The Way of the Righteous individual and the way of the Wicked

Contrast:  2 people, 2 ways, 2 destinies

God sees 2 different type of people, righteous who are in Jesus, who is led by the Holy Spirit and the wicked who are in Adam, who are led by the spirit of Satan.

Psalms 1:1 How blessed is the person, who does not take the advice of the wicked, who does not stand on the path with sinners, and who does not sit in the seat of mockers.

• We have Joy if we do not follow evil men’s advice,
• Do not hang around with sinners and follow their advice,
• Scoffing at the things of God
• Notice this Psalm starts with a beatitude. 47 Times Blessed in Psalms

This verse presents an ideal righteous person; We who are in the world but not affected by the world.

Psalms 1:2 But he delights in the LORD’s instruction, and meditates in his instruction day and night.

• Thinking about Jesus Laws and commands is to the soul what digestion if to the body.
• Our enjoyment is in the things of God, especially the Word of God
• We should be thinking about Jesus Ways and to follow him more closely

Psalms 1:3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither. He will prosper in everything he does.

• We will be like a fruitful tree, a green and flourishing tree
• With the Holy Spirit in us we will prosper in many ways, by the grace of Jesus

Psalms 1:4 But this is not the case with the wicked. They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

• The wicked have no stability,
• wind will blow them away,
• judgment will come to them.

Psalms 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not escape judgment, nor will sinners have a place in the assembly of the righteous.

• The wicked will not stand among the righteous
• The wicked will not escape judgment

Psalms 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will be destroyed.

• We know Jesus watches over us and provides for us
• The wicked ways will end in disappointment, ruin, and perish.

2 people, 2 ways, 2 destinies, is what we just covered.

The Book of Psalms 2:1-12

The Voice of the Nations {2:1-3} – The future Kingdom of the Father and Jesus

Psalms 2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar, and their people involved in a vain plot?

• David psalm concerns him, prophecy refers to Jesus and then, end times
• Nations are fools to try to outwit God

Psalms 2:2-3 As the kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and his anointed one, they say, (3) “Let us tear off their shackles from us, and cast off their chains.”

• Why would the kings of the earth attempt to withstand the very King of the universe. The Father and Jesus. 
• They are Inspired by Satan to withstand.
• The Holy Spirit is speaking of the kings of the earth.

• What shackles, bands or chains, End Time
• Marriage, laws, ordinances and truths, the restraints of government
• The wicked say they will cast off the laws of The Father and Jesus
• Free ourselves from all this slavery to God {that is what we hear today}
• A move toward lawlessness – defund the Police

The Voice of the Father {2:4-6}

Psalms 2:4-5 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.  (5)  In his anger he rebukes them, and in his wrath he terrifies them:

• The Fathers laughs scornfully at an attack on His Son,
• The Father is amused by all their puny plans
• The Father rebukes them and fills them with fear.

Psalms 2:6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

The Father is speaking.  His King, Jesus, will be set upon the throne in Jerusalem.

The Father tells us that Jesus will reign from Jerusalem. 

Kingdom of God during the Millennium will reign from Jerusalem.

The Voice of the Son {2:7-9}

Psalms 2:7 Let me announce the decree of the LORD that he told me: “You are my son, today I have become your Father.

• The Son of God is also declared to be the King, the true Anointed, the Christ
• Jesus will reveal the everlasting purposes of God

This verse was quoted by the apostle Paul when he preached in Antioch and was talking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

**Acts 13:33 he has fulfilled for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.’

Psalms 2:8 Ask of me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession.

• Inheritance is the natural right of the Son,
• Not only the Israelites people but the Gentiles also.
• The Father will give to Jesus if He ask, all the nations of the world.

Psalms 2:9 You will break them with an iron rod, you will shatter them like pottery.“

• The future rule of the Jesus would be absolute.
• There would be no rebellion.
• Rule them with an iron rod;
• Smash them like clay pots

The Rod of Iron.  John quotes:

**Revelation 2:27 that one ‘will rule them with a rod of iron and will dash them to pieces like pottery‘, just as I have received authority from my Father.

