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Psalm 1: The Saved and the Unsaved

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1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

(Psalm 1)

Notice the differences between the saved and unsaved in Psalm 1.

The unsaved are:

  • Separated from God (v4-6).
  • Sinning against God (v1).
  • Scorning at the truth of God (v1).

The saved are:

  • Separated to God (v2-3,6).
  • Serving only God (v1).
  • Searching for the truth (v2).

We often read Psalm 1 looking for imperatives—commands—to follow (i.e., do not walk with sinners, delight in the law, meditate upon it, etc). We seldom read Psalm 1 looking for reasons to thank God. The best news in Psalm 1 is not what we have done but what what God has done—and also what He is doing and what He’ll be faithful to do.

If you are a Christian today, Jesus has saved you from separation, sin, and scorning the truth. Instead, you are set apart to know and serve him. And His truth has been revealed in the work of Jesus Christ.

So next time you read Psalm 1, be thankful for Jesus’ work in you.

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Comments

  1. Psalm 1 begins with blessed is the man. When used as an adjective blessed means, Made holy; consecrated.

    When we are truly born again. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, repent and begin living as a child of God, walking in His ways instead of the worlds way our life begins to change.

    We no longer Stand, Sit or Walk with the world and those who are living by the flesh. We are positionally in the right or appropriate place. We delight, we meditate on good rather than evil, we stand and grow as strong trees supplied by living water and bear fruit in season and we prosper.

    The sinners driven by whatever wind comes up, he’s dried up chaff, v 5 “he shall not stand in the judgement” nor in the congregation of the righteous. His fate is fixed and he will perish.

    Romans 14:10-12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…so then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” In the context, it is clear that both scriptures are referring to Christians, not unbelievers. The judgment seat of Christ, therefore, involves believers giving an account of their lives to Christ. The judgment seat of Christ DOES NOT determine salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All of our sins are forgiven, and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1). We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives. Yes, as the Bible says, we will have to give an account of ourselves. Part of this is surely answering for the sins we committed. However, that is not going to be the primary focus of the judgment seat of Christ.

    At the judgment seat of Christ, believers are rewarded based on how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). Some of the things we might be judged on are how well we obeyed the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), how victorious we were over sin (Romans 6:1-4), and how well we controlled our tongues (James 3:1-9). The Bible speaks of believers receiving crowns for different things based on how faithfully they served Christ (1 Corinthians 9:4-27; 2 Timothy 2:5). The various crowns are described in 2 Timothy 2:5, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10.

    James 1:12 is a good summary of how we should think about the judgment seat of Christ: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

    James 1:21-27
    v.21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and —>RECEIVE with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.<—

    • Amen. God’s perfect Justice is so beyond perfection as we know it, that He has provided Grace… can any person fully comprehend God’s grace after paying such a price? Sufficient for us to know that He knows; and his children will know His voice. His own will bear fruit, and by the fruit they will be made known.

      God on Earth- The Spirit of Jesus, our Paraclete is our earthly strength. Jesus in the Spirit, for it is His Spirit, for all that is the Father’s is His, and all that is His, is the Father’s. When Jesus answers the Samaritan woman the day will come when you will not worship in the mountains nor in the Temple, but will worship in the Spirit, He referred to the new birth in the Spirit, made possible after His resurrection. What a day for Nicodemus, the learned and the disciples whom felt lost!

      We can worship in Spirit, the temple’s curtain has been torn asunder Amen!! The Spirit- our streams of water which yields fruit in its season is our source of life here on earth. Our leaves will not wither!!

      It’s not sufficient for me to know that I have life. It’s not sufficient that my leaf will not wither.
      It’s not sufficient that I delight and meditate on the Law…

      No! my sufficiency is not enough. Praise God!

      Thank You for our sacrificial lamb, Your perfect sacrifice. Thank You for our High Priest in Heaven, and the Power of Your Spirit here on Earth, dear Lord I pray for Your Source of Life, that the Fruit of Your Love- Jesus, may be manifested in my life by the fruits in my life.

