went before me, 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:10.580 they're like thieves 00:38:10.580 --> 00:38:11.280 or hirelings. 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:12.760 They're like wolves. 00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:14.560 But King Jesus came 00:38:14.560 --> 00:38:16.560 not to kill and destroy 00:38:16.560 --> 00:38:17.720 like those thieves. 00:38:18.140 --> 00:38:19.280 He came that you 00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:20.520 may have life 00:38:20.520 --> 00:38:22.040 and that you may have life 00:38:22.040 --> 00:38:22.580 abundant. 00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:24.519 All the blessings 00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:26.099 of being in the tree 00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:26.940 of King Jesus 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:28.519 are now for you. 00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:32.199 After Jesus conquered death, 00:38:32.319 --> 00:38:33.199 listen to His words 00:38:33.199 --> 00:38:33.860 when He came back 00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:34.739 and told His disciples 00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:35.699 in Luke 24. 00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:37.019 He said, 00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:38.239 these are my words 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:39.659 that I spoke to you 00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:40.679 while I was still with you 00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:41.400 that everything 00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:43.460 written about me 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.880 in the law of Moses 00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:45.699 and the prophets, 00:38:45.860 --> 00:38:46.019 listen, 00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:48.239 and the Psalms 00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:49.739 was written about me. 00:38:49.739 --> 00:38:53.039 It must be fulfilled. 00:38:53.739 --> 00:38:54.839 So who were the Psalms 00:38:54.839 --> 00:38:55.500 written about? 00:38:56.339 --> 00:38:57.359 King Jesus. 00:38:58.159 --> 00:38:59.779 And He came to fulfill 00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:00.879 the Psalms. 00:39:02.299 --> 00:39:02.939 Then, 00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:04.119 this is still Luke 24, 00:39:04.259 --> 00:39:05.359 then Jesus opened 00:39:05.359 --> 00:39:06.699 their minds 00:39:06.699 --> 00:39:07.739 to understand 00:39:08.459 --> 00:39:09.419 the Scriptures. 00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:11.959 And He said to them, 00:39:12.299 --> 00:39:13.119 thus it is written, 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.339 that the Christ 00:39:14.339 --> 00:39:15.199 should suffer 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:16.059 and on the third day 00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:17.419 rise from the dead 00:39:17.419 --> 00:39:18.539 and that repentance 00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:19.860 for the forgiveness 00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:20.500 of sins 00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:22.239 should be proclaimed 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:23.400 in His name 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:24.900 to all nations 00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:26.340 beginning from Jerusalem. 00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:28.159 You're going to proclaim 00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:29.119 forgiveness 00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:29.920 and repentance 00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:31.880 from all of the Bible 00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:33.559 including the Psalms. 00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:34.900 That's how the Psalms 00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.440 are meant to be 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.199 proclaimed now. 