Psalm 1

 

Introduction:

On June 12, 1776, the rights of citizens were introduced in Virginia. In this Bill of Rights were these words, "……the enjoyment of life and liberty……and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety." Happiness is generally understood as having achieved what I want and arrived at a state of contentment.

Many of us have come to this country with such a dream. We perceive that the road to happiness is good education, a green card, good job, a nice house and a happy marriage. If I acquire them, I will be happy.

However, it does not take us long to find out how difficult this is. We see others making it, but we are still at the starting line.

Then we meet some Christians. We hear from them about a loving and almighty God. We even hear them saying, "see how blessed that person is. He gets his green card in less than two years. He has a good job, making good money. He has a happy marriage and his children are well behaved." Or, "See how God blesses this church. It has a big building, many members and programs for all ages." Then we start thinking, if only this God can give me what I pursue. If only he can give me or at least help me to achieve "happiness".

When I feel I have what I want, I would tell others, "see how God has blessed me with this and that." When I am disappointed with my achievement, when I don't seem to be going anywhere, I may conclude that this God really doesn't care, or I may even begin to doubt his existence.

In this culture, both east and west, we equate happiness to having acquired certain things or status. Yes scriptures teache us that all good things are from God. However, there is more to this.

Today and also beginning in September, we want to take a closer look at God's word so that we understand what it means to be blessed. In Psalm 1, the first time the word "blessed" appears. And then several hundred years later, in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he further expanded the meaning and of "being blessed."

In the passage before us, we shall discover a very basic truth in the Christian faith: True happiness involves human choices.

I. Happiness requires a choice between two options.

In Robert Frost's poem "The Road not Taken" are these words, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I---- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference". This phrase was made popular by Scott Peck's book, the "The Road Less Traveled (????)".

Here in Psalm 1 we read about two roads. Several hundred years later in Jesus' first public teaching, he continued this theme. There are two gates, two roads; two houses, two foundations; two trees and two fruits. They clearly teach about choices one has to make in life. Each choice has its own consequences. Not all roads lead to Rome. You want happiness in life? You have to make some choices.

We don't like this idea of making choices. In our present world, we want to be all inclusive. There is only one way to happiness? That is too narrow and unfriendly. We need to be more tolerant of those who differ from us.

But the scriptures, God's word, says no. There is happiness, contentment and fulfillment in life. However, it involves our making some decisions, some choices.

II. Happiness requires us to avoid a life style that is contrary to God.

Vs 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;.." This is quite negative, right? Some may say, you see, this is what Christian faith is all about. A bunch of don'ts.

Now, wait a minute. Negative is for the purpose of definition, so the distinction is clear. In traffic, you see walk, don't walk. For 'Walk' to be meaningful and safe, 'don't walk' is necessary. Plant this flower here, and not there. Don't fish here, fish over there. Don't go this direction, it's a dead end. Instead, go that way. Parents know this well, what is the most used word with your toddlers? Don't do this, don't do that. The purpose of negative is to define and give meaning.

The same is with life. Do you want happiness in life? Don't go there, but come here. What is it that we have to avoid? The words; wicked, sinners and mockers are most probably interchangeable. Referring to those what are against God, or do not accept his existence.

1. Secular worldview.

This means the advice of the world. It is in the realm of thinking. What are some of the world's thinking? For example, there was a time in our culture, east or west, when the existence of God was widely accepted. Thus we can discuss truth, and what is right or wrong. In the 60's we started to ask is there really a God? Is there Truth? Our culture had changed greatly during these 40 years. Now, there is no God, therefore no truth, no absolute standards, no right or wrong. It is all personal opinion and preferences.

If we accept such counsel, we cannot say that abortion, homosexual behavior, deception, or sexual relationships outside marriage are wrong. We are reduced to situation ethics. Meaning that in this situation this may not be the right thing to do, but in another situation, it is alright. Do you want true happiness in life? Avoid this world view of without God, without truth and without absolutes.

2. Secular conduct.

Or do not stand in the way of the sinner. If counsel is in the realm of mind, then "stand" is about behaviors. If there is no God, then society is my reference point. I do what is accepted by the society. If there is no God, then I become the reference point. How I feel and what I do is none of your business. As long as I do well in my profession, how I live behind closed doors is my business.

We may be disturbed by the unethical and immoral behaviors in our work place. If we understand their world view, that there is no God, no standards, no truth, then such conduct is really expected. It is the thinking behind the behavior that we need to address. We are what we think. Several years ago at the nations top business schools, there were no courses on business morality. Now we are reaping what we sow.

However, if there is a God, then there is Truth (with a capital T), absolute truth, absolute standards to live by. There will be moral limitations, and not just personal preferences. There is a higher standard for us to obey.

If we desire true happiness, then we have to consciously avoid the behaviors of the sinners. The behaviors that are clearly self-centered and incompatible to God's character.

