How to apply Scripture

1. HOW TO APPLY SCRIPTURE a) There are three ways to apply scripture: 1) Historically – Believing the things in the Bible really happened to real people, in real places, at a real time in history. This is faith in God. 2) Spiritually – Knowing the words are from God, we believe the to contain what we need spiritually and morally. 3) Dispensationally /literally – Who, What, When, Where? Comparing scripture to scripture and rightly dividing them to see to whom they apply. b) We can apply all scripture this way and we will do so today with Psalms 1. 2. HISTORICAL a) A real written Psalm usually attributed to David, but we do not know because no author is attributed. b) There are 7 known authors – David 73 (Acts 2:25-34, Psalms 16:8-10, 110:1), Asaph 12 (Psalm 81), Sons of Korah 11 (Psalm 86), Solomon 2 (Psalm 72, 127), Moses (Psalm 90), Ethan (Psalm 89), Heman (Psalm 88) c) That means there are 49 Psalms with unknown authors, Psalms 1 being one of them. 3. SPIRITUAL a) Verse 1 – The road to wickedness – Walking, standing, sitting. • It’s good to surround yourself with righteous godly people and not wicked – 2Cor 6:14, Eph 5:6-7,11 b) Verse 2 – We should delight and meditate on the word of God – Luke 4:4, Col 3:16, 2Tim 2:15. c) Verse 3-4 – You reap what you sow – Gal 6:7-8. d) Verse 5-6 – The wicked will be judged – Rom 6:23, 2Thess 1:8-9, 1Thess 5:2-3. • The righteous are known by God – 2Tim 2:19, John 10:14,27, Eph 5:30. 4. DISPENSATIONAL a) Written under the law, old covenant – Psalm 1:2 b) Blessed is the man who does not do something (walk with sinners) but also does something (meditate on the law) – Psalms 26, Jer 15:11-20, Josh 8:34 • We aren’t blessed for what we do today, we are blessed for what Christ did – Eph 1:3 c) Meditate day and night - To do the things in them – Josh 1:8 • We are not under the law – Rom 6:14, 1Tim 1:7 d) Like a tree planted by rivers of water – They will stand and produce fruit – Psalm 92:12, Jer 17:7-8, Matt 17:16-20 • Our fruit comes from the Spirit, not by doing works – Gal 5:22-23 e) Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper – Josh 1:7-8, Deut 5:32-33, 29:9 • We have no such promise – Phil 4:11-13. f) Verse 4-5 – Definitely a truth in all dispensations that the wicked will be judged, the congregation of the righteous here would be a reference to true Israel – Rom 9:6, John 8:39. g) Verse 6 – Another truth in any dispensation, but the context has to do with the day of judgement – Nah 1:7, Psalms 37:37-39. • We will not be there on the day of trouble – 1Thess 1:10, 4:13-18, 5:9.