WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.440 In a moment, I'm going to invite one of our members, Miriam Montgomery, to come up. 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:05.700 She's going to read scripture for us. 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:09.259 But before that, I'm going to pray for us as a congregation. 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:14.040 I'm going to bring our petitions before God, the one who knows all our deepest needs. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:15.040 Let's pray. 00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:24.080 Lord, we rejoice that you, the almighty God of all the universe, all-knowing, all-powerful, everlasting God, 00:00:24.080 --> 00:00:27.440 you invite us, mere creatures, to call you Father. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:32.439 So, Heavenly Father, we ask that you'd hear our prayers as we bring them before you this morning, 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:37.439 laying before you the burdens, the fears, the hopes, the requests of your people. 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:43.600 Lord, this morning we pray for all those who are suffering from illness and pain. 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:48.340 Lord, we pray that you would guide those who are caring for them, 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:51.939 that you'd bring healing to them according to your perfect will. 00:00:52.620 --> 00:00:54.980 We pray for the families of those who are sick. 00:00:54.979 --> 00:00:59.779 We ask that you would draw close to them, bringing comfort and peace that only you can provide. 00:01:00.819 --> 00:01:06.780 Lord, we pray for those in our congregation and across the city who are lonely. 00:01:07.179 --> 00:01:09.459 Lord, draw near to them, be a comfort to them. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:12.699 We pray that you would make us people with a heart for the lonely, 00:01:12.859 --> 00:01:16.000 so that we can be used in your service to bless others. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:20.659 But we know, Lord, that you are the friend that sticks closer than any brother could. 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:27.000 Lord, we pray for anyone here this morning who came to church purely out of a sense of duty 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:29.819 or a way of coping with their guilt. 00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:34.959 Lord, would you give each of us true joy this morning as we come to worship our God? 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:39.679 Would you show us what it means to worship you with delight, 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:43.599 delighting in your law, delighting in the Scriptures, 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:48.619 not because we want to learn the Scriptures per se, 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:52.379 but because the Scriptures reveal to us who you are, what you're like, 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:57.060 how we are to live our lives in a way that brings honor and glory to your name. 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:03.259 Lord, we pray for those this morning who are here trying to determine where real truth lies. 00:02:04.119 --> 00:02:07.780 Lord, would you meet with them today so that they would see you in your word, 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:11.120 that they would see themselves in the light of your law. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.860 Lord, show them and remind all of us of our need for a Savior. 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:20.379 And Lord, would you give us an experience of meeting with Jesus this morning. 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:23.500 Lord, we pray for all the young people in our congregation. 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:26.080 We pray for those who've just gone down to Kids Church, 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:30.920 those who are sitting with us in the service for the remainder of our time together. 00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:35.460 Lord, please guide them from unwise counsel that would lead them astray, 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:40.040 lead them away from the paths of righteousness that you've laid before us in your word. 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:42.879 Lord, we pray that you would open up their hearts, 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:47.439 that you'd reveal yourself to them even when they're young and tender in years. 00:02:48.799 --> 00:02:51.519 Lord, we pray for all the people in the congregation traveling this summer. 00:02:52.239 --> 00:02:53.560 Please take care of them as they go. 00:02:54.060 --> 00:02:59.620 Give refreshment to those who are on holiday and bring them back to us again in safety, we ask. 00:03:00.399 --> 00:03:05.000 Lord, we pray for all those in the congregation who serve in so many different ways, 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.819 some more visible than others, but all to your glory. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:14.039 Lord, would you encourage and strengthen them in their service this morning and throughout the year, 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:17.680 knowing that when they work for the church, they're working to your glory. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:24.039 Lord, we pray for all the churches in this city and across our country where the word's been faithfully proclaimed today. 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:27.639 Would you bless those who lead and teach, bless those who hear, 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:31.019 so that your great name would be praised. 00:03:32.079 --> 00:03:34.539 And Lord, for all of us here at St. Columbus this morning, 00:03:35.079 --> 00:03:38.199 take away from us the pressures of the week past and the week ahead, 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:42.419 so that we can have our minds and our hearts set on worshiping you with our whole hearts. 00:03:43.419 --> 00:03:48.979 And we pray, Lord, that you would hear our prayers as we come to you in the name of our beautiful Savior Jesus. 00:03:49.739 --> 00:03:50.060 Amen. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:54.680 I'm going to invite Miriam to come up and read scripture for us. 00:03:54.979 --> 00:03:58.900 Miriam's going to read Psalm 1, which if you've got a church Bible, is on page 448. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.620 It's also in your bulletin and it'll also be on the screen. 00:04:02.920 --> 00:04:03.420 Thanks, Miriam. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:08.580 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 00:04:08.980 --> 00:04:13.199 nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:16.000 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:19.660 and on his law he meditates day and night. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:23.980 He is like a tree planted by streams of water 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:26.519 that yields its fruit in its season, 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:28.439 and its leaf does not wither. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:30.959 In all that he does, he prospers. 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:33.100 The wicked are not so, 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:35.740 but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:39.259 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:41.759 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:44.879 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:47.740 but the way of the wicked will perish. 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:48.699 Amen. 00:04:48.699 --> 00:04:50.120 This is God's holy word. 00:04:51.539 --> 00:04:53.659 Well, years ago I worked in a supermarket, 00:04:54.539 --> 00:04:58.399 and one day there was a guy looking for some help, 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:00.539 and he said, excuse me, and I said, hey, how are you doing? 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:07.000 And he looked at me for just a quarter of a second longer than I thought was normal, 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:10.019 and he said, I'm blessed. 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:12.620 And it struck me, 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:15.939 because that is not the way that we typically describe ourselves, 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:19.060 I think, when we walk around the supermarket just now. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.579 In fact, we don't really hear people talking about being blessed 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:24.660 and blessing very much at all outside of church, 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:28.120 unless maybe if somebody sneezes and we say, bless you. 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:32.500 But even then, we don't really know why we say that. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:33.280 Well, I do. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:33.819 I looked it up. 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:34.879 It's just superstition. 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:40.280 So when we look at this word blessed in Psalm 1, 00:05:40.340 --> 00:05:45.040 we need to take a moment to make sure that we know what we're talking about here. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:49.480 So in the Old Testament, the Bible, 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:53.460 the Old Testament was primarily written in Hebrew, the majority of it. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.439 And the word for blessed here, 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:00.640 or the word that's translated as blessed in the Old Testament, 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:04.740 is actually, there's a couple of different words that are described 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:07.500 or translated into English as blessed. 00:06:07.660 --> 00:06:13.580 And the one that we have here is translated in other places as happy or happiness. 00:06:13.579 --> 00:06:17.539 So we could say, happy is the man who. 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:21.899 And that's much easier for us to recognize, isn't it? 00:06:21.899 --> 00:06:24.000 Because we use happy all the time. 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:28.419 I'm happy to help, is what I said when I was working in Asda. 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:32.919 Or, I'm very happy for you. 00:06:33.899 --> 00:06:36.719 Or we say, you have to do what makes you happy. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:42.279 We understand happiness in terms of moments and feelings. 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:46.839 But we also understand that there's degrees of happiness. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:53.939 There's things, kinds of happiness that we treat as like dopamine hits. 00:06:54.139 --> 00:06:58.979 So we say, something happens, you feel good, and then that goes away again. 00:06:59.779 --> 00:07:01.899 And then something else happens, and then you feel happy, 00:07:02.419 --> 00:07:03.599 and then it goes away again. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:06.280 But there's another kind of happiness. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:10.340 A true, deep, and lasting happiness. 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:15.780 A happiness that doesn't ping up and down like a Geiger counter in an action movie. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:22.200 One that underpins you, that grounds you, that roots you, 00:07:22.900 --> 00:07:25.020 that gives you hope and joy, 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.900 even as you navigate life's most challenging hurdles. 