Gateway Psalm

Terry Dashner…………………Faith Fellowship Church Broken Arrow, OK 74013

Psalm one is the gateway to all the Psalms. To the reader, the door opens and exposes a treasure trove of poetry and song. If the reader takes the time to walk through its corridors, she will hear the emphasis of Psalm one being echoed at every refrain.

Psalm one tells us what to expect as we journey through God’s wisdom literature.

What may we anticipate? Psalm one is an “either or” psalm. A man is either: Godly and blessed, or unrighteous and doomed. The former state, however, is not always realized in this life. That’s why some of the Psalms question God’s sense of justice—why is it that the wicked sometimes win out over the righteous? If we keep in mind that our physical life on earth is not the end of our existence, we will better understand how God’s justice works. God’s justice, in vindicating us, is not completed until the end of time, the last judgment. God will one day right all wrongs against His people. He is perfect in His judgments.

Psalm one is a promise and an admonition to the righteous. For the righteous one who will resist evil and evil company, and build his life on the Word of God he will walk blessed. He will be productive in season and out of season. His spiritual roots will go down deeply like a tree planted beside a river. On the other hand, the righteous should be advised that “payday” is not always on Fridays. The righteous should not stay discouraged. God rewards the righteous in this life and the next. But the greatest “payday” is coming in the next life, so be faithful in this one.

If a good man begins to walk with bad company, before long he digresses to “standing in the way” or standing up for evil instead of good. Then he digresses to the final phase of backsliding—“sitting” or resting comfortably in his ungodly ways (carnal Christian). A godly man or woman should always resist evil and evil company.

Psalm one is a dire warning to the wicked. Judgment is awaiting them. Psalm one ends with these words: “…the way of the wicked will perish.”

So, find your righteous standing in Jesus Christ. Live for Him faithfully in this life and refrain from evil and it will be well with you. And for the ungodly, who denounces God and plays the fool, his days are numbered among the transgressors. He will awaken to a great Throne Judgment at the end of his life, and he will reap the consequences of his evil for ever and ever.

Keep the faith—reward is coming. Justice is assured. God is in control even when we aren’t.

Pastor T

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