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.860 Psalm 1, 00:39:40.940 --> 00:39:41.719 look at verse 3. 00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:44.599 King Jesus, 00:39:44.940 --> 00:39:46.279 He transformed 00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:47.540 this tree planted 00:39:47.540 --> 00:39:49.760 on the hill 00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:50.400 of the skull 00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:54.120 into a tree 00:39:54.120 --> 00:39:55.260 planted by rivers 00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:55.820 of water. 00:39:56.660 --> 00:39:57.720 Through His tree, 00:39:58.500 --> 00:39:59.500 through His cross, 00:40:00.160 --> 00:40:01.220 He brings forth 00:40:01.220 --> 00:40:03.140 His fruit 00:40:03.140 --> 00:40:05.300 in His season. 00:40:06.560 --> 00:40:07.940 This is the season 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:09.120 of the tree of life. 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:12.860 It's life abundant. 00:40:13.120 --> 00:40:14.420 It's life that does not 00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:15.680 wither in Christ. 00:40:16.180 --> 00:40:17.360 It's life that abounds 00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:18.280 and prospers. 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:21.300 Hear that same imagery 00:40:21.300 --> 00:40:22.180 now at the end 00:40:22.180 --> 00:40:23.300 of all of Revelation. 00:40:23.460 --> 00:40:25.000 Revelation 22, 00:40:25.180 --> 00:40:25.800 verse 2. 00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.320 John, 00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.139 the apostle, 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.619 saw the tree of life 00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:30.200 in the midst 00:40:30.200 --> 00:40:31.840 of the street of it 00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:33.380 and on either side 00:40:33.380 --> 00:40:34.480 of the river. 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.159 See this tree, 00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:37.960 it fills the city 00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:39.500 on either side 00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:39.980 of the river. 00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:41.599 And listen to the description. 00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:43.159 this tree, 00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:45.539 it bore 12 00:40:45.539 --> 00:40:47.299 manner of fruits. 00:40:47.699 --> 00:40:48.380 12 represents 00:40:48.380 --> 00:40:49.059 the fullness, 00:40:49.619 --> 00:40:50.440 restoring all 00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:51.619 that God had promised 00:40:51.619 --> 00:40:52.940 to His people. 00:40:53.380 --> 00:40:54.420 And it yielded 00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:55.119 her fruit 00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:56.739 in every month. 00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:57.159 See, 00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:58.400 it was always in season 00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.900 with all the types 00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:00.759 of fruit 00:41:00.759 --> 00:41:02.079 that you would ever need. 00:41:02.199 --> 00:41:02.900 And the leaves 00:41:02.900 --> 00:41:03.860 of the tree 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:06.619 were for the healing 00:41:06.619 --> 00:41:08.000 of the nations. 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:10.900 King Jesus 00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:12.159 became for us 00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:12.920 like a tree 00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:14.099 planted by the rivers 00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:14.659 of water. 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:15.900 King Jesus 00:41:15.900 --> 00:41:17.239 brings forth 00:41:17.239 --> 00:41:18.360 His fruit 00:41:18.360 --> 00:41:19.440 of the Spirit 00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.440 in us. 00:41:22.179 --> 00:41:23.800 This is the season 00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:25.000 of King Jesus 00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:26.300 working in you 00:41:26.300 --> 00:41:27.039 and your life 00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:27.840 all that God 00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:28.539 has promised. 