This year I have been preaching at Mens’ days at churches here in Sydney.
Domestic violence is dominated by men; there is growing focus on ‘toxic’ men’s culture; suicide rates are dominated by men at a rate of 3 to 1; mens’ mental health is an area of growing need. Men and true masculinity are under pressure.
Male models, patterning healthy masculinity are scarce in our schools and single parent families are mostly mothered families.
Two areas needing special attention are:
How can I be a better man?
Where can I find purpose and meaning in life?
In every Gideon’s Bible, the ‘Where to look when..’ page is dominated by references to the Psalms.
What a classic treasure this collection of poems is and how appropriate that King David writing in about 1000BC should address just these big issues of 2025.
How can I be a better man?
Psalm 1 gives us the pattern, by its description of the blessed man.
1.V.1. He doesn’t make his address with the wicked, the sinner or the mocker.
He may be present with them, as was the Psalm 1 man, the Lord Jesus, but his presence is always redemptive, looking to make a difference.
2.V.2. His address, his delight, is in God and his Word, which is never far from his mind.
3.V.3. He is thus like a fruitful, prosperous tree, outstanding in its arid and dry environment. The prosperity of the man, so desired by the world, cannot be divorced from his delight in God in V.2.
4.V.4-5.His life experience is a clear contrast to the purposeless life of the wicked who are likened to unproductive and rootless chaff.
5. V.6. God knows and watches over the life of the blessed, but allows the wicked to reap the fruit of their chosen way.
Jesus is this man, his is the pattern of true manhood.
Thus the Psalter begins, and the man who starts out like this will be confronted by life’s troughs and peaks, but in the end, his closing doxology at the end of his life will be, ‘Praise the Lord’, Psalm 150.
Psalms gives us the pattern of true manhood, the pattern of how to live as a man faces the realities of life.
So, how about life’s purpose?
Psalm 2 is King David’s response to being plotted against 24/7 by the Philistine Kings.
David takes up quill and ink and writes:
1. V.6. His throne is safe, secured by God, as is also the throne of King Jesus, the greater Son of David.
2. V.7-8. David’s sonship is affirmed and a promise made, what is David’s by adoption is Jesus’ by right.
A promised inheritance of the nations has been made.
3.V.10-12. God mercifully calls on the plotting Kings to stop their rebellion and to listen, serve and kiss the Son.
This is the second most oft quoted Psalm in the New Testament, after Psalm 110, it has clear reference to Jesus Christ, our elder brother.
Here is a promise made by God our Father, to Christ, our brother, of an inheritance of the nations which are his by right.
Later on the Son will tell us that all authority has been given to Him and thus we are to go and make disciples of these nations which rightfully belong to King Jesus.
Our purpose then in life is to find the outlet to be a part of seeing that promise fulfilled.
‘The Psalms are one of the greatest missionary books in the world’. J.R.W.Stott.
Here is a promise by our father to our elder brother of the family inheritance and our role is to be Spirit filled family members who help bring in the harvested inheritance.
Looking for the pattern of true manhood? Psalm 1.
Looking for purpose and meaning in life? Psalm 2.
David Cook.