Choose Your Path

One of the most well-known lines of American poetry came from the pen of Robert Frost, in his poem "The Road Not Taken." He wrote:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

I think many love the sentiment, partly because they feel their own lives are unique, that they also have taken the less traveled road. They feel they have resisted the way of most to pursue the path of few.

But history, along with God's word, seems to tell us we aren't as original as we might think. There are two different paths. One is the way of the righteous, our psalm also refers to it as the way of the blessed. This is God's way.

Another is the way of the wicked or sinner. Most people choose this well-worn path of life without God's presence, a life without his counsel or leadership. Most of us rebuff his governance and guidance. Thinking we are walking a less worn path of originality, we actually follow the masses who came before us.

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many." (Matthew 7:13)

And our psalm today sets both paths before us -- the way of the blessed and the way of the wicked. It is a wisdom song, advising the reader (or singer) on how to best live their life. It was placed at the beginning of the psalter for a reason. Its promotion of the blessed life set the stage for the rest of the psalms. In a sense, the Psalms are an explanation of the way of the blessed life extolled in this very first psalm.

A Machine

But in approaching this song, I want you to think of these two paths as a machine or system. You see, God has created this world, meaning he is the author of humanity. He has mandated how we work. We are a system. And when specific things go into our system, specific things come out. Psalm 1 helps us understand what to put in and what will come out, along with what we ought to avoid.

The fuel our Western world has proposed our system needs is coming up short, having produced disastrous results. Though we live in a time of unparalleled advancements in science and technology, the promises of modernity have failed us. In short, we've put into our system the garbage of things like consumerism, freedom of expression, the pursuit of pleasure, the worship of the self, and rapidly accelerated technology.

And what has come out? Emotional immaturity, anxiety and depression, sadness, loneliness, isolation, wars, hostility, and polarization. Individuals are hurting, marriages are fractured, families are in chaos, governments are paralyzed, and nations rage against one another.

But this result -- this comeuppance -- is exciting to me. Perhaps as our world gets its way more and more, disillusionment will grow. Christianity has been blamed for so many of the ills of this world, but as it is systematically expunged from our society the hurt and pain of many will only increase. Life without God isn't fulfilling in the way people dreamed.

Perhaps some will begin to see it was never God or his word that led to their pain, but a way of life designed to remove God from the picture. God started this earth with a garden, people, and himself. Perhaps it's getting back into life with God we need the most. Perhaps his way could lead us to flourish like he intended.

And perhaps Christians who live this life, not only in confession but in reality, will become the trailblazers required to lead others into God's way.

So, today, let's consider these two ways.

Way #1 -- The Way of the Blessed (1:1-3)

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Blessed

The first word of the song jumps out like a lightning bolt. Blessed (1). This person is blessed.

Immediately, introspection begins. When was the last time we used the word to describe ourselves? We think, I can be blessed? I can have this word as the overarching description of my life? Blessed!

It really is an astounding word. It means:

• A rewarding life
• To be supremely happy or fulfilled

And the word's use here in Psalm 1 is plural, meaning "either a multiplicity or intensification of blessings" (Boice, 15).

Oh, man! This is like the ultimate insider trading stock tip: God himself is telling us how and where the blessed life comes from!

Starts Where We Are

But, rather than first describe what the blessed man does, the song shows us what he does not. He walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers (1).

This is important because this is where we live. We start in this first verse. We followed and stood and sat in the wrong place before Jesus. Before Christ rescued us, we were all followers. Ephesians 2:1-3 tell us we were followers of:

• The world system (Ephesians 2:1)
• The spirit or prince now at work in the world (Ephesians 2:2)
• And the passions of our bodies and broken minds (Ephesians 2:3).

That was our condition when Jesus rescued us and came into our lives, but we must be careful to allow him to continue to rescue us from such a life. If we don't, we might blindly continue on in the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, and the seat of scoffers (1). In fact, many do, like polls, surveys, and studies continually show a Western Christianity that holds non-Christian, secular views of the world, and how to live life today (i.e. https://www.barna.com/research/competing-worldviews-influence-todays-christians/). Many professing Christians are living a non-Christian life and thinking in non-Christian ways.

A Confession

Notice the downward progression -- first, the counsel of the wicked. Second, the way of sinners. Finally, the seat of scoffers. The final position is worse than the first. This devolution describes a person who started out only listening to ideas contrary to God and his word, but who ended up mocking God, firmly entrenched against him.

The picture is a warning. If not careful, this way could suck you in.

But this is where the psalm can help us by producing honesty in us. We must first awaken to the truth we are often influenced by the ideologies and philosophies of a world system that is anti-God. Then, after realizing this truth, we must confess our powerlessness to come out of it without God's aid. We need a way of escape, a way to have our circuitry rewired, our minds renewed, and our souls refreshed.

Can you make this confession? Do you know the counsel and way and seat of the unrighteous beckons you and has had a massive grip on your life?

So the first thing we see about the blessed person is that they've come out of the world system, the world's way of thinking, the world's regular rhythms of life. Their bodies, minds, allegiances, sexuality, and spiritual and physical life have all escaped from the well-trodden path of the world and into something else.