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:30.239 His leaf 00:41:30.239 --> 00:41:31.400 does not wither 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:32.619 and whatsoever 00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.980 King Jesus does 00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:35.619 shall prosper. 00:41:35.719 --> 00:41:36.360 That's why He could 00:41:36.360 --> 00:41:37.219 tell His disciples, 00:41:37.219 --> 00:41:39.139 I am the vine. 00:41:39.659 --> 00:41:40.759 You are the branches. 00:41:41.419 --> 00:41:42.480 Abide in me 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:44.739 and enjoy life abundant. 00:41:47.799 --> 00:41:48.399 See, 00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:49.859 from the deep 00:41:49.859 --> 00:41:50.939 root system, 00:41:52.799 --> 00:41:53.359 the sap 00:41:53.359 --> 00:41:54.539 fills up the trunk 00:41:54.539 --> 00:41:55.359 to the branches 00:41:55.359 --> 00:41:56.179 and the vines. 00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:58.539 What is the sap? 00:41:58.779 --> 00:41:59.319 What is that? 00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:00.719 That source of water 00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:01.379 and nourishment 00:42:01.379 --> 00:42:02.619 that fills 00:42:02.619 --> 00:42:03.379 and supplies. 00:42:03.380 --> 00:42:08.059 Psalm 1 verse 2 00:42:08.059 --> 00:42:10.059 is the word 00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:10.579 of the Lord. 00:42:11.880 --> 00:42:12.940 It's a delight. 00:42:14.079 --> 00:42:15.059 You might feel 00:42:15.059 --> 00:42:16.340 like a withering branch. 00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:18.200 You need more sap. 00:42:18.660 --> 00:42:19.700 You need more life. 00:42:20.760 --> 00:42:21.760 It's a delight 00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:22.480 to be fed, 00:42:22.619 --> 00:42:23.420 to be nourished, 00:42:23.820 --> 00:42:25.019 to be kept 00:42:25.019 --> 00:42:26.480 by the vine. 00:42:26.480 --> 00:42:30.179 See, 00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:31.639 all the promises 00:42:31.639 --> 00:42:32.219 of God 00:42:32.219 --> 00:42:33.280 come to you 00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:34.480 through Jesus Christ. 00:42:35.240 --> 00:42:35.880 He does this 00:42:35.880 --> 00:42:37.019 by the ministry 00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:37.699 of His word 00:42:37.699 --> 00:42:38.780 applied to you 00:42:38.780 --> 00:42:39.260 personally 00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:39.880 in your soul 00:42:39.880 --> 00:42:40.880 by the Holy Spirit. 00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.659 You see Christ 00:42:43.659 --> 00:42:44.559 in all of Scripture. 00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:45.960 You hear 00:42:45.960 --> 00:42:47.099 His glorious gospel 00:42:47.099 --> 00:42:48.679 from all of the Bible 00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:49.860 like He told them 00:42:49.860 --> 00:42:50.659 in Luke 24. 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:51.940 You sit 00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:52.820 in the presence 00:42:52.820 --> 00:42:53.579 of Christ 00:42:53.579 --> 00:42:55.779 and His word 00:42:55.779 --> 00:42:56.659 is the delight 00:42:56.659 --> 00:42:57.259 of your heart. 00:42:57.900 --> 00:42:58.420 His word 00:42:58.420 --> 00:42:59.480 is on your lips. 00:43:00.199 --> 00:43:00.819 You're meditating 00:43:00.819 --> 00:43:01.639 on Christ 00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:03.019 through His word 00:43:03.019 --> 00:43:04.500 day and night 00:43:04.500 --> 00:43:06.539 and He replenishes. 00:43:06.779 --> 00:43:07.480 He heals you. 00:43:09.779 --> 00:43:10.199 Psalm 1 00:43:10.199 --> 00:43:11.000 makes it very clear. 