Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 7 February 2021

Text: Psalm 1

Subject: “Like a Tree planted by the rivers of water”

INTRODUCTION

1. Much of what is taught in the New Testament has a rich Old Testament background

2. The Scriptures are wonderfully linked in many ways

3. The idea of being fruitful was well-taught in the Old Testament

THE OLD TESTAMENT LITERATURE

1. It may be roughly divided into categories

2. The Lord Jesus Christ noted how the Scriptures were fulfilled in His life

3. His notation: 

a) The Law of Moses

b) The Prophets

c) The Psalms (Luke 24:44)

THE BOOK OF PSALMS

1. It is sometimes classified as “Wisdom Literature”

2. The Book of Psalms

a) There are 150 of them

b) There were different types

i) Penitential Psalms

(Confession Psalms)

ii) Praise Psalms

God was extolled in these Psalms

iii) Historical/ Didactic Psalms

These contained historical references (e.g. Psalm 78)

c) Wisdom may be found extensively in the Books

i) Insightful Observations of life

ii) Sound advice

iii) Warnings

iv) Challenges

v) Personal testimonies

PSALM 1

1. The imagery of a Fruitful Tree

2. This imagery was well-chosen as the first Psalm 

LESSONS FROM PSALM 1

1. The Company we keep

a) Family is a part of life

b) Friends are also a necessary part of life

2. The Friends we must choose not to keep company with (Psalm 1:1)

a) The ungodly

b) The unrepentant sinner

c) The scornful

A DESCRIPTION OF THE UNGODLY

1. A candid description

a) They are compared to chaff (Psalm 1:4)

b) They are blown away by the wind (winnowing process)

2. The fate of the ungodly

a) They will not stand in the judgment of God (Psalm 1:5a)

b) The ungodly are also called “sinners”

c) They will not be counted “in the congregation” (Psalm 1:5b)

i) Of God

ii) Of the righteous

3. The way of the ungodly (Psalm 1:4, 6b)

a) Their way will perish one day

b) The path they walk on would lead to destruction

A DESCRIPTION OF THE MAN BLESSED BY GOD

1. His delight

a) It is in the law of the LORD (Psalm 1:2)

b) He finds much joy in the Scriptures

2. His meditation

a) He takes time to meditate on the Lord’s word (Psalm 1:2)

b) He does this regularly (day and night)

THE IMAGERY OF A TREE APPLIED

1. He shall be like a tree (Psalm 1:3a)

a) It takes time to grow a tree

b) Trees are vital in our eco-system

2. Planted by the rivers of water (Psalm 1:3b)

a) Water is a vital source

b) The tree must be well-planted

3. The health of the tree

a) Its leaf shall not wither (Psalm 1:3d)

b) It is obviously well-cared for

4. The fruit of the tree

a) In its season it will bear fruit (Psalm 1:3c)

b) It is potentially able to bear much fruit in its life span

5. The application to the man blessed by God

a) Whatever he does will prosper (Psalm 1:3e)

b) It is the Lord who blesses the individual

c) God knows the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6a)

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To be like the tree that is well-planted

2. To follow the path of righteousness

3. To learn to delight in God’s word

4. To look forward to the Lord’s blessings in our life