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:33.539 And this brings me to the second reason. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:38.519 I said there was two reasons that this man saying blessed stopped me in my tracks. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:42.759 The second reason is because I want that happiness. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:44.959 I think we all do. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:49.919 When we look at Psalm 1, Psalm 1 tells us, tells you today, 00:07:50.919 --> 00:07:51.899 you can be happy. 00:07:52.979 --> 00:07:55.439 None of us want to live an unhappy life. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:57.399 It's why we work hard at school. 00:07:57.660 --> 00:08:00.600 It's why we get stuck in at work. 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:04.199 It's why we forgive our friends when they mess up. 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:06.219 It's why we buy our wife flowers. 00:08:07.219 --> 00:08:11.139 It's why we purchase art, read novels, go to nice restaurants, 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:14.839 play five-a-side football, listen to soul music. 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:18.240 We're all involved in the pursuit of happiness. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:20.480 And that's a good thing. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:22.759 And the Bible's big on happiness. 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:24.740 God made us to be happy. 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:28.160 He made us for a true happiness. 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:32.200 Not dependent on our circumstances, which can change quickly, 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:35.980 but on a life in relationship with Him. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:41.899 Psalm 1 doesn't just say that real happiness is possible, 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:43.399 that it's available for us. 00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:46.500 It also teaches us how to have it. 00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:50.799 So let's go through this psalm together under three headings. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:54.759 The righteous way, the righteous life, and the righteous man. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:56.520 First of all, the righteous way. 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:07.480 The great English preacher, Charles Spurgeon, said that Psalm 1 is a text upon which the whole of the Psalms make up a divine sermon. 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:09.200 A divine sermon. 00:09:09.400 --> 00:09:11.020 God preaching to us. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:15.620 And what Psalm 1 presents to us are two different ways of living. 00:09:16.579 --> 00:09:19.500 The way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:21.500 And we don't just see this in Psalm 1. 00:09:21.579 --> 00:09:25.480 This is the story throughout the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:28.720 We're repeatedly shown this image of two paths. 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:31.879 Adam and Eve had a choice to make in the garden. 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:35.860 You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:38.680 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:40.800 for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:43.680 That's what God said to Adam and Eve when they were in paradise. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:46.099 And then later on in Deuteronomy, 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:50.500 when God's people are right on the edge of going into the land that God had promised to them, 00:09:50.979 --> 00:09:54.299 for years and years, God says to them through Moses, 00:09:54.959 --> 00:09:55.339 he says, 00:09:55.579 --> 00:09:59.279 I've set before you life and death, blessing and curse. 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:01.479 Therefore, choose life. 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:04.539 And then later on again in the Old Testament, 00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:05.679 the prophet Jeremiah, 00:10:06.219 --> 00:10:07.759 he sets up the same dichotomy. 00:10:07.859 --> 00:10:10.939 This time he does it through the image of two men. 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:12.960 And one trusts in God, 00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:16.980 one trusts in mankind, 00:10:17.680 --> 00:10:19.720 and he becomes like a shrub in the desert. 00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:22.140 And the other trusts in God, 00:10:23.300 --> 00:10:26.120 and is like a tree planted by water, 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:30.860 which is almost identical language to what we have today in our psalm. 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:34.360 You see, the psalms are not mere poems. 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:37.120 They're theology that we sing. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:41.940 So I'm going to say it right here in the middle of Edinburgh. 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:44.659 At fringe time, at festival time, 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:47.620 there is a right way to live. 00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:50.419 And there is a wrong way to live. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.120 I know that's incredibly unfashionable. 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:57.860 I know it's controversial to say something like that in some quarters. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.000 But it's true. 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.120 Psalm 1 tells us. 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:01.960 One way leads to happiness, 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:04.680 because it leads to relationship with God. 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:07.060 But the other way leads to judgment, 00:11:07.920 --> 00:11:09.960 because it's a way of rejecting him. 00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:13.759 Let's look at the language of verse 1 together, 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:16.560 because it gives us a clear list of don'ts, 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:20.600 for if you want to walk in the way of the righteous person. 00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:23.980 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:25.940 nor stands in the way of sinners, 00:11:25.940 --> 00:11:29.060 nor sits in the seat of scoffers. 00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:31.899 Notice the progression that we have. 00:11:32.859 --> 00:11:36.319 First, we don't walk in the counsel of the wicked. 00:11:37.319 --> 00:11:40.359 The wicked here is not necessarily serial killers. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:44.459 This is talking about anyone who chooses to live their life apart from God. 00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:47.799 When I was young, my mum used to say, 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:51.399 if you fly with the crows, you'll get shot with them. 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.879 I don't know if anyone says that anymore. 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:55.479 But it means if you hang around with people who are doing wrong, 00:11:55.479 --> 00:11:58.699 you're going to become judged in the way that they are. 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:05.579 Notice that Psalm doesn't just say not to walk with people who are ignoring God, 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:07.439 but it says don't walk in their counsel. 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:12.679 As believers, we have to be careful not to walk in the way 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:14.739 that people who don't trust God walk. 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:15.399 Of course we do. 00:12:16.599 --> 00:12:19.079 But that begins by not taking their bad advice, 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:20.439 not taking their counsel. 00:12:21.119 --> 00:12:24.000 Don't be taken in by the rules that the world, 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:26.639 people in the world make for their lives. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:30.639 The standards that they think that they should live by. 00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:34.120 Right and wrong, according to society, 00:12:34.819 --> 00:12:38.279 it's not necessarily right and wrong, according to God. 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:41.419 I think there's a time in everyone's life, 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.539 anyone who was brought up in a house 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:48.679 where your parents attempted to walk after the ways of God, 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:51.639 who tried to raise you to know God, 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:56.179 there's a time in your life where you're going to step outside that home. 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:59.720 And the confines and the care and the love of your parents, 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.199 the influence that they have over you, 00:13:01.419 --> 00:13:04.539 you're going to be confronted by ideas and advice 00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:07.699 from people who are firmly opposed to God 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:11.180 and people who are just ignorant of who God is, 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:13.540 what he is all about. 00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:17.540 And the thing that we have to be careful of 00:13:17.540 --> 00:13:21.800 is that often that advice can be cloaked 00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:24.500 to appear like wisdom. 00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:28.220 Sometimes this perceived wisdom 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:30.980 isn't about telling us what to do, 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:36.200 but it's telling us what we can and can't have our faith in. 00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:38.460 Maybe you've heard arguments like 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:40.340 you can't believe in God because of science, 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:43.779 which is a twisted argument 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:47.500 that doesn't actually hold up when you interrogate it. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.480 But if we're not in the scriptures, 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.720 if we're not trusting in God, 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:53.480 then it's easy for us to be swayed. 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:56.940 Or maybe you've heard people say things like, 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.340 yes, the Bible says right and wrong, 00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:02.320 but that's just not an acceptable way to live 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.480 in modern society. 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:09.300 This wisdom, it's not true wisdom at all. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:12.160 Notice that walking, 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.800 after walking in the council of the wicked, 00:14:13.920 --> 00:14:16.820 we progress to standing in the way of sinners. 