But how? Where did their new idea for life come from?

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The Word of God

One might expect a different statement. I mean, if the blessed man doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, hang out in the way of sinners, and sit in the scoffer's seat, wouldn't they then practice the opposite? Shouldn't they walk in the counsel of godly people, spend time with people practicing righteousness, and sit with those who revere God?

Of course, the answer to these questions is "yes," but the psalm addresses something more. It isn't good company that drives out the bad, but a delighted relationship with the word of God, referred to here as the law of the Lord (2).

You see, it is the Scripture that drives out the "ideas and images" that run rampant in these minds and hearts of ours. The community Christ creates by his blood is meant to come under the authority of his word. As we delight in it, meditating on it daily, we are transformed.

It is the word we need. God's thoughts must become ours.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." (Colossians 3:16)

Celebrating Restriction

But doesn't the phrase " his delight is in the law of the Lord " strike you at first as odd? (2). I mean, if you already knew the phrases law of the Lord and his law are different ways of alluding to God's word, it's not that shocking. We should delight in the word of God.

But what about the idea of delighting in law? Doesn't that seem to grate against the ideas of our society? We worship self-expression. The greatest sin of all -- in the minds of many -- is to be untrue to yourself. Whatever you feel, whatever you think, you must express it.

But the law of the Lord sets limits and restrictions upon its adherents. When we embrace the Bible, we also embrace God's rules for life. How could such a thing be our delight?

This is where the truth of the matter comes in. Freedom at all costs is actually drudgery. But to accept the guardrails of God's design leads to the greatest version of the human experience. God's law -- his restrictions and commandments -- are exceedingly good, and good for us.

And not good for us in the way salad is good for us. His law does lead to our health, but also our flourishing, joy, and blessedness. People who bend their will to God's are happy in life because all he's designed for us is good.

Christians say God is good. The pinnacle of this truth is found in the cross of Christ. It is his ultimate good for us, his way of rescuing us. We know he is good. Doesn't it follow then, that his word is also good?

The Sabbath is a good example of the goodness of God's law. Imagine it! We must work. We were made for it in the garden of Eden, but it became more difficult because of sin's effect on our world (Genesis 2-3). Ancient Israel, for a long stretch of their history, was forced to work every day as slaves in Egypt.

Then God came along and rescued them. And one of the first laws he gave them was the Sabbath. Every seventh day they were to cease from their work. They were to rest. These worn-out ex-slaves were to get from sundown Friday through -- for all practical purposes -- sunup on Sunday, to rest, relax, and enjoy him. God's restriction was meant to bless his people.

This is emblematic of God's law. It is good for us. Though it restricts us and our freedoms, it makes us less restricted and freer than before.

Sinful freedom enslaves, but godly restrictions set free.

As an example of this I think of the believers in our church who, for whatever reason, battle same-sex attraction, but who have discovered God's word does not permit them to act out on those impulses. So, they deny themselves, take up a celibate life like Jesus said, and put God's commands above their desires and impulses. They have decided not to walk in the counsel of the world, but to celebrate restriction, to delight in the law of the Lord.

Delight

His word is so, so good, worthy of our delight. And it must be delighted in.

You can't just reject the way of the world. You can't only denounce the counsel and path of sin. All that will do is thrust you into another variation of worldliness. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life will simply recast themselves in another form in your life (1 John 2:16). Instead, you must delight in God's word, allowing it to replace all the ideas and images which came before.

Let us pray with Augustin:

Let my delight in your holy writing be pure. It couldn't have been for nothing that you wanted so many pages of dimly lit, recondite things written: those forests of words have stags native to them, who retire inward and revive themselves, walking around and grazing, reclining and ruminating. Oh, Master, make me whole, and unveil your pages. Your voice there is my delight, your voice is superior to a flood of delights. Give me what I'm in love with; I do love it, and you gave me my love for it. -- The Confessions Of Augustin

Meditate on the Scripture

Before moving on to see the beautiful results of such a life, let's think for a moment about what it means to meditate on God's word (2). It needs a bit of redefinition because many of us have been conditioned to think of meditation as the emptying of the mind. But, in the Bible, to meditate is not to empty the mind, but to fill the mind with God and his word.

The word means muttering to the self in low tones. It includes memorization, study, and thoughtful consideration. It's a kind of constant reconsidering of the Scripture, preaching its themes and truths to yourself throughout the day.

Cattle's method of digestion is a good example of what the word meditate means. After chewing on the grass, they swallow, and the grass enters their stomach. But then it is regurgitated multiple times to be chewed on once again. This happens quite a few times until the grass has been fully digested and processed. Then a cow patty is formed!

Let yourself digest the word this way. Keep on bringing it up. All-day long, process the Scripture. Let it be a constant part of your thought life. Through reading, memorization, prayer, books, teachings, and conversations with others, meditate on the word.

But what will result in such a life?