  2. Chris, the Holy Spirit continues to call out to the lost as your timely piece proclaims.
    2Cr 6:2
    You affirm our purpose for living not for ourselves but for all those who yet draw the breath of life.
    As Mark Hayes recalled that blessed note of praise, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; Psa 107:2
    We are to preach the Everlasting Gospel to the lost.

  4. Steve,
    We love because He first loved us. God is not willing that any should perish. He knows His sheep and His sheep know His voice.

    It’s not our love that saves us it’s His love. 1 John 4; The Lord called to Adam Genesis 3:9; The Lord said to Abram Genesis 12:1-3; God called Moses Exodus 3:4; God called Samuel in 1 Samuel 3; Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 48:12; Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 54:6-8; Isaiah 62:12; Isaiah 65:1; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Jesus called His disciples Matthew 10:1; Jesus called the multitude to Himself Matthew 15:10; Many are called but few are chosen Matthew 22:14; Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him Mark 8:34; Saul was called in Acts 9; God called Cornelius and had Peter go to Caesarea in Acts 10; Look at what James says in Act 15:13-17; Romans 8 is all about being called by God. 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 7:17

    I think we tend to think we save ourselves with our decisions and our works. The bible clearly teaches that God seeks us out and we hear His voice and respond to HIS call. Even hearing is a gift (Luke 8:10; Romans 10:6-21; Galatians 3:2-3) from God and our works are evidence of our acceptance to His call and evidence of gratitude for His grace and mercy not duties we do in order to be saved. Galatians 1:15; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Romans 11:29; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 3:7; 1 Peter 4:10.

    • Alleluia! Luk 19:40
      Surely now and at each living moment we can praise and thank our wondrous Father, our Savior.
      Jhn 5:28. 10:3, Hbr 3:7, 15, 4:7
      This world was made by Him Jhn 1:3-5
      Rom 12:1, Luk 4:18

    • Well said Tess. Excellent comment.
      Can I copy your comment and use it as a reference for some group Bible Study?

  5. The absolute only way we are “saved” from the “Lake of Fire”, Rev 19:20 HNV is by the BLOOD shed, Jhn 19:17-22 HNV. Love was the motive and as unwarranted as it is, but it alone does not accomplish salvation of a soul, blood had to be shed to death to justify the error and pay the required price.

    Our “purpose” as Believers is to serve Messiah and HIM alone, Luke 14:26-27, 33 HNV. http://utmost.org/ – 7/2/13.

    J.

  6. But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
    And in His law he meditates day and night

    ANYONE have a clue as to what law this refers to if we are in Christ? Seeing that we are not under the law to gain salvation, and because Jesus said ‘it is finished’.

    • I typed the words “Jesus” and “Law” together in BLB’s search engine and found good answers to your question.

      As believers we gain salvation from the judgment of fire because Yeshua followed the LAW perfectly as evidenced by HIS resurrection. Because we gain from HIS obedience to the LAW, does not mean the LAW is done away with and we no longer have to obey, correct?

      J.

      P.s. Chris – can you move the floating links to Twitter, Facebook from where they currently sit? Because as I move my cursor to the right to scroll bar I often cross over the link and it jumps me to the top of the page.

    • Romans 9: 30-33 and Romans 10:1-14; Romans 13:8-9; Luke 10:21-28; Matthew 22: 36-40; Acts 16:30-32.

      Love does no violence to the law but the law can do violence to love. Which is the lesson of the Good Samaratin Luke 10:25-37. The priest and the Levite obeyed the law in that they did not defile themselves by touching what appeared to be a dead body but they failed because the law is kept through love not mere obeidence. Romans 13:8-9.