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:18.820 You see, if you let these voices, 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.780 the voices of the people who don't know God, 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.720 who don't trust God, 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:23.560 who don't want anything to do with God, 00:14:24.060 --> 00:14:25.840 move you in that direction, 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:27.519 sooner or later, 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.100 you're going to be standing with them. 00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:31.519 You're going to be doing the things that they're doing. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:34.159 You're going to be one of the crows 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:36.120 who's likely to be shot, 00:14:36.680 --> 00:14:39.279 to go back to my mum's old adage. 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.060 Until finally, 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.060 you're sitting with them, 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.480 permanent and comfortable 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:47.259 in the way of scoffers. 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.639 You see, the danger is that 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.019 if you let yourself be swayed 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.300 by people who don't know God, 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:54.740 you just end up becoming them. 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:59.139 scoffers are like the ones, 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:01.960 are the ones who pour scorn on believers, 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.480 people who trust in God. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:06.060 And these scoffers are saying now, 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.680 you're one of us, 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.379 pull up a pew, 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.840 come sit with us. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.200 The picture is somebody 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.799 gradually moving 00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:16.799 into rebellion against God. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:18.559 And so this morning, 00:15:18.599 --> 00:15:20.199 we have to remind ourselves, 00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:21.740 we've only just got to verse one. 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.500 We have to say, 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:22.759 hey, 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.579 are we walking in the council 00:15:25.579 --> 00:15:26.759 of the wicked today? 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:29.059 Do you recognize anything 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.759 of that in yourself? 00:15:32.359 --> 00:15:33.979 Are you living by advice 00:15:33.979 --> 00:15:35.139 that you've seen 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:37.479 in places other than from God? 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:40.680 Because it seems intriguing. 00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:42.360 Because it seems interesting. 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:45.539 And today the pressure is so intense, 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.300 you don't have to walk 00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:47.080 outside your door. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.379 Your radio, your TV, 00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.259 your smartphone, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.759 all these things are desperate 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.920 to offer you counsel. 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:54.940 And so often that counsel 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:56.259 is counsel that is not 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:58.120 good for your eternal soul. 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.500 Do you find yourself 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.680 being swayed by it? 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.500 Maybe you find yourself 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.539 this morning in a position 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.320 where you think, 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:07.420 I know that this isn't right. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.740 I know this isn't good for me, 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.860 but I've been drawn in. 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:13.180 Or maybe you find yourself 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:13.680 thinking, 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:14.639 it's okay, 00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:15.500 I've got a handle on it. 00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:17.060 I can switch it off 00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:18.800 anytime I like. 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.800 Or Psalm 1 reminds us 00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:24.860 that we must follow the voice 00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:28.080 that is going to lead us 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.879 to God. 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:31.519 Because when we listen 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.259 to any voice, 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:32.779 there's a danger 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.379 that that voice 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.019 will lead us somewhere. 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.500 You've got to ask yourself, 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.720 who am I being most shaped by? 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.019 How am I being influenced 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:41.200 by what I consume? 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.860 In the news, 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.039 on social media, 00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:46.279 am I being discipled 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:46.800 by scripture 00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:48.159 or by sin? 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:50.779 Because Psalm 1 teaches 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.460 that while happiness 00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.060 is available, 00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.740 God wants happiness 00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.980 for your life. 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:57.019 Sin will not make you happy. 00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.060 Scripture doesn't just 00:17:00.060 --> 00:17:00.940 describe the dangers, 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:02.640 it also gives us 00:17:02.640 --> 00:17:03.560 the solutions. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.860 Part two, 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.580 the righteous life. 00:17:09.080 --> 00:17:09.660 So we move on 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.620 to verse two together 00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:11.940 and it tells us 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.779 a blessed, 00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:14.000 a truly happy person 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.320 delights in the law 00:17:15.320 --> 00:17:15.820 of the Lord. 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:18.279 Delight is the thing 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.920 that your heart 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.039 most desires. 00:17:20.580 --> 00:17:21.620 The thing that you want 00:17:21.620 --> 00:17:22.880 more than anything else. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.240 So while the warnings 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.240 about the wicked path 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.880 were about walking, 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:28.760 standing, 00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:29.800 and sitting, 00:17:30.780 --> 00:17:31.220 godliness 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:34.200 is about your heart. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.180 This verse emphasizes 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:38.220 law twice, 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:40.059 it says God's law twice. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.700 Law here includes 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:43.799 God's law as we find it 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.460 in the book of, 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.059 in the first five books 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.559 of the Bible, 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:48.220 in the Ten Commandments, 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.500 but it extends 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.900 to the whole of scripture. 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:53.279 Every word that we're given 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.660 is a word from God 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:55.420 and good for us. 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.980 So how can we make, 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.539 so how can God's law 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:01.100 make us happy? 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.640 There are lawyers here 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:05.280 and I'm sure that you enjoy 00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:06.880 studying law, 00:18:07.020 --> 00:18:07.960 but the rest of us, 00:18:08.800 --> 00:18:10.000 we don't enjoy 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.300 studying law books. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.280 Well, first of all, 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.380 the reason God's law 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:18.280 can make us happy 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:20.140 is because God's law 00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:22.640 reveals so much to us 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.460 about God himself. 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.360 It shows us what God 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.080 is like. 00:18:28.020 --> 00:18:29.220 It shows us the things 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.259 that matter to him. 00:18:30.540 --> 00:18:31.560 It shows us the things 00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:33.400 that he wants for us. 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:36.560 When we think about the law 00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:37.980 as revealing God 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.600 as he is, 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.220 it changes things 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:40.040 dramatically for us 00:18:40.040 --> 00:18:40.740 because we're not 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.380 believing in the Bible. 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.520 We're not delighting 00:18:44.520 --> 00:18:46.000 in the Bible alone. 00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:48.460 We're living for the God 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.120 of the Bible. 