00:43:11.099 --> 00:43:12.079 There are two ways 00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:12.659 to live. 00:43:13.380 --> 00:43:14.039 Only two. 00:43:15.099 --> 00:43:15.659 It matters 00:43:15.659 --> 00:43:16.299 how you live. 00:43:17.819 --> 00:43:19.059 As King Jesus 00:43:19.059 --> 00:43:20.460 so goes His kingdom. 00:43:20.619 --> 00:43:21.299 His promises 00:43:21.299 --> 00:43:23.259 are trustworthy. 00:43:24.579 --> 00:43:25.519 His law 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:26.340 nourishes. 00:43:27.259 --> 00:43:28.199 My last one 00:43:28.199 --> 00:43:28.860 number six. 00:43:30.119 --> 00:43:31.719 What does Psalm 1 00:43:31.719 --> 00:43:32.000 now 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:32.679 looking back 00:43:32.679 --> 00:43:33.119 on the whole 00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:33.799 what does it mean 00:43:33.799 --> 00:43:34.340 for you 00:43:34.340 --> 00:43:35.860 for your life? 00:43:37.819 --> 00:43:38.699 It means that 00:43:38.699 --> 00:43:39.480 if you are 00:43:39.480 --> 00:43:40.079 in the kingdom 00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:41.659 of King Jesus 00:43:41.659 --> 00:43:42.360 if you are 00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:43.159 in His kingdom 00:43:43.159 --> 00:43:44.759 you will live 00:43:44.759 --> 00:43:45.739 the way 00:43:45.739 --> 00:43:47.380 of the blessed man. 00:43:48.019 --> 00:43:49.539 You will follow Christ. 00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:51.480 You won't follow 00:43:51.480 --> 00:43:52.420 the wicked men 00:43:52.420 --> 00:43:52.900 of the world. 00:43:52.900 --> 00:43:53.579 You will follow 00:43:53.579 --> 00:43:54.380 King Jesus. 00:43:56.220 --> 00:43:57.180 Yes, the law 00:43:57.180 --> 00:43:58.320 exposes our sin. 00:43:58.440 --> 00:43:58.980 Yes, the law 00:43:58.980 --> 00:44:00.119 makes us feel 00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:00.680 hopeless 00:44:00.680 --> 00:44:02.920 to keep it 00:44:02.920 --> 00:44:03.639 on our own. 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.820 The purpose 00:44:05.820 --> 00:44:06.599 of the law 00:44:06.599 --> 00:44:07.519 in the first use 00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:08.320 is to drive you 00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:09.000 to the cross. 00:44:10.320 --> 00:44:11.160 And through Christ 00:44:11.160 --> 00:44:12.740 your desires 00:44:12.740 --> 00:44:13.760 are transformed. 00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:14.980 His blood 00:44:14.980 --> 00:44:16.180 flows to heal you. 00:44:16.179 --> 00:44:19.399 But then His law 00:44:19.399 --> 00:44:21.539 His law then 00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:23.179 becomes like a trellis. 00:44:23.759 --> 00:44:24.879 You know what a trellis is? 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:26.079 Like a wooden frame 00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:26.839 that would go around 00:44:26.839 --> 00:44:28.359 a beautiful grapevine. 00:44:29.299 --> 00:44:29.859 His law 00:44:29.859 --> 00:44:30.919 it gives you stability. 00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:32.179 You're not left 00:44:32.179 --> 00:44:32.739 to wander 00:44:32.739 --> 00:44:33.960 or to be stuck 00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:34.440 on the dirt. 00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:35.500 He lifts you up. 00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:36.480 It becomes a rule 00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:37.239 or a guide 00:44:37.239 --> 00:44:38.699 for how you will grow 00:44:38.699 --> 00:44:39.799 how you will mature 00:44:39.799 --> 00:44:41.819 belonging to His kingdom. 00:44:41.960 --> 00:44:42.379 His kingdom 00:44:42.379 --> 00:44:42.919 is a kingdom 00:44:42.920 --> 00:44:44.880 of a good law 00:44:44.880 --> 00:44:45.680 over the land. 00:44:46.260 --> 00:44:46.880 He was the king 00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:47.579 under the law 00:44:47.579 --> 00:44:48.300 fulfilling it. 00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:49.300 He is the law 00:44:49.300 --> 00:44:50.240 and He only gives 00:44:50.240 --> 00:44:50.639 the law 00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:51.320 from the hand 00:44:51.320 --> 00:44:52.420 of the gracious 00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:53.180 kind 00:44:53.180 --> 00:44:53.960 patient 00:44:53.960 --> 00:44:54.700 King Himself 00:44:54.700 --> 00:44:55.820 to you. 00:44:56.920 --> 00:44:57.420 Verse 2 00:44:57.420 --> 00:44:58.460 He makes you 00:44:58.460 --> 00:44:59.579 to delight 00:44:59.579 --> 00:45:00.519 in His law. 00:45:03.039 --> 00:45:03.960 It's in the law 00:45:03.960 --> 00:45:04.500 of the Lord 00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:05.599 and in His law 00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:06.639 He teaches you 00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:07.139 to meditate 00:45:07.139 --> 00:45:08.280 day and night. 