Divine Distinction: The Godly vs. The Ungodly

 

Summary

In reflecting on the 92nd Psalm, the central theme emerges as the relationship between humanity and God, a theme that permeates the entire Bible. This relationship is the ultimate distinction that matters, dividing humanity into two categories: the godly and the ungodly. The Bible, as a practical guide to life, emphasizes that this division is not just a superficial distinction but a profound one that affects every aspect of life, both in this world and the next. The godly, those who live in right relationship with God, find joy and purpose in praising Him, while the ungodly, who live without acknowledging God, are likened to brute beasts, living without true understanding or purpose.

The godly person is characterized by a desire to praise God, finding joy and fulfillment in doing so. This desire stems from an understanding of God's nature, His works, and His deep thoughts, particularly His plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. The godly recognize the greatness and majesty of God, His loving-kindness, and His faithfulness, which inspire them to live lives of praise and gratitude. In contrast, the ungodly are described as ignorant and foolish, living in defiance of God and His laws, and ultimately facing destruction.

The psalmist highlights the transient nature of the ungodly's success, comparing it to grass that quickly springs up but is soon destroyed. This serves as a warning against the folly of living without God, emphasizing the eternal consequences of such a life. The godly, however, are likened to strong, enduring trees, such as the cedar of Lebanon, symbolizing stability and resilience. They are planted in the house of the Lord, flourishing in His courts, and bringing forth fruit even in old age.

In these challenging times, it is crucial to have a perspective that brings peace and security, rooted in a right relationship with God. This relationship transforms our outlook, enabling us to rejoice even in tribulations, knowing that God's purposes will ultimately prevail. The call is to examine which group we belong to and to seek the knowledge of God in Christ, which alone makes life truly bearable and triumphant.

Key Takeaways:

- The Bible presents a fundamental division between the godly and the ungodly, emphasizing that this distinction is profound and affects every aspect of life, both now and in eternity. Understanding this division is crucial for living a life aligned with God's purposes. [03:18]

- The godly person finds joy and fulfillment in praising God, recognizing His greatness, loving-kindness, and faithfulness. This desire to praise stems from a deep understanding of God's nature and His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. [11:32]

- The ungodly are described as brutish and foolish, living without true understanding or purpose. Their success is transient, like grass that quickly springs up but is soon destroyed, highlighting the folly of living without acknowledging God. [19:17]

- The godly are likened to strong, enduring trees, symbolizing stability and resilience. They are planted in the house of the Lord, flourishing in His courts, and bringing forth fruit even in old age, demonstrating the enduring nature of a life rooted in God. [52:08]

- In times of tribulation, the godly can rejoice, knowing that God's purposes will ultimately prevail. This perspective brings peace and security, rooted in a right relationship with God, and transforms our outlook on life and its challenges. [16:53]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Psalm 92
- [01:09] - Central Theme: Relationship with God
- [02:24] - Two Types of People
- [03:50] - The Ultimate Distinction
- [05:18] - The Godly vs. The Ungodly
- [07:18] - Radical Difference in Outlook
- [09:20] - Importance of Right Relationship with God
- [10:05] - Desire to Praise God
- [12:13] - Joy in Praising God
- [14:23] - Christianity Brings Gladness
- [19:17] - The Ignorance of the Ungodly
- [27:00] - The Wicked Flourish Temporarily
- [35:10] - Understanding God's Works
- [44:59] - God's Purposes and Judgment
- [54:43] - Planted in the House of the Lord

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 92
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Romans 5:3

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two categories of people described in Psalm 92, and how are they characterized? [02:24]

2. According to the sermon, what is the primary desire of a godly person, and how does it manifest in their life? [10:24]

3. How does the psalmist describe the success of the ungodly, and what metaphor is used to illustrate this? [29:23]

4. What does the sermon say about the ultimate fate of the ungodly, and how is this related to their ignorance? [31:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the distinction between the godly and the ungodly affect one's perspective on life and its challenges, according to the sermon? [09:20]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the godly can find joy even in tribulations, and how is this connected to their relationship with God? [16:53]

3. How does the sermon explain the metaphor of the godly being like strong, enduring trees, and what does this symbolize about their spiritual life? [52:08]

4. What does the sermon imply about the role of understanding God's nature and works in the life of a believer? [35:10]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current relationship with God. Do you identify more with the characteristics of the godly or the ungodly as described in the sermon? What steps can you take to align more closely with the godly? [09:49]

2. The sermon emphasizes the joy found in praising God. How often do you take time to praise God in your daily life? What practical changes can you make to incorporate more praise into your routine? [11:32]

3. Consider the metaphor of the ungodly's success being like grass. Are there areas in your life where you are pursuing temporary success rather than lasting spiritual growth? How can you shift your focus? [29:23]

4. The sermon discusses the importance of understanding God's deep thoughts and plans. How can you deepen your understanding of God's nature and His works? What resources or practices might help you in this journey? [42:24]

5. In times of tribulation, the godly can rejoice knowing God's purposes will prevail. How do you currently handle challenges in your life? What can you do to cultivate a perspective of peace and security rooted in your relationship with God? [16:53]

6. The sermon describes the godly as bringing forth fruit even in old age. What kind of spiritual fruit are you currently producing, and how can you ensure that you continue to be fruitful throughout your life? [53:06]