00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:52.620 The law brings us happiness 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.259 because it brings us 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.000 closer to God. 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.520 Who he is, 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.259 what he's like, 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.680 what he's done for us. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.160 We don't worship the Bible. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:02.060 We worship the God 00:19:02.060 --> 00:19:02.700 of the Bible. 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:05.340 This is an illustration 00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:06.580 that I heard credited 00:19:06.580 --> 00:19:08.759 to Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:10.040 who was one of the great 00:19:10.040 --> 00:19:11.100 preachers of the 19th century. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.900 And he spoke about a man 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.200 who had to go away 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.620 on business. 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.660 He went on a long journey. 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:18.960 And if you're under 40, 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.460 you're going to have to 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.420 use your imaginations 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.420 that there's a world 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:21.880 that existed 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:22.660 without smartphones. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.540 This guy's gone 00:19:24.540 --> 00:19:25.340 on a long journey, 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:27.079 and he's taken with him 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:29.159 a photograph of his wife. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:32.099 And he doesn't put 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.419 his photograph of his wife 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:36.199 in his hold luggage. 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:36.899 Of course he doesn't. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.899 He needs to keep it near him. 00:19:37.939 --> 00:19:38.679 He puts it in his wallet. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.859 He puts it in his breast pocket. 00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:41.259 So it's close to his heart. 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:43.059 And when he goes to bed at night, 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.639 he takes it out 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.619 and he looks at it. 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:46.159 And he thinks about it 00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.039 and he dwells on it 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.539 and he longs for it. 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.579 But this guy's not longing 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.659 for a photograph. 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.820 He's longing for the thing 00:19:54.820 --> 00:19:56.620 the photograph is the picture of. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.900 He has a photograph, 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.360 but he's longing for his wife. 00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:02.960 And that's the same principle 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:05.100 as what Scripture does for us. 00:20:05.540 --> 00:20:06.840 We love to be in Scripture. 00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:08.580 We want to read the Scripture. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.840 The Bible is so important 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:10.600 to our lives, 00:20:10.820 --> 00:20:11.960 but not for the sake 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:13.019 of the words on the page, 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.940 for the sake of the God 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:16.300 who's behind those words. 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.340 Psalm 1 is pointing us 00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:20.860 to the law. 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:22.500 But it's pointing us 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.019 to the law 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:24.419 so that we can see God. 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:27.519 His word allows us 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.779 to be closer to him, 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.299 rest in him 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.479 while we're traveling 00:20:32.479 --> 00:20:34.799 through our arduous journeys 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.299 in life 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:37.579 so that we can have happiness 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.879 knowing that he's there. 00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:41.299 Second reason that the law 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.000 is a delight 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.879 for the righteous person 00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:44.679 is because it shows us 00:20:44.679 --> 00:20:45.339 how to live. 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:48.019 So if we want to get blessed, 00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.039 truly, deeply, 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.220 eternally blessed, 00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:53.559 then we follow God's law 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.799 to get it. 00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:56.019 You see, 00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:58.200 God's law is not like 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.240 national laws. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.619 You should keep 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.659 the laws of the land. 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.279 Of course you should. 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.200 The Bible tells us 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.680 that we should keep 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.420 the laws of the land. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.960 But the best abiding 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.259 by the laws of the land 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.200 can do for you 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.759 is keep you 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.059 from trouble. 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:15.240 But Psalm 1 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.119 doesn't begin 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:17.399 by offering us 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.460 immunity from punishment. 00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:20.619 It begins by offering us 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:21.099 blessing. 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.879 So the righteous person 00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:25.059 meditates on God's law 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.679 day and night. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.059 And that doesn't mean 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.619 checking in twice a day 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.539 like brushing your teeth. 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:31.019 It means 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.099 all day, 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.559 morning, 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.460 night, 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:34.679 every moment 00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:35.279 in between. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.019 And we know 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.240 that meditation, 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:39.619 therefore, 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.680 in this case, 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.960 can't be about, 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.579 you know, 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.399 a class 00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:45.139 in a spa 00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:46.160 where you sit 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.839 for 10 minutes 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.700 and empty your mind. 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.639 But it's also 00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.899 not just reading 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:51.740 the Bible. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:54.259 It's lingering 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.980 on what the Bible says, 00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:57.200 turning those ideas 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.680 over in your mind, 00:21:59.139 --> 00:21:59.740 letting yourself 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.220 be infused by it 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.160 every day. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:04.200 I don't think 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.259 modern life 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.300 is set up for this. 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.180 When I've drank 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.120 too much caffeine, 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.340 I switch to 00:22:09.340 --> 00:22:10.540 decaf coffee bags 00:22:10.540 --> 00:22:11.540 and on the box 00:22:11.540 --> 00:22:12.220 it says 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.480 to leave it 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.140 for four minutes. 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:14.820 Man, 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.700 four minutes? 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.640 Four minutes 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.580 seems like a lifetime 00:22:17.580 --> 00:22:18.160 when you're waiting 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.720 for your coffee 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.120 to brew. 00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.200 I think that's 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.080 silly, 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.040 but it's symptomatic 00:22:23.040 --> 00:22:23.740 of our culture, 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.000 right? 00:22:24.040 --> 00:22:24.720 We want everything 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:24.980 now. 00:22:25.060 --> 00:22:25.640 We're so rushed, 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.360 we're so pressured. 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.620 We don't have time 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:29.540 to contemplate God's word. 00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.140 We don't have time 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.080 to carry it with us, 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.140 to think about it. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.060 We're constantly 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:33.740 bombarded 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.900 by messages 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:36.240 and interference. 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.380 I think that by nature 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.560 what we want, 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.519 what people in our day, 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.320 maybe every day, 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:41.720 I don't know, 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.480 but in our day, 00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:43.420 what we want is 00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:44.940 a planner 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.740 for the day 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:47.019 that looks something 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.759 like read Bible, 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.220 collect dry cleaning, 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.420 pay cancel tax, 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.800 meet Brian for lunch, 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.640 kids' football practice, 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.380 read Bible. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.980 And we want that 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.500 so we can go 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:59.000 tick, tick, tick, tick 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.080 and we can clear them off 00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:01.140 because once it's done, 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.620 it's done 00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:02.219 and we can forget 00:23:02.219 --> 00:23:02.699 about it 00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:03.859 and move on. 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.619 Maybe that is actually 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.439 quite a good way 00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:07.639 to handle the tasks 00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:07.979 that you have 00:23:07.979 --> 00:23:08.519 in your life. 00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:10.139 But it's not 00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:11.759 meditating on scripture 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.219 as it's described here. 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.599 The Hebrew word here 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.319 for meditates 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.079 not about 15 minutes 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:18.779 of quiet time 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.199 in the morning 00:23:19.199 --> 00:23:20.239 and then 10 minutes 00:23:20.239 --> 00:23:21.359 of quiet time 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.319 at night. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.919 This word can also 00:23:23.919 --> 00:23:24.519 be translated 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:26.379 as moaning 00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:28.180 or to mutter. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.180 This isn't a nice 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:31.379 tidy slot 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.339 that you fit 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.740 somehow 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.639 into your day. 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.579 This model 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.980 of meditation 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:38.000 is a whole 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.059 life posture 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:40.059 towards scripture. 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.799 So practically, 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.400 it might mean 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.799 reading the Bible 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.400 in the morning 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.059 and then 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.900 bringing it 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.900 before your mind 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.799 all through the day. 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:49.779 When you're in the queue 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.539 of the supermarket, 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.400 when you're getting 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:51.960 your lunch, 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.180 instead of waiting, 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:54.620 instead of instantly 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.340 going to your pocket 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:57.040 to see who's emailed you 00:23:57.040 --> 00:23:58.000 since you left the office 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.580 or to see who's text you 00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:01.580 to see what's going on 00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.240 later on today. 00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:04.320 Maybe it's thinking 00:24:04.320 --> 00:24:05.759 about God's word, 00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.500 the word that God 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.300 gave to you 00:24:07.300 --> 00:24:07.980 that morning 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.680 for that day 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.500 to carry you through. 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.340 I promise you 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.720 that God knows 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.580 what you need 00:24:13.580 --> 00:24:14.480 to be happy 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.740 much better 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.420 than your Instagram 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.400 algorithm does. 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.620 And look what 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:21.200 that heart posture 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.880 leads to. 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.440 Verse 3 tells us 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.259 the righteous person 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.460 is like a tree 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.779 planted by streams 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.200 of water. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.740 So in verse 1 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.480 we were walking, 00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.519 then we were standing, 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.299 and then we were sitting, 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.920 but now we're planted. 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.680 Planted 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:36.279 is much more 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.840 than sitting. 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.180 It's deep, 00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:38.819 it's rooted, 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.680 it's grounded 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.420 and connected. 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.420 The other thing 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.100 about being planted 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:44.920 is that it's deliberate, 00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:45.920 it's being deliberately 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.080 put somewhere. 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:48.620 And then even 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.620 the word streams, 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:51.659 this can be translated, 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.939 I think, 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.559 quite accurately 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:55.019 as a channel, 00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:55.919 a water channel 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.679 or a canal. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.000 So even 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.139 these waterways 00:24:59.139 --> 00:24:59.579 that come 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.519 to refresh you 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:02.059 are deliberately 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.919 placed there. 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:04.439 Do you see 00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:05.459 what this means? 00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:06.679 This means 00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:07.839 that God himself 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:09.039 plants his people 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.439 by streams 00:25:10.439 --> 00:25:11.539 he himself 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.439 provides. 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.000 So being planted 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.019 is not just about 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.419 not being moved, 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.000 having roots 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.599 so you're not blown 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:20.019 around in the wind. 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.940 It's also about 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.720 being nourished. 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.700 A tree that's not 00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.180 planted 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.259 beside streams 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:25.700 of water 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.539 is so vulnerable. 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.400 To survive 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.039 you have to pray 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.079 that the rain comes. 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.980 But the blessed tree 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.960 has the security 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.740 of being beside 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:36.420 constantly flowing 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.039 streams 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.119 of fresh water. 00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.720 There's no need 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.240 to be anxious 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.980 about where the next 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.980 rain shower is coming from. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.839 Your day-to-day 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.740 circumstances 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:46.279 when you're rooted 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.859 in God 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:49.960 are inconsequential 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:51.380 to your overall 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.180 blessedness 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:53.720 because you're 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.359 planted 00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.240 beside streams 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.700 of water 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.539 that he himself 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.059 provides. 00:25:58.859 --> 00:25:59.460 And so free 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.880 from the anxiety 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.859 of circumstances 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:03.920 with the constant 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.859 feeding and blessing 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.740 that this 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:08.200 water provides, 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.120 the blessed tree 00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.620 brings forth fruit. 00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:14.379 fruit in a person 00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:15.500 we know 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.379 from the New Testament 00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.619 manifests 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:19.279 as things like 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.159 love, joy, 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.299 peace, patience, 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:21.859 kindness, 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:22.939 goodness, 00:26:23.239 --> 00:26:23.759 faithfulness, 00:26:23.939 --> 00:26:24.439 gentleness, 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.759 self-control. 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.839 This is the fruit 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:28.500 that the blessed person 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.259 who meditates 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.479 on God's law 00:26:30.479 --> 00:26:30.919 produces. 00:26:31.439 --> 00:26:32.419 These are the evidences 00:26:32.419 --> 00:26:34.059 that God 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.899 through his spirit 00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:35.939 is working 00:26:35.939 --> 00:26:37.219 in your life. 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.419 Changing you. 00:26:40.219 --> 00:26:40.899 Become more 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:42.040 like the character 00:26:42.040 --> 00:26:43.420 that you read about, 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:45.160 the character of God 00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.900 that you read about 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:47.019 in his word. 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:49.140 Not only 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.740 do the Psalms 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.080 tell us 00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.860 that the blessed person 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.460 prospers, 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:54.600 that the blessed person 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.800 brings forth fruit, 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.640 but they prosper 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:58.140 in everything they do. 00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:58.920 Everything that they 00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.900 turn their hand to 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:01.360 is a success. 00:27:02.780 --> 00:27:03.920 It's nothing to do 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.900 with gaining wealth. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.900 It's nothing to do 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.940 with getting a promotion. 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:10.000 It's nothing to do 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.279 with adoration 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.440 from other people. 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:15.039 But a flourishing life 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:17.460 living by God's law 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:19.600 does mean 00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:21.320 a better life. 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:23.100 It really does. 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.400 It makes you 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:26.600 a better husband 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.240 or wife. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.400 It makes you 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.039 a better parent. 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.340 It makes you 00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:31.779 a better neighbor. 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:35.460 This is in complete 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:35.980 contrast, 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.379 we see, 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.599 to those who are not 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.079 in relationship 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.619 with God. 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.799 The Psalmist tells us 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.779 that they're like chaff. 00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:43.700 That's the waste product 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.500 that's produced 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:46.440 when grain 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.420 is threshed. 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.619 They're empty husks. 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.799 There's nothing to them. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.700 They have no roots. 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.559 They don't bring forth fruit. 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.160 They're just waiting 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.039 to be blown away 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:57.639 by the wind. 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:59.780 We see the righteous 00:27:59.780 --> 00:28:01.380 become increasingly 00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:01.900 stable 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:04.440 and the wicked 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:06.720 increasingly unstable 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:08.620 until the wicked 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:09.660 meet their ultimate end, 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.120 which verse 6 tells us 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:12.700 is destruction. 00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:17.080 You have to be careful 00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:18.440 not to think 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:20.120 that living by streams 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.640 of refreshing, 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.020 flowing, 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.040 pure water 00:28:24.040 --> 00:28:25.500 means that our life 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.160 is therefore 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.020 going to be easy. 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:28.079 That's not 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:29.480 what we're saying. 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:31.700 But, 00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.720 the one who trusts 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.319 in the Lord 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:35.079 remains fruitful 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.700 even during 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.859 the harshest of rites 00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:40.119 because God is with them 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.700 and they take refuge 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.079 in him. 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.220 We know this. 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.539 If we've been 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.099 around church, 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:48.940 if we've read the Bible, 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.359 we know this. 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.400 We know this is the case. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.440 We know that God's law 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.500 provides refreshing 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.240 and blessing. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.720 We know that sin 00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.839 leads to damnation. 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:59.259 So why are we still sinning? 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:03.000 Anyone who's here 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.359 who's compromised 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.639 their faith in some way. 00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:08.420 Maybe you've reported 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.960 inaccurate figures 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.000 on your tax return. 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:13.660 Maybe you've laid 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.619 somebody off at work 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.779 to appease your boss 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.319 even though 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.180 what they did 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:18.259 wasn't really anything 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.259 worth getting rid of them for. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.359 Maybe you told a lie 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.619 to avoid getting into trouble 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.339 from your parents. 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:25.879 That was a choice 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.459 that you made. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.240 You did that thing 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.240 because you wanted to. 00:29:28.919 --> 00:29:29.839 Maybe you didn't want 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.439 to compromise. 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.279 You didn't want to have 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.839 to compromise 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:33.399 on your faith. 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:36.000 But you wanted the thing 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:36.599 that compromising 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.439 could get you 00:29:37.439 --> 00:29:38.819 at that moment 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:40.619 more than you wanted 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.259 to walk 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.399 in the paths 00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:42.959 of righteousness. