Like a Flourishing Tree

(Theme: Selections from the Psalms: Faith Set to Music)

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” –Psalm 1:1-3 (KJV. Read Ps.1).

In the last month and a half, these devotionals have dealt with the book of the Acts of the Apostles as we have walked with Peter, Paul and others through the organizational phase of the early church and followed the spread of the gospel through faithful witnesses. For the next several weeks we will turn our thoughts to selections from the Psalms and examine the sacred writings, the hymnbook of the Hebrew people. Someone has aptly called the Psalms “faith set to music.” The Psalms are poetry, Hebrew poetry translated into English so we can read and appreciate the message as well as the method used to convey this important part of the Word of God. The Psalms are divided into five distinct divisions (sometimes called Books): Book I covers Psalm 1-41, Book II, Psalm 42-71, Book III, 73-89, Book IV, 90-106; and Book V, 107-150. Within these books are Psalms of Thanksgiving, Lamentation, Hymns, Wisdom, Kingship, Entrance, Enthronement, Songs of Zion, Confidence, Prophecy, and Liturgy. The psalms can be grouped under these eleven divisions, some having many psalms of the type and others only a few.

Psalm 1 is classified by scholars as a “Wisdom” Psalm. These probe life’s mysteries and help to teach us about God and our relationship to Him. This (as well as all the other Psalms) mirrors life and seeks to help the worshiper, whether in private or public worship, to converse with God and draw closer to Him. Like the Beatitudes of Jesus spoken centuries later and recorded in Matthew, the Psalmist begins by saying “Blessed (Happy) is the man—the person—who does not listen to ungodly counsel, who does not stand with sinners, who does not become scornful.” These negative qualities, instead, are replaced by the positives of delighting in God’s law and meditating on His Word day and night. If this lifestyle is followed, the believer will be like a tree planted beside a river where it receives water and nourishment and grows strong and productive. In this Psalm, poetic language shines through the writing. Note the simile (poetic device): the godly person is like a tree. The life so directed and lived will bring forth much fruit. “The person who walks with God knows stability, but the one who rejects God flounders in a meaningless existence” (John MacArthur in Truth for Today). Which had we rather be—a flourishing, productive tree or useless chaff which the wind takes away? Right choice indicates we are on the path of wisdom.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, May 19, 2010