THE FIRST SONG IN THE SACRED SONGBOOK (continued)

Introduction: For many years I knew intellectually that this was a sacred song, but I didn’t specifically think of it as a song. My first experience that I remember with Christian songs was when I was in the ranch country in Western Oklahoma the year before I was saved.  Every restaurant or store of any size had a nickelodeon, as we called them then (or juke boxes I think they are called now).  A song that was played almost constantly was “I won’t Go Hunting with You, Jake, but I’ll Go Chasing Women.”  I never put  in a nickel to hear that.  I didn’t like the song, but I did like to hunt.  I went ‘coon hunting with my dogs many of my free nights.  Then I heard a new song, “It Is no Secret what God Can Do.” Though I wasn’t a Christian, I liked the song and played it every chance I got.  One of my friends said, “Don’t you know that the same guy wrote both songs?”  I was shocked!  I began to ask people how that could be.  Then someone explained to me that the first song was one of Stuart Hamlin’s last hits before he became a Christian, and the second was written after he was saved. 

Let us look at the second stanza of the first sacred song in the Bible hymnbook:

II. THE FAITH OF THE GODLY MAN – Psalm 1:2

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (1:2).

In this second stanza of the song, the psalmist is reflecting on three things: delight in the law, deliberation in the law, and dedication to the law of God.

A. His Delight Is in the Law of the lord – Ps. 1:2a

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD” (1:2a).

To delight in the Lord means:

To be attracted to His attributes.

To be hungry for His holiness.

To long to learn about the Lord.

To feast on His spiritual food.

To want to be wise according to His Word.

To be tuned to His teaching.

To delight in His doctrine*

To love His law*

To want to walk in His will.

To have peace in His presence.

To have protection in His presence.

*Let’s look again at what it means to delight in His doctrine and to love His law. 

(Psa 119:10)  "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments."

(Psa 119:47-48)  "And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. {48} My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes."

(Psa 119:97)  "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

(Psa 119:140)  "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it."

(Psa 119:159)  "Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness."

(Psa 119:163)  "I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love."

(Psa 119:165)  "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

(Psa 119:167)  "My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly."

B. His Deliberation Is in the Law of the Lord – Ps. 1:2b

“And in his law doth he meditate” (1:2b).

In the beginning of my Christian life, I was given this definition of  to meditate:  “Meditation is reflective thinking with a view to application.” This definition has been a great help to me. 

Christians need to train their minds to meditate about God and His grace.

 (Josh 1:8)  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

(Psa 119:15)  "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways."

(Psa 119:23)  "Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes."

(Psa 119:48)  "My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”

(Psa 119:97)  "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

(Psa 143:5)  "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands."

 (Psa 19:14)  "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

(Phil 4:8)  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

C. His Dedication Is to the Law of the Lord – Ps. 1:2c

“And in his law doth he meditate day and night” (1:2c).  

The godly man meditates in the Law day and night; that is, he whole heartedly walks with God, watches withGod, and waits for God.  He spends all his time (day and night) in the presence of God.  His dedication is to the Law of the Lord.

Here are some Scriptures that come to mind about being wholeheartedly dedicated to the Lord and to His Law: 

 (Jos. 1:8) “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

(2 Chron.15:15) “And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.

(Col. 3:22–23) “²²Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: ²³And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

(Phil. 4:8) “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”—That is, think on these things day and night!

The Bible Knowledge Commentary on the Old Testament has this statement at the end of the teaching on Psalm 1:2, before going on to verse 3: “This is ‘the announcement of blessings and the centrality of the Law for fulfillment in life’” (page 790).

THE FIRST SONG IN THE SACRED SONGBOOK

Some twenty years ago I was attending a pastors’ conference in California with about 2,000 pastors in attendance.  It was a new experience for me to hear that many pastors sing some of the great hymns of our faith.  After a good message, we had a twenty-minute recess. A lot of us did not leave the auditorium, but just stood up and visited.  We were commenting on the wonderful singing when one well-known pastor made this comment: “I don’t think the average Christian could sing the first verse of the first sacred hymn with a sincere heart.”  I thought that was a strange statement.  Joy bells were still ringing in my head from the great hymns we had heard an hour before.  Later when I was alone with another pastor, I mentioned that I didn’t understand why the pastor made that statement.  He said, “Oh, I can tell you.  He’s not talking about the hymn books here in back of the pews.  He is talking about Psalm One.”  To tell you the truth, I was somewhat shocked, but I didn’t want anyone to know it.  The first chance I got to be by myself, I opened the Bible to the book of Psalms and read the first verse:  "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.” 

Psalm One is introduced with the words “Blessed is the man.”  We need to understand what this phrase means.  “Blessed” here means “happy” or “joyful,” but it is more than that.  This  is a declaration about a person who is godly.  The godly man is “BLESSED” with an intimate relationship with God.  The godless man (Psalm 1:3-6) is not blessed with this relationship, but he is still blessed.  "For he [God] maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Mt. 5:45b). 

I. THE FELICITY OF THE GODLY MAN - Psalm 1:1

“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” (Psa.1:1).

A.  The Godly Man Does not Conform to the Council of the Ungodly – Psalm 1:1a

"Walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly"   (1:1a)

The phrase “walketh not” conveys the idea that the Godly person does not conform to the council of the ungodly because he does not listen to them nor does he learn from them.

(1 Pet 4:1-4)  "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; {2} That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. {3} For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: {4} Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:"

(1 John 2:6)  "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he [Christ] walked."

(2 John 1:4)  "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father."

(3 John 1:3)  "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth."

(1 Th 4:1)  "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more."

(Acts 9:31)  "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."

B.  The Godly Man Does not Have Communion with Sinners – Psalm 1:1b

"Nor standeth in the way of sinners" (1:1b).

The idea of “nor standeth” is that the Godly man does not linger in the company of sinners. 

I remember when I was in high school that the kids who wanted to talk about football would huddle somewhere at recess and those who wanted to talk about girls would be together on another part of the grounds.  Even as an unsaved person I noticed them gathering in groups for different reasons. 

(Eph 5:5-11)  "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. {6} Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. {7} Be not ye therefore partakers with them. {8} For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: {9} (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) {10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. {11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

                                                                                                 

C. The Godly Man Does not Congregate with the Scornful   - Psalm 1:1c

"Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (1:1c).

The expression here, “nor sitteth” conveys the idea of joining with or even judging with the scornful.  For instance, he would not join their congregation or go to the extent of becoming a leader in that kind of church.  Jesus gives us a negative example of this in Matthew 23:1-3: "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, {2} Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: {3} All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."  They should have judged according to Moses, but they didn’t.

 (2 Cor 6:11-18)  "O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. {12} Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. {13} Now for a recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. {14} Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? {15} And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? {16} And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {17} Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, {18} And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

(2 Pet 3:3)  "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,"

The song is talking about the influence of the world in the lives of Christians.  Worldly influence always drags the saved person downward.   The progression of influence that Satan uses goes from conversation to communion to congregating.  Let us look at the three lines of the first verse of the song  again:  

1. The Godly Man Does not Conform to the Council of the Ungodly – Psalm 1:1a 
2. The Godly Man Does not Have Communion with Sinners – Psalm 1:1b 
3. The Godly Man Does not Congregate with the Scornful  - Psalm 1:1c