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.160 righteousness. 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:46.120 the praise, 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.660 the promotion, 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.740 the pacifying somebody else 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.019 at that moment 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:52.240 was more important to you. 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.220 You wanted that thing 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.320 more than you wanted 00:29:55.320 --> 00:29:56.420 to walk with God 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.779 at that time. 00:29:57.779 --> 00:30:00.960 Look, I think 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.119 all of us 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.879 are maybe feeling 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.299 uncomfortable 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:04.839 when we think 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.599 about that truth. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:06.980 I am. 00:30:07.899 --> 00:30:08.420 Who's ever 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.339 walked 00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:11.019 and not been 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.559 strayed 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.339 by the influence 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:12.700 of those 00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:13.559 who don't love the Lord? 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.119 Who's ever 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:16.240 perfectly delighted 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.279 in God's law? 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.859 Well, don't despair 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:22.000 because someone 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.440 isn't pointing 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.039 accusingly 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.859 at you. 00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.539 It's pointing 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:28.619 hopefully beyond you. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.279 Which brings us 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.339 to our final point, 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.899 the righteous man. 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.879 Someone once said 00:30:34.879 --> 00:30:35.940 that classic literature 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.299 are all the books 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.819 that everyone 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.740 wants to have read 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.940 but nobody wants to read. 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.059 Sometimes we feel 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.980 that about scripture. 00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:43.079 We want to have read it. 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:43.920 We want to want 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.460 to read it. 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:46.180 But we simply don't. 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:48.039 We want to meditate 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.680 on God's law. 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.619 We want to be 00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:50.220 the kind of people 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.359 who have that discipline 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:53.519 but it just evades us. 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.599 We don't have 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.279 that desire 00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:58.519 that burning 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.700 aching 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.879 to be in God's word 00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:02.180 like we know 00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.779 that we should have 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:04.059 that the Bible describes. 00:31:05.639 --> 00:31:06.240 It's because 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.119 our hearts are corrupted 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:09.079 and our desires 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.720 are distorted. 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.500 Even though we want to 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:14.200 even though we want 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:14.740 to want to 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:16.259 we can't. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.980 Who could? 00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:18.759 And if you read 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.799 the Bible like this 00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:21.500 it's either going 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.399 to crush you 00:31:22.399 --> 00:31:24.259 with the weight 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.920 of expectation 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:27.119 or you're going 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.079 to be eaten alive 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.240 by guilt. 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.480 But the Bible 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.480 isn't about us. 00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.379 It's for us 00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:36.019 but it's about 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.700 Jesus. 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:37.879 You see 00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:38.759 it's not you 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.599 who resisted 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.400 every temptation 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:41.400 to walk 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:41.920 in the counsel 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:42.400 of the wicked. 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.240 It's not you 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.559 who never sinned. 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.359 It's not you 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:48.859 who delighted 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.599 perfectly 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.819 every moment 00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.640 in the Father's will. 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:53.500 It's not you 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.300 who always 00:31:54.300 --> 00:31:55.180 bore 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:57.220 healthy fruit. 00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.560 It's Jesus. 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.580 The New Testament 00:32:01.580 --> 00:32:02.200 book of Hebrews 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.620 tells us 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.560 Jesus took delight 00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:04.040 in the law 00:32:04.040 --> 00:32:04.440 of the Lord. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.080 That's why 00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.780 he's constantly 00:32:06.780 --> 00:32:07.900 withdrawing 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.820 to lonely places 00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.660 so that he could 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:11.320 be in communion 00:32:11.320 --> 00:32:12.000 with his Father. 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.720 Even at the most 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:15.660 arduous points 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.540 in Jesus' life 00:32:16.540 --> 00:32:17.980 when the devil 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.400 takes him 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.060 into the wilderness 00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:20.259 and tempts him 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:22.039 it's scripture 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.599 that comes out 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.339 of Jesus' mouth. 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.599 When he's on the cross 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.619 the most agonizing 00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.359 moment of his life 00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:27.019 it's scripture 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:28.500 that Jesus speaks 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.859 because he loves 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.680 God's law. 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.500 Jesus is the blessed 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:35.119 man of Psalm 1. 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.279 And the Bible 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.740 tells us 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.879 Jesus is our wisdom 00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:41.200 and he's our righteousness. 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.160 When we're in him 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:43.220 when we trust in Jesus 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:45.099 he fulfills 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.640 the demands 00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:46.200 of the covenant 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:48.460 obeying perfectly. 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:51.460 He does it for us. 00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:53.980 And yet 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.880 to our human minds 00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:57.880 the unthinkable 00:32:57.880 --> 00:32:58.400 happens 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:59.019 doesn't it? 00:32:59.860 --> 00:33:01.120 The righteous man 00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:01.660 suffers 00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.600 the fate 00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:03.220 of the wicked. 00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:04.920 On the cross 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.559 Jesus bore 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.059 the judgment 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:07.140 that was due 00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:07.960 for the wicked people. 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:09.620 Jesus bore 00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:12.200 the guilt 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.579 and the shame 00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:15.220 that was ours 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.940 to have. 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:17.960 God 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:19.059 experienced 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.759 the curse 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.180 of the godless. 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:23.240 Why did he do that? 