00:45:08.380 --> 00:45:09.079 Hasn't that been true 00:45:09.079 --> 00:45:09.519 when you've tried 00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:10.320 to memorize something 00:45:10.320 --> 00:45:10.800 in the Bible? 00:45:11.559 --> 00:45:12.240 You just find yourself 00:45:12.240 --> 00:45:12.800 trying to say it 00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:13.240 over and over 00:45:13.240 --> 00:45:14.220 and it starts 00:45:14.220 --> 00:45:15.180 a bit like a discipline 00:45:15.180 --> 00:45:16.019 but before long 00:45:16.019 --> 00:45:16.720 you find yourself 00:45:16.720 --> 00:45:17.920 it's just unlocking 00:45:17.920 --> 00:45:18.380 you're thinking 00:45:18.380 --> 00:45:18.980 of connections 00:45:18.980 --> 00:45:20.260 you read something else 00:45:20.260 --> 00:45:20.920 in a different part 00:45:20.920 --> 00:45:21.340 of the Bible 00:45:21.340 --> 00:45:22.600 just by meditating 00:45:22.600 --> 00:45:23.440 on His law 00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:24.700 He changes you. 00:45:24.860 --> 00:45:26.060 He totally changes 00:45:26.060 --> 00:45:27.280 the way you view 00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:27.840 His word 00:45:27.840 --> 00:45:28.519 and the way you view 00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:29.100 your life. 00:45:29.539 --> 00:45:30.680 He feeds your roots 00:45:30.680 --> 00:45:32.080 with the law 00:45:32.080 --> 00:45:33.740 it becomes that 00:45:33.740 --> 00:45:34.940 life giving 00:45:34.940 --> 00:45:35.840 nourishment 00:45:35.840 --> 00:45:37.980 and He blesses you 00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:38.800 abundantly 00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:39.740 as you learn 00:45:39.740 --> 00:45:41.039 to depend on Him. 00:45:41.900 --> 00:45:42.519 So take up 00:45:42.519 --> 00:45:43.119 the Psalter 00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:43.539 take up 00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:44.139 your Bible 00:45:44.139 --> 00:45:46.019 John Gill said 00:45:46.019 --> 00:45:47.360 this little book 00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:49.019 these 150 Psalms 00:45:49.019 --> 00:45:50.019 they're like 00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:51.599 like a rich 00:45:51.599 --> 00:45:52.739 mine of grace 00:45:52.739 --> 00:45:53.719 and evangelical 00:45:53.719 --> 00:45:54.460 truths 00:45:54.460 --> 00:45:55.219 if we read them 00:45:55.219 --> 00:45:56.199 the way Christ 00:45:56.199 --> 00:45:57.099 wants us to read them 00:45:57.099 --> 00:45:58.440 it's hard to get it right 00:45:58.440 --> 00:45:59.599 we labor at it. 00:46:00.460 --> 00:46:00.820 He said 00:46:00.820 --> 00:46:01.420 the Psalms 00:46:01.420 --> 00:46:03.219 are a large fund 00:46:03.219 --> 00:46:04.860 of spiritual experience 00:46:04.860 --> 00:46:06.000 and it's abundantly 00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:06.420 suited 00:46:06.420 --> 00:46:07.559 in every case 00:46:07.559 --> 00:46:09.019 state and condition 00:46:09.019 --> 00:46:10.019 that the church 00:46:10.019 --> 00:46:10.559 of Christ 00:46:10.559 --> 00:46:12.239 or particular believers 00:46:12.239 --> 00:46:13.679 are in at any time 00:46:13.679 --> 00:46:15.259 so long as you read it 00:46:15.259 --> 00:46:16.340 as pointing to Christ. 