A. Actions of the BAD guy [1]
       B. Actions of the GOOD guy [2]
       b' Character of the GOOD guy [3]
a' Character of the BAD guy [4]
C. Destiny of the BAD guy [5]
       D. Destiny of the GOOD guy [implied]
       d' Reason for the GOOD guy's destiny [6a]
c' Reason for the BAD guy's destiny [6b]
1  Blessed/Happy/to be Envied is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, cf Matthew 5-7   Nor stands in the path of sinners,    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD,   And in His law he meditates day and night.
3  He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,    That brings forth its fruit in its season,   Whose leaf also shall not wither;   And whatever he does shall prosper. Cf Joshua 1:8; Jn 15
4 The ungodly are not so,  But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6  For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Natural vs Synthetic Happiness- Dan Gilbert TED Talk impact bias (also: Why we make Bad Decisions G/B below);  Sir Thomas Browne 1642: "I am the happiest man alive. I have that in me that can convert poverty to riches, adversity to prosperity. I am more invulnerable than Achilles; fortune hath not one place to hit me."  Adam Smith: “The great source of both the misery and disorders of human life, seems to arise from over-rating the difference between one permanent situation and another...in all the ordinary situations of human life, a well-disposed mind may be equally calm, equally cheerful, and equally contented. Some of those situations may, no doubt, deserve to be preferred to others:but none of them can deserve to be pursued with that passionate ardour which drives us to violate the rules either of prudence or of justice; or to corrupt the future tranquillity of our minds, either by shame from the remembrance of our own folly, or by remorse from the horror of our own injustice.”

A. Actions of the BAD guy [1]
WICKED/UNGODLY Psalm 50:16 = those who are part of the covenant community but who ignore the law of God, giving lipservice rather than obedience.  Psalm 50:16 to the wicked/ungodly God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?

Malachi 3:18 = those who don't serve and honor God by giving their best. (see: Lord of the Leftovers)
Matthew 25:26 = the lazy unprofitable servant who loses his reward   I Corinthians 5:13 = the believing "brother" under church discipline.
Psalm 37:21 = takers rather than givers: The wicked borrows, and pays not again: but the righteous show graciousness, and give.
Psalm 10:4  = miss having a QT: The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psalm 10:13  = don’t believe in +/- rewards: Why do the wicked renounce God, and say in their hearts, "You will not call us to account"?
Proverbs 24:16 = Spiritual quitter: For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall by calamity.

SINNERS Psalm 25:8 = those who miss/stray from the way/path 2 Timothy 3:16-17 of God. (Independence = essence of sin; Declaration of Dependence)
Numbers 32:13=redeemed who failed to obey & receive promised land.  Amos 9:10=those among God's people who doubt His future judgment.
James 4:8  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.

MOCKERS Proverbs = those who are proud-21:4, refusing instruction-9:8, and rebuke-13:1, and are headed for punishment-19:29
Proverbs 9:7 corrects a scoffer wins abuse…rebukes the wicked gets hurt. 15:12  Scoffers don’t like to be rebuked; they will not go to the wise.

B. Actions of the GOOD guy [2] (cf Romans 12:1-2 yield...transformed by the renewing of your mind...experience perfect will of God)

Prerequisite = DELIGHT - We delight in what we value; we value what we perceive as of benefit to us; something is of benefit if it meets our need for power (security/significance), pleasure, or possessions. Psalm 119:97  how love I thy law! It’s my meditation all day.

 Process= MEDITATES -crucial for survival & success. JOSHUA 1:8 meditate..observe to do..you shall make (HIPHIL) your way prosperous

 Study the implications for applications = Think, Feel/Value/Do   TOYL QT=Read...Reflect...Record...Respond (Worship)

 Visualization..Affirmation/Internalization..Inspiration/Motivation/Automation..Decision/Activation (see TOYL overview)

b' Character of the GOOD guy [3]  Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
 Product = BEARS FRUIT - result of obedient meditation. Jeremiah 17:5-10 trust in man=cursed; trust in God=blessed; give due fruit
 In season -there is an appropriate time for rooting and a time for fruiting  Fruit of Spirit=Love (sacrifice self for benefit of others - Galatians 5)
 In spite of drought -circumstances are not an accurate indicator of reality, nor an excuse for unfruitfulness
 In everything -compartmentalization is an abomination therefore God's Truth must permeate and saturate every part of our lives

a' Character of the BAD guy [4]            Not show any reproductive fruit, blown away  John 15:1-8 Abide in Him...His words abide in you

C. Destiny of the BAD guy [5]              Not STAND (victoriously) in the JUDGMENT              Nor in the ASSEMBLY of the RIGHTEOUS
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice (prayer 28:9) of the wicked (deaf to law) is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

D. Destiny of the GOOD guy [implied]       [Does stand (triumphant) in the Judgment and Assembly -cf Job/Joseph/Daniel]

d' Reason for the GOOD guy's destiny [6a]    The Lord watches over WAY of RIGHTEOUS (careful to do what is right in His sight)

c' Reason for the BAD guy's destiny [6b] The WAY of the WICKED will perish  [G/B we underestimate future pain overestimate present pleasure]

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:                                                     
1. Why do we think the “wicked-ungodly” are always the “other” guys? Does God hear the prayer of the “wicked”?
2. Name ten things in which people delight (or value), then determine the appeal. Is value relative?
3. How can we be aware of whether we're walking according to the wrong "counsel" or values?
4. What can help/hinder you in developing a greater desire for God's law? What are some benefits of absorbing the Word into your life?
5. What can you do to hasten the process of God tending you, via His Word, toward fruitfulness? (Four R’s of a QT in TOYL)