June 11, 2003
Reading: Psalm 1 ff

 

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (3)

 

This is the place where every believer wants to be. Personally, if there is a river nearby, I love to sit on its bank, close my eyes and listen to the water gurgling as it washes over the rocks, and the birds singing in the trees around me. For me it is a place of rest and quietness. It is the ideal place for meditation - surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation.

This is where God wants His children to be: Like a tree planted by the rivers of water. The roots of this tree grow strong because they are constantly nourished. As the roots are, so is the tree: strong and fruitful, watered and nourished by the Holy Spirit.

In this Psalm David tells us how to make this possible in our life. There are some do’s and don’ts we need to consider:

 

Don’ts: Don’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly.

Don’t stand in the way of sinners.

Don’t sit in the seat of the scornful.

Do’s: Delight in the law of God.

Meditate in His law day and night.

 

If you live your life in accordance with these do’s and don’ts then it is God’s promise you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.

Don’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly.

John tells us, “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments” (2 John 6). Paul says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Eph 4:1).

Don’t stand in the way of sinners.

To the Corinthians Paul writes, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith” (1 Cor 16:13). He exhorts us to, “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil 1:27). “Stand fast in the Lord” (Phil 4:1). Way back in Moses’ day, he told the Children of Israel to, “Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you today” (Exod 14:13).

Don’t sit in the seat of the scornful.

“I have not sat with vain persons,…and I will not sit with the wicked” (Psalm 26:4,5). God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6).

Delight in the law of God.

The Word of God plays such an important part in the life and walk of each Believer – without it we are weak, but if we constantly meditate in it, we grow in Christ and experience His strength. Unless we delight in His Word, the ‘don’ts’ are very difficult to overcome. Make it your constant companion and they lose their control and drawing power. The Word of God nourishes the Believer, just as milk (1 Peter 2:2) and meat (Heb 5:12-14) strengthens the physical body.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Ps 119:11).