Things to Know:
1: Wisdom Literature
Wisdom: The capacity to make sound decisions and choices even when you don’t have all the facts
- Wisdom literature gives instruction for “LIVING WELL” according to how God designed the world and our place in it
Other Wisdom literature book:
- Job
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
2: Songs
- Help us memorize
- State our values
Our “PSALM/SONG” for today…
Psalm 1
1 How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Author Unknown
Placed here at the beginning on purpose
Three distinct Topics:
1: The Blessed
VERSE 1
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!
>>How Happy is the one…
- How Blessed
- How Strong
- How Content
- How Joyful
So many things in life that promise “BLESSINGS” “HAPPINESS”
- All Disappoint
But not WISDOM
- It never lets us down
- Gift from God
>>3 levels of intensity:
- Walk, Stand, Sit
- Wicked, Sinners, Mockers
Levels of increased intensity
Teaching this principle….
Your sin will ALWAYS take you further than you plan on going
Wisdom application:
Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future
- Who you go with determines your destination
Your community either brings you up or pulls you down
VERSE 2
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
>>Delight in the Lord’s Instruction
We HOLD CLOSE the Lord’s INSTRUCTION
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
>>Meditates on it day and Night…
Make it a part of your being
Flow of Biblical Mediation
Study -> Contemplation -> Retention
Wisdom application:
You become what you focus on
- News = Anxious
- Others = Jealous
- Yourself = Selfish
VERSE 3
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers
>>Like a tree planted beside a stream…
The weather is fickle
- Never can predict what it’s going to do
Combat it with:
- Sprinklers
- Watering cans
Trees next to a stream = Drought Proof
Those who are PLANTED in the WISDOM and INSTRUCTION of God are DROUGHT PROOF
Jesus says it this way…
Matthew 7:16-17
16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.
Don’t judge someone off their “NOW” but their FRUIT
Wisdom application:
Bet on God and you will be “Drought Proof”
>> Whatever he does, Prospers…
- God’s design always comes through
2: The Wicked
VERSE 4
The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away
People described by “WICKED” are not in a relationship with God
- They live according to their passions
- Not godly
May do kind and charitable deeds, but God’s evaluation of them is that they are without eternal merit.
>>Like Chaff
Here today, gone tomorrow
Sand Castle on the beach
- Beautiful
- A lot of work
- But it will be overtaken by the ocean
We can’t do but so much… Ocean always wins
God’s Wisdom is the Ocean
It will always overcome whatever “SANDCASTLE WISDOM” we build
Jesus says it this way…
Matthew 7:24-25
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.
Wisdom application:
If God doesn’t build it, it won’t last
3: The Judgment
VERSE 5 & 6
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Do over culture
- Nothing is ever final
- unlimited chances
- Judgment is a dirty word
Not what Biblical Wisdom says…
- God is EXTREMELY Gracious
- But there will be a time for judgment
But those who follow Biblical Wisdom have HOPE
>>The Lord watches over the righteous
Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Wisdom application:
To truly be happy, live with the end in Mind
There are more ETERNAL things than what we experience NOW
Do you want to be HAPPY?
Happy is the one who seeks and lives by the Eternal Wisdom of God