00:46:17.480 --> 00:46:18.259 Martin Luther 00:46:18.259 --> 00:46:19.079 called the Psalms 00:46:19.079 --> 00:46:20.079 a little Bible 00:46:20.079 --> 00:46:21.219 the whole Bible 00:46:21.219 --> 00:46:21.519 is there 00:46:21.519 --> 00:46:22.559 even in Psalm 1 00:46:22.559 --> 00:46:23.280 you can see almost 00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:24.360 the history of redemptive 00:46:24.360 --> 00:46:25.300 history right 00:46:25.300 --> 00:46:26.320 like the history of Israel 00:46:26.320 --> 00:46:27.199 in six verses 00:46:27.199 --> 00:46:29.019 and that's when 00:46:29.019 --> 00:46:29.699 we can agree 00:46:29.699 --> 00:46:30.639 with Psalm 19 00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:31.840 verses 7 through 11 00:46:31.840 --> 00:46:33.039 the law 00:46:33.039 --> 00:46:33.880 of the Lord 00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:35.300 truly is perfect 00:46:35.300 --> 00:46:37.760 reviving the soul 00:46:37.760 --> 00:46:39.600 the testimony 00:46:39.600 --> 00:46:40.260 of the Lord 00:46:40.260 --> 00:46:40.720 is sure 00:46:40.720 --> 00:46:41.600 making wise 00:46:41.600 --> 00:46:42.180 the simple 00:46:42.180 --> 00:46:43.840 the precepts 00:46:43.840 --> 00:46:44.280 of the Lord 00:46:44.280 --> 00:46:44.980 are right 00:46:44.980 --> 00:46:46.580 rejoicing the heart 00:46:46.580 --> 00:46:47.820 the commandment 00:46:47.820 --> 00:46:48.260 of the Lord 00:46:48.260 --> 00:46:48.800 is pure 00:46:48.800 --> 00:46:50.120 enlightening the eyes 00:46:50.120 --> 00:46:51.480 the fear of the Lord 00:46:51.480 --> 00:46:52.280 is clean 00:46:52.280 --> 00:46:53.580 enduring forever 00:46:53.580 --> 00:46:55.060 the rules of the Lord 00:46:55.060 --> 00:46:55.680 are true 00:46:55.680 --> 00:46:56.760 and righteous 00:46:56.760 --> 00:46:57.500 all together 00:46:57.500 --> 00:46:59.440 more to be desired 00:46:59.440 --> 00:47:00.580 are they 00:47:00.580 --> 00:47:01.539 than gold 00:47:01.539 --> 00:47:03.140 even much fine gold 00:47:03.140 --> 00:47:04.600 sweeter also 00:47:04.600 --> 00:47:05.260 than honey 00:47:05.260 --> 00:47:06.220 and drippings 00:47:06.220 --> 00:47:07.200 from the honeycomb 00:47:07.200 --> 00:47:08.800 moreover 00:47:08.800 --> 00:47:09.380 by them 00:47:09.380 --> 00:47:10.320 is your servant 00:47:10.320 --> 00:47:10.880 warned 00:47:10.880 --> 00:47:12.480 in keeping them 00:47:12.480 --> 00:47:13.480 there is 00:47:13.480 --> 00:47:15.300 great reward 00:47:15.300 --> 00:47:17.220 our Lord Jesus 00:47:17.220 --> 00:47:19.000 kept God's law 00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:21.180 he needed no reward 00:47:21.180 --> 00:47:21.960 but the reward 00:47:21.960 --> 00:47:22.700 he earned 00:47:22.700 --> 00:47:24.100 he yearned for you 00:47:24.100 --> 00:47:25.240 as a gift 00:47:25.240 --> 00:47:26.300 and a blessing 00:47:26.300 --> 00:47:27.260 that you would receive 00:47:27.260 --> 00:47:27.700 freely 00:47:27.700 --> 00:47:29.220 Jesus walked 00:47:29.220 --> 00:47:30.700 the blessed way 00:47:30.700 --> 00:47:32.280 he lived it 00:47:32.280 --> 00:47:34.180 and he made it 00:47:34.180 --> 00:47:34.960 possible now 00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:36.039 by putting this 00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:36.400 love 00:47:36.400 --> 00:47:37.139 this desire 00:47:37.139 --> 00:47:37.840 this delight 00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:38.720 inside of you 00:47:38.720 --> 00:47:40.000 and feeding you 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:41.079 by his power 00:47:41.079 --> 00:47:41.679 to walk 00:47:41.679 --> 00:47:42.420 with him 00:47:42.420 --> 00:47:43.099 and to delight 00:47:43.099 --> 00:47:44.260 in his word 00:47:44.260 --> 00:47:46.340 now remember 00:47:46.340 --> 00:47:46.860 we're still 00:47:46.860 --> 00:47:47.720 surrounded by 00:47:47.720 --> 00:47:48.599 the world 00:47:48.599 --> 00:47:49.740 we will be 00:47:49.740 --> 00:47:50.619 mocked and jeered 00:47:50.619 --> 00:47:52.239 and Jesus said 00:47:52.239 --> 00:47:52.819 we read this 00:47:52.819 --> 00:47:53.099 earlier 00:47:53.099 --> 00:47:53.779 Matthew 5 00:47:53.779 --> 00:47:54.119 11 00:47:54.119 --> 00:47:54.739 blessed 00:47:54.739 --> 00:47:55.719 are you 00:47:55.719 --> 00:47:56.759 when men 00:47:56.759 --> 00:47:57.559 shall revile 00:47:57.559 --> 00:47:58.440 you and persecute 00:47:58.440 --> 00:47:59.299 you and say 00:47:59.299 --> 00:47:59.779 all manner 00:47:59.779 --> 00:48:00.519 of evil 00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:01.460 against you 00:48:01.460 --> 00:48:02.159 falsely for 00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:02.859 my sake 