Tuesday Gathering — 2nd November 2021Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall 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 ungodly shall perish. [Psalm 1:1-6 NKJV] Psalm 1 (and Psalm 2) were integral to our meeting this week, when we found ourselves focussing on the chaff which the wind drives away, that separated stuff which is cast away. As Psalm 1 says, it is the ungodly which are separated and driven away … they are of no consequence in the eyes of The Lord. Our thoughts were prompted when Gill noticed the husks of the grain on the garden bird table being blown away on the breeze. However, the ungodly can also mean the ungodly part in godly people. Where, therefore, do we stand in this? It seems plain that if we believe that we are godly people, following His ways and truth and life, then there is an inevitability that at some point along the road we must face judgement. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment. Why should the ungodly be exempt from His judgement? Because they cannot stand in the wind. They are not held fast in solid ground. They are not ‘in the company’. They are not saved and thus know not His life, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. [Hebrews 6:19a] While considering these Psalms we sang praises to Him, and here are a few that we can recall now--
Matthew Henry’s Commentary is a sure exposition and we have included below, his thoughts on Psalm 1, verses 4-6. THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND END OF THE UNGODLY Vs. 4-6. The ungodly are the reverse of the righteous, both in character and condition. The ungodly are not so, ver. 4; they are led by the counsel of the wicked, in the way of sinners, to the seat of the scornful; they have no delight in the law of God; they bring forth no fruit but what is evil. The righteous are like useful, fruitful trees: the ungodly are like the chaff which the wind drives away: the dust which the owner of the floor desires to have driven away, as not being of any use. They are of no worth in God’s account, how highly soever they may value themselves. They are easily driven to and fro by every wind of temptation. The chaff may be, for a while, among the wheat, but He is coming, whose fan is in his hand, and who will thoroughly purge his floor. Those that, by their own sin and folly, make themselves as chaff, will be found so before the whirlwind and fire of Divine wrath. The doom of the ungodly is fixed, but whenever the sinner becomes sensible of this guilt and misery, he may be admitted into the company of the righteous by Christ the living way, and become in Christ a new creature. He has new desires, new pleasures, hopes, fears, sorrows, companions, and employments. His thoughts, words, and actions are changed. He enters on a new state, and bears a new character. Behold, all things are become new by Divine grace, which changes his soul into the image of the Redeemer. How different the character and end of the ungodly! [Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Psalm 1] A HOLY PROMISE: Oswald Chambers on HopeWhen God gives a vision and darkness follows, wait; God will bring you into accordance with the vision He has given if you will wait His time. We try to do away with the supernatural in God’s undertakings. Never try and help God fulfill His word. There are some things we cannot do, and that is one of them. [from ‘Not Knowing Whither’] Click on the file below to listen to our audio version …
“We have an anchor” — The Mandate ‘MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS’[Psalm 2:10-12 NLT]
Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities-- for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him! |
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