3. Belonging in the secular world.

When we sit here, or on a chair at home, we want one that is comfortable. Years ago, there was the bean bag chair. Once you sit in it, you felt good, you felt like belonging there, and didn't want to get up. Mockers are those who show contempt and ridicule God. It can mean the same as wicked and sinner. Sitting in the seat of mockers implies one feels quite at home, comfortable in the midst of the sinners. Feeling comfortable with their worldview and behaviors.

Do we feel comfortable at where we work? Do we feel comfortable with some of the unethical practices in our company? When we see our company using double accounting methods, do we just go along and say everyone is doing it? When our company is being deceptive to the public, do we just sit there and let it happen? When our company is supporting social causes that are contrary to God's character, such as abortion and the homosexual agenda, or exploiting child labor in an undeveloped country, do we just go along? Are we a regular customer at stores that openly support social agenda that are not biblical?

If we want true happiness, we have to make some hard choices. We have to avoid the secular worldview, avoid their behavior standards and feeling comfortable among them. We don't like to stick out like a sore thumb, but if true happiness is what we want, then we have to make a negative choice.

The psalmist also tells us the reasons for avoiding the sinners' advice and behavior. Yes, in this world, they are well known and powerful. They can really intimidate you. In universities and the media, they advocate tolerance and being open minded. But try to stand up and speak up on Christian principles and positions, tolerance and open mindedness is all but gone.

However, in God's sight, they carry no weight. Vs.4-6, "The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

They are like chaff, they are here today, and gone tomorrow. And moreover, there will come a judgment day, when they will be cast out of God's presence. Temporally speaking they are powerful, but from the eternal perspective, they are valueless. True happiness has little to do with what is visible. It is of a matter of eternal value.

III. True happiness in life requires us to choose God.

After instructing us don't do this, the psalmist now tells us what to embrace. We are "to delight in the law of the Lord." (vs.2) We want true happiness in life? We have to start with God. Yes, there is a God. He is real.

Moreover, he is also a God that speaks. He is not silent. He communicates his thoughts to us in written word, which is also called the law. The law is his instructions. We are to delight, to love his law. Why? In his words, in his law, he tells us about himself. For we are finite beings, we know him only if he first reveal himself to us. Otherwise, we have no means of knowing him. One main difference between the Christian faith and other religions is that the Christian God reveals himself to us. In his words, we come to know about his will and desire. His words, the law provides us with direction in life. for these reasons, we are to delight in his law. Psalm 119:1, "Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord." Psalm 19:7, "the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul, gives joy to the heart, endures forever, precious than gold." These are the reasons for us to delight in his law. If not, the loss is really ours.

What do we mean by 'delight in his law'? We read and meditate on it. In the eastern meditation, the purpose is to empty one's mind. But in the Bible, it is a very different kind of meditation. Biblical understanding of meditation is always understood in the context of God's word. The objective is not to have an empty mind, but to think of God's word. When I read and meditate upon God's law, it then becomes a part of me. Instead of the counsel of the wicked, we take in God's counsel. If God's word is important to us, then daily intake becomes a necessity.

We may want to take an inventory of our attitude towards God's law. Do we read and meditate on God's word only when we come to church on Sundays and Fridays? Or when we find our lives in a downward spiral. We may want to adjust our priorities so we'll have time to read and meditate God's word daily. To delight in God's law will not happen to us. We have to make an effort. If we desire true happiness in life, we want to embrace God's word. To make God's word a part of our life. This psalm also tells us about the consequences of delighting in God's words. Vs.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." The person will be like a tree planted by the river. It takes in water and bear fruit. Even in draught, because of its roots, it flourishes. When God's word is in us, there will be contentment, happiness even in adverse situations.

Conclusion:

What is true happiness, what is being blessed? We usually look at it in terms of what we have. When we achieve our objectives in life, when we have a good job, a good house and a good family, we say we are blessed. When we see a big church building, a church with a lot of people, with lots of money, with lots of programs, we say, this is a very blessed church.

If our understanding of the scripture is correct, there is more to this. Yes, all good things are from God. They are blessings. But there is more to this. In today's psalm it clearly tells us that true happiness is not measured in what we have. True happiness is when a person making a deliberate choice to avoid the worldviews and behaviors that are against God, that are not compatible to his values. True happiness is when a person refuses to follow the worldly thinking and behavior, but embraces God's word, reads and meditates upon it daily.

In the NT, in Jesus' first public teaching, he instructed them the 8 beatitudes. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers. Who is the one that is truly blessed? If we take a closer look at the beatitudes, we'll begin to see that this is really a portrait of Jesus Christ. He alone is the blessed person. He alone is the one who can truly avoid the counsel, the way and the seat of the wicked. He alone can truly and purely delight in God's word and meditate upon it day and night.

If we want to find true happiness in life, then we are to look to Christ and follow him. We are to imitate him.

Rev. William Hsueh    Aug.18., 2002    Houston Chinese Church,  Houston, TX