Post by Les Brewer on Dec 6, 2013 13:31:09 GMT
Grace Ministries Bible Study
The Relevance of Psalms Today
Psalm 1 (part 1)
For most Christian Psalm 1 is very familiar. Everyone has one or two verses that are favorites. It is a short Psalm and we have a tendency to read through it quick, but this morning we are going to take our time and glean as much wisdom as God will allow from this brief passage.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
The first thing we all should observe is that God is talking to His children, the saints of God, those of us who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We are not to observe, obey or take to heart ungodly counsel. Believers are bombarded with ungodly counsel through the media, magazines, books and even the educational system from elementary school to the higher educational institutions. We could ready go in-depth in this area, but I will just say ask the Lord about some of the television doctor and talk show host that give advice.
The second thing we observe is the digression of a believer that walks in the counsel of the ungodly. They listened now they have adopted ungodly ways and finally they are giving the ungodly counsel. This person has quenched the Spirit of God. They are saved, but they look like and act like the unsaved. How do believers/you and I keep from being drawn into this massive vacuum of ungodly counsel? Verse two gives us the answer.
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
My small group members know that I advocate much prayer and study of the scripture. Ask yourself these questions. This is just for yourself or you can share. How much time do you spend studying God word? How much time do you spend in prayer? How much time have you been taught to spend in prayer and study? How much time do you spend watching television or on the computer compared to the time spent in prayer and study? The God that created you and all things wants to spend time with you.
One more question. Do you have time for Him? As I was in praying the other day the Lord spoke to my heart and said, so many believers are going to enter into heaven to spend eternity with a God they really do not know, because they never took the time to get to know Me while on earth. Take the time to get to know Him intimately your life will never be the same. Okay, I am getting ready to go off on a rabbit trail. I promised myself that I would stick to this Psalm. But I have to said this if you want to live worries free in total assure of victory over every situation take the time to get to know Him intimately.
Another striking element of the verse is “in his law doth he meditate day and night” not on books written by men about God’s word and not on paraphrases of God’s word. Good Christian literature has it place, but it should never replace serious study of Scripture, our times spend with God in study or hearing for ourselves the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts about a passage.
If you in the other category and your delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth you meditate day and night then you are described in verse three.
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doth shall prosper.”
David uses a beautiful word picture here to illustrate a profound truth. His proclamation, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” indicates more than one source of nourishment for the believer. God has given us sixty six streams by which to draw understanding and knowledge of Him and His wisdom. God and His wisdom is infinite no man can comprehend it all, but the believer that meditates their knowledge and understanding will be extremely insightful. Their lives will be vibrant with the fruit of the Spirit being seen and experienced by others.
These believers will stand strong in times of adversity because their roots have gone deep into the word of God. They will not be moved by the strong winds of the cares of this world.
The last part of this verse is a promise from our Sovereign God to those who “delight in the law of the Lord.” He promises to bless you and our Father always keeps his promises.
The Relevance of Psalms Today
Psalm 1 (part 1)
For most Christian Psalm 1 is very familiar. Everyone has one or two verses that are favorites. It is a short Psalm and we have a tendency to read through it quick, but this morning we are going to take our time and glean as much wisdom as God will allow from this brief passage.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
The first thing we all should observe is that God is talking to His children, the saints of God, those of us who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We are not to observe, obey or take to heart ungodly counsel. Believers are bombarded with ungodly counsel through the media, magazines, books and even the educational system from elementary school to the higher educational institutions. We could ready go in-depth in this area, but I will just say ask the Lord about some of the television doctor and talk show host that give advice.
The second thing we observe is the digression of a believer that walks in the counsel of the ungodly. They listened now they have adopted ungodly ways and finally they are giving the ungodly counsel. This person has quenched the Spirit of God. They are saved, but they look like and act like the unsaved. How do believers/you and I keep from being drawn into this massive vacuum of ungodly counsel? Verse two gives us the answer.
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
My small group members know that I advocate much prayer and study of the scripture. Ask yourself these questions. This is just for yourself or you can share. How much time do you spend studying God word? How much time do you spend in prayer? How much time have you been taught to spend in prayer and study? How much time do you spend watching television or on the computer compared to the time spent in prayer and study? The God that created you and all things wants to spend time with you.
One more question. Do you have time for Him? As I was in praying the other day the Lord spoke to my heart and said, so many believers are going to enter into heaven to spend eternity with a God they really do not know, because they never took the time to get to know Me while on earth. Take the time to get to know Him intimately your life will never be the same. Okay, I am getting ready to go off on a rabbit trail. I promised myself that I would stick to this Psalm. But I have to said this if you want to live worries free in total assure of victory over every situation take the time to get to know Him intimately.
Another striking element of the verse is “in his law doth he meditate day and night” not on books written by men about God’s word and not on paraphrases of God’s word. Good Christian literature has it place, but it should never replace serious study of Scripture, our times spend with God in study or hearing for ourselves the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts about a passage.
If you in the other category and your delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth you meditate day and night then you are described in verse three.
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doth shall prosper.”
David uses a beautiful word picture here to illustrate a profound truth. His proclamation, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” indicates more than one source of nourishment for the believer. God has given us sixty six streams by which to draw understanding and knowledge of Him and His wisdom. God and His wisdom is infinite no man can comprehend it all, but the believer that meditates their knowledge and understanding will be extremely insightful. Their lives will be vibrant with the fruit of the Spirit being seen and experienced by others.
These believers will stand strong in times of adversity because their roots have gone deep into the word of God. They will not be moved by the strong winds of the cares of this world.
The last part of this verse is a promise from our Sovereign God to those who “delight in the law of the Lord.” He promises to bless you and our Father always keeps his promises.