Like a Tree Planted by the Water - Psalms 1:3

King David began the first chapter of the book of Psalms by writing, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night”, and in chapter one and verse three of the book of Psalms David continued writing about the blessed man, “he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” where we read,

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

The verse begins, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season;”. David began with the words, “and he shall be like a tree” or “and the blessed man will be similar and like unto a physical tree” “planted by the rivers of water” which means “rooted and put in the ground beside a rill, stream or small channel of water”, “that brings forth his fruit” or “that gives, bestows and grants the blessed man's produce” “in his season” which means “within the blessed man's time, occurrence or occasion”. David likened the blessed man to a “tree” that is put into the ground beside a stream of water that produces “fruit” according to it's own special time.

The verse continues, “his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.” David added the words, “his leaf also” or “the collective leaves or leafage upon the tree even so and indeed” “shall not wither” which means “will not sink down, languish, fall or fade”; “and whatsoever he does” or “and all and everything the blessed man makes, produces and effects” “shall prosper” which means “will advance, make progress, succeed and be profitable”. David said the “blessed” person will not “fade away or languish” as anything they do will “advance, make progress and succeed”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how King David compared the “blessed man” to a “tree” that was placed by a stream where it is well watered and the nutrients run free throughout it's branches. This allows the “tree” to produce “fruit” or works that are beneficial, and the tree is so well-kept that not a “leaf” upon it “withers” and whatever it makes ready, produces or performs will make progress, succeed and be profitable. As we have stated previously, Hebrew poetry consist of repetition or contrast of ideas, and when the “blessed” person “meditates” in God's law, they are nourished by the continual flow God's presence within their lives. God desires a personal relationship with everyone, and He gave His Son Jesus to demonstrate His willingness to “bless and prosper” all who stay in alignment with His word. Let us desire to be like the “tree planted by the river of waters”, and give praise the Lord for His desire to bless us with abundant “fruit” in all we do before Him.

Next time we see how David shares about, “the ungodly”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".