7. Reflect on the idea of being planted in the house of the Lord. How can you ensure that your spiritual roots are deep and secure in your faith community? What steps can you take to strengthen your connection to your church and fellow believers? [54:43]

Devotional

Day 1: The Profound Division of Humanity
The Bible presents a fundamental division between the godly and the ungodly, emphasizing that this distinction is profound and affects every aspect of life, both now and in eternity. Understanding this division is crucial for living a life aligned with God's purposes. The godly are those who live in a right relationship with God, finding joy and purpose in praising Him. In contrast, the ungodly live without acknowledging God, likened to brute beasts without true understanding or purpose. This division is not superficial but deeply impacts one's life and eternal destiny. [03:18]

"For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." (Psalm 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your daily actions and thoughts. Are they aligned with a life that acknowledges and honors God, or do they reflect a life lived without His guidance?


Day 2: Joy in Praising God
The godly person finds joy and fulfillment in praising God, recognizing His greatness, loving-kindness, and faithfulness. This desire to praise stems from a deep understanding of God's nature and His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. The godly are characterized by their desire to praise God, which brings them joy and fulfillment. This joy is rooted in an understanding of God's nature, His works, and His deep thoughts, particularly His plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. [11:32]

"Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!" (Psalm 34:3, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment when you felt joy in God's presence. How can you cultivate more opportunities to praise Him in your daily routine?


Day 3: The Folly of the Ungodly
The ungodly are described as brutish and foolish, living without true understanding or purpose. Their success is transient, like grass that quickly springs up but is soon destroyed, highlighting the folly of living without acknowledging God. The psalmist warns against the transient nature of the ungodly's success, comparing it to grass that quickly springs up but is soon destroyed. This serves as a warning against the folly of living without God, emphasizing the eternal consequences of such a life. [19:17]

"The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away." (Psalm 1:4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you might be pursuing temporary success over eternal significance. How can you shift your focus to align with God's eternal purposes?


Day 4: Stability and Resilience of the Godly
The godly are likened to strong, enduring trees, symbolizing stability and resilience. They are planted in the house of the Lord, flourishing in His courts, and bringing forth fruit even in old age, demonstrating the enduring nature of a life rooted in God. This imagery of strong, enduring trees symbolizes the stability and resilience of the godly. Planted in the house of the Lord, they flourish and bring forth fruit even in old age, demonstrating the enduring nature of a life rooted in God. [52:08]

"They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God." (Psalm 92:13, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you draw strength and resilience from your relationship with God to endure and flourish?


Day 5: Rejoicing in Tribulation
In times of tribulation, the godly can rejoice, knowing that God's purposes will ultimately prevail. This perspective brings peace and security, rooted in a right relationship with God, and transforms our outlook on life and its challenges. The relationship with God transforms our outlook, enabling us to rejoice even in tribulations, knowing that God's purposes will ultimately prevail. This perspective brings peace and security, rooted in a right relationship with God. [16:53]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you have faced. How can you find joy and peace in knowing that God's purposes will ultimately prevail in your life?

Quotes


The Bible everywhere tells us that there are two kinds and types of people. Here we all are living in the same world, living the same life, subject to the same vicissitudes. Nevertheless, since the Bible, it's quite clear that there are two main types of individual. [00:02:32]

The Bible says that there is a fundamental division even in those three parties. There are the godly and the godless in the three and in every other conceivable party. And so you could take any other distinctions drawn by the world. [00:04:39]

The difference between the godly man and the godless man, the Christian and the non-Christian, is something that is so profound that it affects the whole of life. It affects the man's life in this world; it affects a man's life in the next world. [00:06:03]

The godly man says the Bible from beginning to end, though he's in the same world as the ungodly man, doesn't seem to be in the same world. Things don't affect him in the same way. He's got a way of going through it of which the other man knows nothing about. [00:08:36]

What tells us plainly and clearly which of the two groups we belong to is whether we have or have not the desire and the ability to praise and to thank God. That's the most obvious test. The ungodly person, the one who is not a Christian, he doesn't want to praise God. [00:10:09]

The chief characteristic of Christianity is that it enables the man to be glad, encouraged, and blessed. The man who's a Christian is a man who is a blessed man. He's a man who is glad. He's a man who is rejoicing. [00:14:11]

The psalmist tells us exactly why. And is there anything more important than for us to know these reasons which are reduced by the psalmist? My friend, if you haven't got praise for God in your heart at this moment, I'll tell you why you haven't. [00:19:29]

The wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, that's what's happening in the world tonight. That's what the world is at this moment. You and I are looking under the world in which the wicked spring as the grass. [00:27:07]

The prosperity, the affluence, the success is like that of the grass which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven. Oh, the glory of men, the goodness of men is like the grass and the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth and fadeth away. [00:33:21]

The godly man, he is a man who understands something about the Most High, the everlasting God. He knows something about his character. He deals with his everywhere. Look at it in the last verse to show that the Lord is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. [00:37:51]

The Christian isn't a man who lives for himself and his own lusts. He doesn't spend all his money on his own self and his drink and his desires and let his wife and children starve. He isn't self-centered and selfish. He lives for others. He's got a contribution to make. [00:53:18]

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. That just means this: it's a pictorial way of saying this, to be planted in the house of the Lord means that you're fixed here. [00:54:43]

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Transcript
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