Like a Tree Planted by the Water

^{Psalm 1}       

¹ Blessed is the one 

   who does not walk in step with the wicked 

or stand in the way that sinners take 

   or sit in the company of mockers, 

² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, 

   and who meditates on his law day and night. 

³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, 

   which yields its fruit in season 

and whose leaf does not wither— 

   whatever they do prospers.

 

⁴ Not so the wicked! 

   They are like chaff 

   that the wind blows away. 

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 

   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 ⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, 

   but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Water is pretty vital.  It can give life, or it can destroy.  Just ask my friends in Memphis about that right now.  

Yesterday morning, I started the day by watering the plants that are newly in the ground at our house.   I knew that one day of 90+ degree heat had the potential to damage their baby roots.  

Psalm 1 gives us a wonderful image.  We can be "a person who is like a tree planted by streams of water...yielding fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither..."  

What is that life-giving water?  

"The Message" version says that it's "chewing on God's word day and night."  The NIV quoted above says that it's a matter of continually "meditating" on the word.  

Try it out.  Go to http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/   and spend the next 15 minutes chewing on the word.  

It's one of the best ways to "Love God," the first part of the Royal Commandment.  

It's refreshing, just like a cool drink of water on a hot summer day.  It keeps us from drying up and blowing away like chaff.

Grace & Peace,

Adam