      It was also the point Jesus was making with Mary and Martha Luke 10:38-42. Martha was overly concerned with serving but Mary chose the good part. Martha was huffy and obedient to the “work” that needed to be done but Mary knew Jesus, her Lord was in her presence and in her love and devotion she chose to sit at His feet, worship and listen to Him. Work needs to be done and the law obeyed but the wrong condition of the heart will render works useless and they are a stench rather than a pleasing aroma to God. Righteousness=Right Heartedness not perfect works. If we don’t love the Lord Thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and with all thy strength then mere obedience to the law availeth nothing. It is the ESSENCE of the law. Deuteronomy 10; Deuteronomy 11:13; Deuteronomy 13:3; Deuteronomy 26:16; Deuteronomy 30:2; Deuteronomy 30:6.

      Deuteronomy 10:17 states that God does not except bribes and works without love are bribes.

  8. That lesson can be found in the Good Samaritan, but the larger lesson is about prejudice, self-centeredness and who our neighbor and brother / sister are. Without question the LAW is perfect and does no harm. In the story, the GOD appointed leaders and teachers of the LAW were misusing it and their position (because they thought themselves above the LAW), Mat 23 HNV. So obedience to the LAW is not wrong, it can’t be because Messiahs perfect adherence to it brought salvation to the world, our misunderstanding, misinterpretation (tradition) and misuse of it is wrong.

    That point can be made of Martha, but her issue was one of distraction, not service. Her focus was on herself and not the only one we should be focused on, Luke 14:26-27, 33 HNV. Maybe Mary was just being lazy (kidding). Our emotions can be quite a distraction and too many of us confuse emotion for faith.

    An act of LOVE and whether it has a stench or pleasant aroma is a matter of perspective. An act of true LOVE, Mat 26:42 HNV can be viewed by some as cruel, hurtful and a bloody mess.

    The bribe spoken of in Deu 10:17 HNV is referring to our GOD being a “Just”, “Fair” and “Merciful” GOD in discerning what a pleasant aroma is and what is not.

    J.

    • Jesus exhorted us to dwell in Him and said that without Him we can do nothing. The parable of humanity teaches us to believe God. Jesus describes belief through parable and example. Luk 19:22, Mat 8:13

      Jesus says to us, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Mat 5:44
      We are challenged to be perfect in this. In love we do obey the commandments of our Father. Mat 22:37-40
      We are told that all the law is fulfilled in Love. Gal 5:13-18
      1Jo 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1Jo 4:12-21
      Psa 51:17, 34:18, Isa 57:15

    • Jerry I have a question about what you wrote.

      In the story, the GOD appointed leaders and teachers of the LAW were misusing it and their position (because they thought themselves above the LAW), Mat 23 HNV. So obedience to the LAW is not wrong, it can’t be because Messiahs perfect adherence to it brought salvation to the world, our misunderstanding, misinterpretation (tradition) and misuse of it is wrong.

      Yes the leaders and teachers WERE misusing it and their position but you write later that Messiahs perfect adherence to it brought salvation to the world.

      1.) Jesus’s death on the cross brought salvation not his adherence to law.

      2.) Perfect adherence to the law is what brought salvation?? I thought it was His death on the cross. Ephesians 2: 11-18; John 12:27 Jesus did not preach perfect adherence to the law and He defended his disciples in that regard when they broke the law. How do you explain Luke 14:13-17; Luke 6:1-5; Matthew 15:1-20; John 5:31-47 emphasis v 39.

      • I see the questions, not time to respond at length now. I told Breaux one time that it is easy to misread the intent of short comments on a blog, that’s what’s happening here. later!
        J.

  9. Very True Bob.

    I am experiencing the choice to love my enemies and I so choose !!! Why, because I am told to !!!
    My feelings don’t make the choice My heart for Him does.

    Jesus said “Choose” so many times in so many different circumstances but always the person had a choice.

    The world and it’s ways, thoughts, reactions,or the Kingdom of Heaven and our Father’s way. Simple black and white choice, but a hard one without LOVE and the Holy Spirits help !!!

    The choice to walk in His Love, not our in knowledge, wisdom, and emotions, is a sometimes painful but is a wonderful fulfillment of destiny and purpose.

