Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
6 sermons cite this verse
… defines success? Well, that's what leads us to the last part of this song where the contrast comes back up again. The wicked are not so. So here we've got the contrast. So what we're about to read is the opposite of fruitful, the opposite of durable, the opposite of successful. The wicked are not those things. What are the wicked like? The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Chaff, like the light straw that the farmer tosses up and it blows away. And the good stuff, which is heavier, weightier, falls to the ground. So the wicked are not durable. Those who reject God's word, who don't delight in his word, but listen to live according to the world, they don't have a lasting happiness. Their happiness is fleeting. Comes and goes. Just like that, it is driven away. Which then leads to verse 5, where things go to a whole nother level. Therefore, whenever we see the word therefore, we know what's about to come is based on everything that's just been said. So now we know we're coming to the conclusion of this psalm where it's all headed, the climax, and we know everything we're about to read is based on everything we've just seen. So therefore, in light of what we've just seen, therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment. So here's the picture here. Not only are they like chaff, the wind drives away, the wicked will not stand in the judgment. They will not stand. …
… In all that he does he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will 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 wicked will perish." In the mail that came most recently during the past week, part of it was a letter that was accompanied by a book, a book that I had never seen, an older book. It was written by Alexander White, who lived in the 19th century into the 20th century. He was the minister of Free St. George's in Edinburgh, and for 40 years or so, he went there as an assistant to a man called Candledge, and eventually he became the senior minister. Anyway, amongst his writings, apparently, he wrote this book about a fellow called Thomas Shepherd, of whom I'd never heard, who he describes as Pilgrim Father and Founder of Harvard College. So that intrigued me and I had a little difficult actually figuring out who was writing and who was saying what. But I finally figured out that it was Alexander White that was describing these things and recounting aspects of his own ministry. And the part that intrigued me because I went to a chapter, I looked at all the chapters, and one of them, the chapter was The Thought of My Death. And I thought, well, I want to start with that one. …
… that whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the shaft with the wind. Y'all excuse me, I feel like running around the building. Then. you keep wondering why your life keeps falling down you keep wondering while ain't nothing succeeding you keep wondering why God does open up a door for you because you so busy focuses on everything but him obeying everybody but him you've got everybody else calling the shots on your life why don't you give God, give Jesus a chance to order your life. So the word is success. Put those words back up there. The word is success. This is how I remember these principles. I didn't learn them this way, but I organized them this way. Go ahead, Pastor. And I put them in an order that spells success. And I've been teaching these principles for 37 years. And that's why God keeps shining on the First Baptist Church of Glen Arden. Amen. Unfortunately, I'm out of time. …
… 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, the way of the ungodly, shall perish. That's David. Listen, that's Psalm 1, and it begins to go proverb-like at verse 6. You're going to hear a lot of this. Proverbs are the teachings, and I'll give you more of the exact definition in a moment. Proverbs are like teaching by what's contrary, or the opposites. There is the godly, they shall prosper. The wicked will come to destruction. That's a proverb. You saw the action. If you saw this great movie we've been talking about, The Great Awakening, you saw moments of that. You know who was a master at this, though it was not biblical knowledge or information or wisdom, but he was great at it, was Ben Franklin, the author of Poor Richard's Almanac and many other sayings. …
… it shall prosper but the ungodly are not so but are like the chaff that the wind drives away because him he did also foreknow he did also predestinate who he predestinated he called and who he called he justified who he justified he glorified For what shall we say to these things if God be for us? Who can be against us? For when he could swear by no greater, he took an oath out on himself saying blessings I will bless you. multiply I will multiply you I bless you going in I bless you coming out every place your feet touch I'll give it to you then he said I will curse them that curse you I bless them that bless you because eyes have not seen y'all act like y'all don't know the Bible in here. Ears have not heard, neither has it entered the hearts of a man the good things that God has in store to them that love him. But it has been revealed to those of us that are filled with his spirit. …
… Here's another kind. The wicked are not so, but they're like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." God is saying to the worshipers as they enter the temple, I know who you are. You can't fool me. I know you. You don't belong in the assembly of the righteous because you're going to perish. You're among the perishing. This is the gate to worship. God expects worshipers to be true worshipers. God is not honored in the false and hypocritical worship of the wicked. That's from the get-go in the Psalms. Any effort to amalgamate the righteous and the wicked in an act of worship is a foundational violation of God's expectation for what worship is. This Psalm is there at the gate to stop the wicked from entering worship. And the Lord knows the righteous, and He knows the wicked, and the wicked will perish." This was a stunning reality for the Jews as they came to worship. …