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.400 So that sinners 00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:25.960 like you 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.700 sinners like me 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.920 can receive 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.580 the blessing 00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.920 that belongs 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.299 to him. 00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:31.759 Paul says 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:33.380 Christ redeemed us 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:33.880 from the curse 00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.380 of the law 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:35.259 by becoming 00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.340 a curse for us. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.279 See Psalm 1 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.120 finds its ultimate 00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:40.160 fulfillment in Christ. 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.500 He was the tree 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.080 that was planted 00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:43.200 by streams of water 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.960 but he also hung 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.620 on a tree 00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:46.440 and was refused 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:46.920 water 00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:48.340 and he did that 00:33:48.340 --> 00:33:48.840 for us. 00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:51.620 Jesus is not 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.600 simply our example 00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:52.920 then. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.580 He's our substitute. 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.080 He stood 00:33:56.080 --> 00:33:57.200 in judgment 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:58.460 in our place. 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.360 One commentator 00:34:00.360 --> 00:34:00.640 wrote 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.700 in Christ 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.620 we hear Psalm 1 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:03.660 not as a manifesto 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:04.200 for self-righteousness 00:34:04.840 --> 00:34:06.039 or as a sentence 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:07.460 of miserable moralism 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.519 but rather 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.360 as glorious 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.179 gospel. 00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:12.559 When we understand 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.419 Psalm 1 like that 00:34:13.419 --> 00:34:14.159 it saves us 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.259 from three 00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:16.159 big errors. 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:18.299 It prevents us 00:34:18.299 --> 00:34:19.259 from trying 00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:19.819 to portray 00:34:19.819 --> 00:34:21.019 a superficial 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.659 righteousness. 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.719 Jesus had harsh 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.719 words for the scribes 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.319 and the Pharisees 00:34:25.319 --> 00:34:25.839 in his day 00:34:25.839 --> 00:34:27.179 who tried to act 00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.559 as though 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:28.579 they had everything 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.139 sorted out. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.299 We're free 00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:33.000 to be honest 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.940 before God 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.960 because of what 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.579 Jesus has done. 00:34:36.859 --> 00:34:37.379 Secondly 00:34:37.379 --> 00:34:38.000 it saves us 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:39.480 from the futility 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.500 of becoming 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.139 a zealot 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:42.119 becoming a person 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:43.059 who 00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:45.059 overwhelmingly 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.760 tries 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.780 to fulfill 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:47.820 all the things 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:49.300 that Psalm 1 00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:50.079 demands 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.559 by strength 00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.320 of our own will 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:53.400 our own determination 00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:55.699 because that's crushing 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:57.539 and thirdly 00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:59.219 it saves us 00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:00.039 from despair. 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.780 We can never 00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.360 attain 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:03.240 this level 00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:03.900 of godliness 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:06.079 through our performance. 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.400 Jesus has attained 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.039 it for us. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.059 In Jesus 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:12.519 the true righteous man 00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.740 we're free 00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.559 of all these errors 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:16.280 and now because 00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:16.900 we're united 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:17.519 to Christ 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:18.440 through faith 00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:21.059 his walk 00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:21.880 becomes our walk. 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:23.099 His standing 00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.019 becomes our standing. 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.219 His righteousness 00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:26.079 becomes ours 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:27.800 and this is how 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.480 we can begin 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:28.960 to become 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.679 the kind of people 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:31.159 Psalm 1 describes 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:33.000 because the Holy Spirit 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.800 works in us 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.940 increases in us 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:36.559 not so that we can 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.679 earn his blessing 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:39.179 but because we've 00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:40.379 already received 00:35:40.379 --> 00:35:41.119 blessing 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:42.099 through Christ. 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:45.079 God give you 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.799 this song 00:35:45.799 --> 00:35:46.719 because he wants 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:47.399 you to be truly 00:35:47.399 --> 00:35:47.819 happy 00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:49.679 and he knows 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:50.399 your only path 00:35:50.399 --> 00:35:50.980 to true 00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.000 and everlasting 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:52.579 happiness 00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:54.339 is through his 00:35:54.339 --> 00:35:54.779 son Jesus. 00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:56.359 Let's pray. 00:35:56.360 --> 00:35:59.700 Lord God 00:35:59.700 --> 00:36:00.640 we thank you 00:36:00.640 --> 00:36:01.700 for the truth 00:36:01.700 --> 00:36:02.260 and the wisdom 00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:02.940 contained 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.519 in your holy law. 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:05.980 Lord 00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:06.519 we lament 00:36:06.519 --> 00:36:07.320 that we do not 00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:08.820 love your law 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.180 in the way 00:36:09.180 --> 00:36:09.860 that sometimes 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.440 we wish 00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:10.840 our hearts 00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.519 wish that we 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:11.780 could 00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:13.740 but we rejoice 00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:15.320 that you knew 00:36:15.320 --> 00:36:15.599 this. 00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:16.640 This is not a surprise 00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:17.240 to you Lord. 00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.240 You sent your son 00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:18.519 Jesus 00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:20.000 to come into the world 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.059 to fulfill 00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:21.380 the law 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:21.940 perfectly 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:22.679 to obey 00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:24.679 your demands 00:36:24.679 --> 00:36:25.599 fully 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:27.039 to die 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:28.320 in the place 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:29.019 of sinners 00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:31.099 so that we can 00:36:31.099 --> 00:36:31.800 be reconciled 00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:32.139 to you. 00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:32.900 Lord we 00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:33.780 praise your 00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.420 glorious and 00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:34.820 great name 00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.639 this morning 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:36.840 and we ask 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:37.139 that you would 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:37.559 hear our prayers 00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:38.179 in Jesus name. 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.239 Amen.