00:48:02.859 --> 00:48:04.159 blessed are you 00:48:04.159 --> 00:48:05.000 who are 00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:05.579 persecuted 00:48:05.579 --> 00:48:06.739 for righteousness 00:48:06.739 --> 00:48:07.519 sake 00:48:07.519 --> 00:48:08.699 for yours 00:48:08.699 --> 00:48:09.579 is the kingdom 00:48:09.579 --> 00:48:10.799 of heaven 00:48:10.799 --> 00:48:12.619 the kingdom 00:48:12.619 --> 00:48:13.099 of heaven 00:48:13.099 --> 00:48:14.159 all my blessings 00:48:14.159 --> 00:48:15.940 are yours 00:48:15.940 --> 00:48:19.119 there are two 00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:20.340 ways to live 00:48:20.340 --> 00:48:22.260 in only two 00:48:22.260 --> 00:48:22.659 ways 00:48:22.659 --> 00:48:24.079 if you are 00:48:24.079 --> 00:48:24.900 in the kingdom 00:48:24.900 --> 00:48:26.119 of Jesus 00:48:26.119 --> 00:48:27.280 you will live 00:48:27.280 --> 00:48:28.320 the way 00:48:28.320 --> 00:48:29.599 of the only 00:48:29.599 --> 00:48:30.240 perfectly 00:48:30.240 --> 00:48:31.119 blessed 00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:32.019 man 00:48:32.019 --> 00:48:32.980 the only 00:48:32.980 --> 00:48:33.980 blessed king 00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:35.220 the king of kings 00:48:35.220 --> 00:48:36.000 the way 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:37.019 the truth 00:48:37.019 --> 00:48:38.480 the life 00:48:38.480 --> 00:48:39.579 and the fount 00:48:39.579 --> 00:48:40.760 of all blessings 00:48:40.760 --> 00:48:41.960 for his people 00:48:41.960 --> 00:48:43.539 let's pray 00:48:43.539 --> 00:48:45.240 oh lord 00:48:45.240 --> 00:48:45.679 help us 00:48:45.679 --> 00:48:46.139 to walk 00:48:46.139 --> 00:48:46.659 this way 00:48:46.659 --> 00:48:49.380 we praise you 00:48:49.380 --> 00:48:49.579 lord 00:48:49.579 --> 00:48:50.460 glory be to 00:48:50.460 --> 00:48:50.760 god 00:48:50.760 --> 00:48:51.400 father son 00:48:51.400 --> 00:48:51.840 and holy 00:48:51.840 --> 00:48:52.300 spirit 00:48:52.300 --> 00:48:53.880 in matthew 00:48:53.880 --> 00:48:54.199 7 00:48:54.199 --> 00:48:54.920 you call us 00:48:54.920 --> 00:48:55.579 to enter 00:48:55.579 --> 00:48:56.940 by the 00:48:56.940 --> 00:48:57.380 narrow 00:48:57.380 --> 00:48:58.260 gate 00:48:58.260 --> 00:49:00.240 for the 00:49:00.240 --> 00:49:00.519 gate 00:49:00.519 --> 00:49:01.179 is wide 00:49:01.179 --> 00:49:01.619 and the 00:49:01.619 --> 00:49:02.079 way is 00:49:02.079 --> 00:49:02.440 easy 00:49:02.440 --> 00:49:02.960 that leads 00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:03.800 to destruction 00:49:03.800 --> 00:49:04.240 the way 00:49:04.240 --> 00:49:04.900 that perishes 00:49:04.900 --> 00:49:05.900 and those 00:49:05.900 --> 00:49:06.280 who enter 00:49:06.280 --> 00:49:06.780 that way 00:49:06.780 --> 00:49:07.260 are many 00:49:07.260 --> 00:49:09.159 but you 00:49:09.159 --> 00:49:09.519 king 00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:09.940 jesus 00:49:09.940 --> 00:49:10.559 you are 00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:11.199 the narrow 00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:11.940 gate 00:49:11.940 --> 00:49:13.220 you say 00:49:13.220 --> 00:49:14.320 your way 00:49:14.320 --> 00:49:14.980 is hard 00:49:14.980 --> 00:49:16.000 and few 00:49:16.000 --> 00:49:16.599 find it 00:49:16.599 --> 00:49:18.460 we praise 00:49:18.460 --> 00:49:18.800 you that 00:49:18.800 --> 00:49:19.220 you have 00:49:19.220 --> 00:49:19.980 found us 00:49:19.980 --> 00:49:21.539 and you 00:49:21.539 --> 00:49:22.039 have called 00:49:22.039 --> 00:49:22.380 us to 00:49:22.380 --> 00:49:23.179 enter through 00:49:23.179 --> 00:49:23.539 you 00:49:23.539 --> 00:49:24.099 and to 00:49:24.099 --> 00:49:24.460 walk 00:49:24.460 --> 00:49:25.119 in the 00:49:25.119 --> 00:49:25.420 way 00:49:25.420 --> 00:49:26.200 that leads 00:49:26.200 --> 00:49:26.780 to life 00:49:26.780 --> 00:49:27.280 for the 00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:27.519 glory 00:49:27.519 --> 00:49:28.000 of god 00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:28.820 please give 00:49:28.820 --> 00:49:29.119 us the 00:49:29.119 --> 00:49:29.500 strength 00:49:29.500 --> 00:49:29.900 to do 00:49:29.900 --> 00:49:30.119 this 00:49:30.119 --> 00:49:30.619 we ask 00:49:30.619 --> 00:49:31.460 amen