He [the one who delights in God's law and meditates on it] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does he prospers. Psalm 1:3 (NIV)
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7,8 (NIV)
I just love the visuals that the psalmist and Jeremiah provide. The man who delights in God's Word and meditates on it day and night will flourish like a tree planted by the waters. That living water is a symbol of Christ. The tree is symbolic of a someone who loves God and is rooted in Christ. If I am deeply rooted in Christ, then I will be able to stand strong and firm when the winds of difficulties blow my way. I won't fear what is happening around me because I have developed a strong relationship with the One who is in control of it all. I trust Him, and can rest in His sovereignty.
The wicked, on the other hand, don't find delight in God's Word. In fact they are far from delighting in God's Word and heeding its advice. They trust themselves instead of God. When difficulties come their way, there is nothing to hold them down. They will blow this way and that like the chaff in the wind, lacking the security, hope, and peace that comes with being deeply rooted in Christ. Like the dried out plant in the desert, their roots are shallow; they have nothing to keep them rooted deeply in the ground. They unsuccessfully try to find satisfaction and security in the things and people around them.
I want to be like that strong tree, whose roots are firmly planted by the streams of living water. I want to have unlimited access to the water Christ provides which never runs dry. I want to be able to stand strong when the storms of life are raging around me. As the psalmist and Jeremiah point out, that strength comes from delighting in and meditating on God's Word day and night. It comes from trusting God and putting my confidence in Him, not man.
I came across a song titled, Tree, by Justin Rizzo. I had never heard this song before, but it's a great prayer to God put to song based on Psalm 1:1. The song that comes immediately after it is good as well, if you have time to listen all the way through. It's a very simple and slow song, but the words are wonderful. It starts with these words,
I want to be unmovable and unshakable
So my roots go down deep,
Unmovable and unshakable in You.
Father, I want to be unmovable and unshakable. I want to be so deeply rooted in You that nothing can move me or shake me.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7,8 (NIV)
Not so the wicked! They are like the chaff that the wind blows away. Psalm 1:4 (NIV)
Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert in a salt land where no one lives. Jeremiah 17:5,6 (NIV)
I just love the visuals that the psalmist and Jeremiah provide. The man who delights in God's Word and meditates on it day and night will flourish like a tree planted by the waters. That living water is a symbol of Christ. The tree is symbolic of a someone who loves God and is rooted in Christ. If I am deeply rooted in Christ, then I will be able to stand strong and firm when the winds of difficulties blow my way. I won't fear what is happening around me because I have developed a strong relationship with the One who is in control of it all. I trust Him, and can rest in His sovereignty.
The wicked, on the other hand, don't find delight in God's Word. In fact they are far from delighting in God's Word and heeding its advice. They trust themselves instead of God. When difficulties come their way, there is nothing to hold them down. They will blow this way and that like the chaff in the wind, lacking the security, hope, and peace that comes with being deeply rooted in Christ. Like the dried out plant in the desert, their roots are shallow; they have nothing to keep them rooted deeply in the ground. They unsuccessfully try to find satisfaction and security in the things and people around them.
I want to be like that strong tree, whose roots are firmly planted by the streams of living water. I want to have unlimited access to the water Christ provides which never runs dry. I want to be able to stand strong when the storms of life are raging around me. As the psalmist and Jeremiah point out, that strength comes from delighting in and meditating on God's Word day and night. It comes from trusting God and putting my confidence in Him, not man.
I came across a song titled, Tree, by Justin Rizzo. I had never heard this song before, but it's a great prayer to God put to song based on Psalm 1:1. The song that comes immediately after it is good as well, if you have time to listen all the way through. It's a very simple and slow song, but the words are wonderful. It starts with these words,
I want to be unmovable and unshakable
So my roots go down deep,
Unmovable and unshakable in You.
Father, I want to be unmovable and unshakable. I want to be so deeply rooted in You that nothing can move me or shake me.
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