The Voice of the Spirit {2:10-12}

Psalms 2:10 Therefore, kings, act wisely! Earthly rulers, be warned!

God just gave a warning to the rulers of the nations to act wisely, listen while there is still time.

Psalms 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

**Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and worship God in reverence and fear in a way that pleases him.

Psalms 2:12 Kiss the son before he becomes angry, and you die where you stand. Indeed, his wrath can flare up quickly. How blessed are those who take refuge in him.

Notice, Psalms 2:10: about the Mind:  Be wise and Be instructed by Jesus.

Notice, Psalms 2:11: Serve Him, Jesus

Notice, Psalms 2:12: The Will, Kiss the Son, is homage to Jesus.

The world kings and all peoples were presented with a clear choice. They could either love and respect the Lord’s Anointed, Jesus and so experience His great blessing, or they could refuse to submit, and incur God’s wrath.

Notice this Psalm ends with a beatitude. 

Psalms 3:1-8

Psalms 3-7 forms a bridge, a connection between two Messiah psalms. Psalm 2 is the prophetic rejection of God’s anointed, and Psalm 8 is His ultimate victory as the Messiah.

In these five psalms we have the record of Israel’s trials, sorrows, confusions, problems, and sins. We also see their confidence in God, the promises of God, and their prayers for deliverance.

Also, a prophecy for the Great Tribulation – The direct application to the Godly remnant in the nation of Israel during the Great Tribulation

There is a view among the scholars that these Psalms applies to God’s people everywhere at any time in the history of the world:

If we look at the psalms from this point of view, they will become more meaningful to each of us we read, study and think about them!

This psalm came out of the personal experience of David.  It tells us what went on in the heart of David when he had to flee from Jerusalem when Absalom, his son, rebelled against him.

Psalms 3:1 A Psalm of David When He Fled from Absalom His Son. LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

David was saying So many enemies are seeking to harm me.

Psalms 3:2 Many are saying about me, “God will never deliver him!” Selah

• There was one individual, his son Absalom, who troubled him greatly;.
• Interesting, David’s friends had also become his foes because they were advising him that no one would help him, not even God.
• Really, It would be hard to kill your own children.
• Psalms 3:3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

Shields are for protection.  Lord gives encouragement. David head was bowed in shame.

Psalms 3:4 I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah  {from His Temple in Jerusalem}

Men may say that God has forsaken him, but David knows that it is not so.

He affirms his trust in God, nevertheless.  God was his “shield.” He trusted God’s promises (2 Sam 7). God would “lift up his head” and restore him to his throne (Ps 27:6; 2 Sam 15:30). God was still on His throne!

Psalms 3:5 I lie down and sleep, I wake up, because the LORD sustains me.

• God’s gift of rest may be given even in the most troubling times.
• The Lord watches over us in our sleep of peace.

Psalms 3:6 I will not fear multitudes of people, who set themselves against me on every side.

When God is our protector, there is no need to fear 10 thousand people.

The Lord works on our behalf even when we sleep (Ps 121:3,4; 127:2). This Psalms 3 is a morning psalm; Psalm 4 is an evening psalm on the same events (Ps 4:8). 

Things we have to remember, not only past but present experience in our lives is why we can have confidence and faith in Jesus, our Lord.

Psalms 3:7 Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! For you strike the jaw of all my enemies, and you break the teeth of the wicked.  {Save me}

Have you heard the saying to our enemies, hope your teeth fall out before thanksgiving.

Psalms 3:8 Deliverance comes from the LORD! May your blessing be on your people. Selah

• Our salvation comes from Lord Jesus at our change when He returns to the earth.
• Some translations view this as a prayer in both the present and future tense.
• The Psalm concludes with a prayer for a blessing on God’s people.