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

An Excellent Image

Our author uses an image of a tree to help us understand the results of a life which delightfully centers itself upon God and his word. In the image, the tree is planted by streams of water (3). This is the perfect place for a tree to flourish. Not at the mercy of intermittent rains, it instead receives the constant nourishment of the stream. As a result, fruit comes in its season (3). There is no deadness, no withering of the leaf (3).

After saying all this about the tree, the author brings the man back: In all that he does, he prospers (3).

The meaning of all this is apparent. The person who delights in God and his word is located in the best place for human flourishing. They prosper, and good results flow from their lives. In all they do -- and everything they do is allegiant to God and subservient to his word -- they prosper.

This is freedom: whatever he does prospers (HCSB).

An Attractive Life

What we're witnessing here is a human whose life works. They are fruitful. They are alive. People who see someone like this want to be this type of person.

And this person is real. Too often, we follow the images and projections of life the powerful or wealthy or famous or intelligent give to us. But their lives are often a mere mirage. Upon further inspection, their lives found to be "weighed in the balances and found wanting" (Daniel 5:27).

This life, brothers and sisters, is available to all of us. In real estate, they say it's all about "location, location, location." In Christ, everyone can have prime property next to the stream of God's presence and word. You might not ever live on beachfront property. You might never live in the best school district. You might never have the idyllic property of your dreams. But you can live near the stream of God! His word can meet you wherever you're at.

Even in a world where dryness, depression, and unhappiness abound, the righteous person can thrive.

And when we do, our lives have an attractive nature to them, especially in an age where people find satisfaction so hard to come by.

An alive and fulfilled Christianity is one of the most beautiful things to witness. Think about it. This life is not repelling like dead orthodoxy, worldly Christianity, or cultural Christianity. This life is alive. It is real and fruitful.

Results, Not Rewards

So this is the way the system is supposed to work. The word of God, along with his presence within it, goes in. And out comes life and fruitfulness. The fruit is not a divine reward, but the mere result of living the way we were meant to live.

When most people think of the results of upright or godly living they think of rewards. That is, they think that if they do what God tells them to do, he will reward them, but that if they do not, they will be punished.

There is an element of truth in this; it is what is involved in the doctrine of the final judgment. But what the psalmist actually says here is quite different. He is talking about "blessedness," the blessedness of the man "who does not stand in the way of sinners" but whose "delight is in the law of the LORD."

His point is that this is not a reward but rather "the result of a particular type of life."

-- James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary, 17.

Let's close, then, by looking at the alternative, the way of the wicked. We've already hinted at what it looks like, but let's read on.

Way #2 -- The Way of the Wicked (1:4-5)

4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

The Wicked Are Not So

The wicked, the song goes, are not so (4). This means they do walk in all that counsel humanity is meant to reject. Resultantly, they aren't fruitful like the tree, but are like chaff that the wind drives away (4). A lifelessness and void belong to those who refuse to build a life with God and his word at the center.

Two Forms of Judgment

And, ominously, the author says judgment is the result (5). Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, meaning they won't make it through the judgment unscathed (5). Sinners cannot be in the everlasting congregation of the righteous (5).

Again, this is the way our human system works. Garbage in, garbage out. Or garbage in, judgment out. Just as the way of the righteous leads, not to rewards, but results, so does this life also lead to results. And the result is life, both now and forever, without God.

We would be right when thinking of judgment, to think of its eternal nature, something which is most fully realized after the death of our bodies. Life without God today leads to a life without God in forever's tomorrow.

But this also speaks of judgment today, the results of life without God. It seems many today are experiencing that gracious hand of judgment already, for it is God's grace that he refuses to bless such harmful forms of human living. And people today are discovering the price of such a path.

The promises of our cultural and political elites that things will get better are falling flat. We have endless opportunities to pursue pleasure and our desires, yet so many of us are miserable and anxious. We can traverse geography, time, and space, yet loneliness is growing. Silicon Valley's promises that a world connected by social media will be a better, more tolerant world now look ridiculous. The assurance that a globalized world will be a fairer, more peaceful and prosperous place seems shaky. These failed promises are fueling a growing sense of dissatisfaction, a desire to see things change, a hunger for a vision of personal and social life in which humans flourish. - Mark Sayers, The Reappearing Church, page 59

And we pray that hunger would develop into a desire for God and his salvation.

But it doesn't take a culture reading savant to know this. It has been stated plain as day in the ancient wisdom of Scripture:

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." (Proverbs 14:12)

Choose Your Way (1:6)

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, the song ends with God's knowledge of both ways. He is involved in the way of the righteous (6). The way of the wicked will perish (6).

And this call from God beckons us even today. Which way will you choose? Which path will you go down?

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

" And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24–27)

There is no ambiguity, no middle path, no third option. God calls us. Jesus said, "Follow me..." Let us hear his invitation and take in his way of life.

Concluding Applications

1. If dryness has overtaken you, believe God can bring you back to life.

2. Make Scripture meditation a priority.

3. Celebrate restriction.

4. See God's judgment for today as his grace to draw people to himself.

5. Jesus is the blessed man who can help you obey the word.