    I have found the self control it takes to sometimes feel like my flesh is truly melting at times. 🙂

    I have found this scripture a very simple statement of Fact that changed my understanding of what I am to do and also how I am to do it….

    If I do not have “ALL” the darkness out of “My heart and mind” I do not speak from the place Jesus meant for me to speak from.

    By truly accepting this scripture I can let go and let GOD Control, Correct, Guide, Convict, and I can then walk in the LOVE Jesus did for ALL WHO ARE LOST…..

    Proverbs 10:12
    Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.

    If Love conquers ALL I am free indeed when I learn to LOVE like He did. Show the lost that Love !

    A word for all of us, if it ceases to edify All of us it should cease.

    Many times Father has simply closed my mouth or finger to type here 🙂 due to that very thing.

    James 3:17
    But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, (fn)reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

    the footnote for “reasonable” is “Willing to Yield”

    Think about this, knowing you are right because the LORD has shown you and yet, letting GOD and the Holy Spirit change the persons mind through your prayers, intercession and yielding to His timing and ways. A great choice instead of beating them with the Word of God and possibly turning them away.

    We all use the phrase “Let go and Let God” but can we all walk it out?

    That revelation is changing my behavior every day I walk in the gifts of Holy Spirit and in my purpose.

    At our house we call it right as rain, but wrong as can be! when we don’t we have experienced the hurt it can cause.. 🙂

    In All His Love His Child and Daughter
    Donna

    • AMEN DONNA! And may I say that your loving and edifying comments are always such a blessing to me.

      You’re points in this comment are so very wondeful!

      THANK YOU SIS!

      Bob,
      You are a huge blessing to me! I’ve digested some of the points you’ve made and found huge treasures that I place in my spiritual basket with a great big praise to God for the delight of them.

      ALL the comments bring insights that I often thank God so much for and I thank God so much for all of you!

  10. Jerry,
    That lesson can be found in the Good Samaritan, but the larger lesson is about prejudice, self-centeredness and who our neighbor and brother / sister are. GREAT POINT JERRY. THAT IS THE LARGER LESSON IN THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

    Part of the definition of Faith from the dictionary
    Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
    Strong BELIEF and TRUST in God.
    I’M NOT SURE WHY YOU THINK FAITH IS NOT EMOTION.
    You’ll have to explain how taking emotion out of it makes any sense. Faith is belief and belief is emotion. Hebrews 11 defines faith and packed full of emotion it even begins with, “faith is the substance of things hoped for” Hope=emotion.
    I think I know what you’re saying and I agree we cannot allow whimsical emotion to govern us but emotion cannot be taken out of the equation.

    On the love/perspective (Matt. 26:42) issue we’re not talking about man’s perspective we’re talking about God’s.

    A bribe cannot be referring to “Just’, “Fair” and “Merciful”.

    I think we have to be careful (I know I do) not to twist the intent of what people are saying. I don’t ever want to be misread about my earnest desire to keep and support ALL of God’s laws. My intent is only to point out what the condition of our hearts should be. Those who love cannot be lawless and those who abide by the law cannot be loveless. I think Jesus was making that very point in Matthew 5 and it is a much weightier (did I make up a word? :))principal to obey in love and it’s essitial.

    I must confess that I get a little weary when the attempt is made to twist what people say and I pray that God helps me never to do that and to only and always encourage not discourage my brothers and sisters. I’m not at all accusing you of doing that Jerry I’ve just noticed it and even noticed it of myself a time or two. It’s a dishonest trick to take someones comments and turn them into something the person did not say and I know at least for myself that I never want to be found guilty of that. I also never want to come off as being pompous or lacking in humility. I’m delighted when I read posts and learn something I didn’t already know or am allowed to view a truth from another angel. We continue to grow only when we are willing to learn. We must be careful to take it to the Lord and let the Holy Spirit lead us into ALL truth but sanctification is a process we will continue our whole lives. I cannot express enough how grateful I am for all of the wonderful blog posts and insightful comments shared on this blog.

    🙂