“Life: Use Only As Directed” (Part II) | Psalm 1:4-6 Bible Study

See part I of this Psalm 1 Bible Study (Ps 1:1-3) here.

Introduction

So, once again, I want to begin by asking an extremely important question: Do you determine your purpose or do you discern your purpose? Do you determine your purpose, or do you detect your purpose? Do you determine your purpose, or do you discover your purpose?

The way we all answer this question can undergird every major decision we make in life. And I believe Psalm 1 addresses this question.

According to the Psalmist, ultimately, there are two ways to live life. We can live in a way contrary to God’s character or in a way conforming to God’s character. Contrary to God’s character or conforming to God’s character.

We can live life as directed, or live life as selected – according to God’s directions or according to our own selections.

And Psalm 1 explains that these two different ways lead to two different destinations.

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10-26-22 No Pictures Psalm 1_4-6 Bible Study Slides

Conclusion

My brothers and sisters, as we’ve said before: if you want to get the most out of Windows, doesn’t it make sense to follow the instructions of Microsoft – the creator of Windows? If you want to get the most out of an iPhone, doesn’t it make sense to follow the instruction of Apple – the creator of the iPhone?

If you want to get the most out of your life, does it not make sense to follow the instructions of the LORD – the Creator of Life?

And believe it or not, life is a lot more complex that smartphones and computers! Also, why should you take the advice of creatures over the commands of the Creator?1

Now, I’ve used this example before, and I’ll likely use it again: What is the first thing you do when you buy something new and you see the instruction manual? If you are anything like me, you toss that bad boy to the side and try to figure things out on your own. I don’t need no instruction manual.

The only time I look at the instructions, is when I have a problem. And many times, people don’t even look at God’s instructions until they have a problem. Many don’t read the Bible until they’re in trouble. Many don’t pray until disaster strikes.

We’ll live our lives not listening to God’s word… walking our own way, and then turn around and want God to listen to our words… when we pray – especially when we’re in trouble.

Don’t you see how backwards this is? People don’t want to do what God say, they want God do what they say. They want God to save them when they’re in trouble.

You see, many people don’t want to believe in Father God; they want to believe in a Fairy Godfather – a god who just helps us overcome our personal problems and reach our personal dreams.

They want to believe in a god who lives to serve them, not a God who wants us to live to serve Him.

God is Sovereign. He can do what He wants, when He wants, and how He wants to do it. He may answer the prayers of the wicked. But, my brothers and sisters, be forewarned.

As we find in Proverbs 15:29:

The LORD [YHWH] is far from the wicked,

   but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

(Pr 15:29, NIV)

Also, Proverbs 15:8 says:

The LORD [YHWH] detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

   but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

(Pr 15:8, NIV)

And Proverbs 28:9 says:

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction [תּוֹרָה | tôrâ],

   even their prayers are detestable. (Pr 28:9, NIV)2

You see, the word says that if anyone ignores God’s directions, even their prayers are an abomination. According to the word, the LORD especially listens to those who listen to the LORD.

This is why it’s important to follow God’s directions, to meditate on His instruction manual day and night – not just when we have problems. By doing so, perhaps we can avoid some problems in the first place.

Now, interestingly, some communities took Psalm 1 super-literally (i.e., at Qumran — the Dead Sea Scroll community) and would rotate people so someone would be expounding upon Scripture every hour of the day and night.3 But this is likely metaphorical language (hyperbole or merism).4

In any case, when we need direction in life, we often want to hear from the LORD. We want to hear God’s voice. We want voicemail. But have we checked His text messages? Have we read was He’s already written? Have we studied His divine directions?

And the LORD’s laws are not merely a commands between Master and slaves,5 but instructions from Creator to creature – that we creatures might fulfill the purpose for which we were created.

As we’ve said, Psalm 1 is an introduction for all five books of Psalms – psalms that are full of worship and cries of joy, as well as pleas and cries of anguish.

And by placing Psalm 1 in the beginning, this likely implies that before we come to praise the LORD, before we come to pray to the LORD, we better be following the principles of the LORD6 (cf. Pr 1:1-7; Psalm 15, 24).7

The psalms are the songs of the people of God.8 So, before they sing them, people should make sure they’re walking godly.

In conclusion, my brothers and sisters, as we asked earlier, do we determine our life’s purpose or do we discern our life’s purpose? Are we walking our own way in life or are we walking in the unpopular but ultimately more fulfilling way of the LORD?

When we cook, when we take medication, when we operate heavy machinery: we know it’s important to follow directions. Not doing so can have catastrophic consequences.

And not following God’s directions can have eternal, catastrophic consequences. We can walk the way of the LORD’s instruction, or we can walk the wicked way to destruction.

Now, many parents know how frustrating it is when children don’t follow their directions – even when parents know that their directions are for the best. How much more do you think our heavenly Father is frustrated with us, when we don’t follow His directions – even when He knows they’re for the best?

So, let’s make our heavenly Father proud and follow His directions. Let’s not let His instruction manual just sit on the shelf.

As we’ve said, music can move us. And, in life, I hope this Psalm 1 moves you to make the right move. I hope it becomes a song that sticks with you even when you’re at the twilight of life.

For there are ultimately two ways to live life: the way contrary to God’s character, and the way conforming to God’s character. We can walk His way or try to walk our own way. We can live life as directed, or live life as selected – according to God’s directions or according to our own selections.

Let’s not distance ourselves from way of the LORD, let’s distance ourselves from the way of the lawless (cf. Pr 1:10-19, 14:14-19).9 Don’t conform to the world (cf. Rom 12:2);10 conform to the word.

Let’s not try to be the lords of our own lives; let’s let the caring LORD be the Lord of the lives that He gave us. We have to give up our autonomy, and surrender our self-centeredness.11

We Americans love to be independent. Our Declaration of Independence tells us we have the divine right of “the pursuit of happiness”.12 But we really have the divine requirement of the pursuit of holiness.13

True bliss entails rejecting the ways of the wicked and accepting the way of the Waymaker.14

With the help of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, and by meditating on the instruction of the LORD day and night, let us not be comfortable or walk in the counsel of the wicked, but in let’s walk in way of the Wonderful Counselor.

Life: Use Only As Directed.

May the LORD bless you and keep you.

Sources

  1. cf. Jacobson, 61
  2. Goldingay, 81
  3. Greidanus, 50
  4. Greidanus, 50
  5. Greidanus, 64
  6. Goldingay, 92
  7. Waltke, 130
  8. Waltke, 130
  9. Greidanus, 48
  10. Futato, 31
  11. Greidanus, 58; cf. Waltke, 139
  12. Greidanus, 61
  13. cf. Wilcock, 20
  14. cf. Davis, 502
About @DannyScottonJr 460 Articles
Imperfect Servant ✝?⛪ | Husband | Princeton U. Alum | M. Div. | Assistant (to the) Pastor | Sound Doctrine & Apologetics @catchforchrist