Psalm 1:3-4, “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. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.”
The blessed is personified as a tree that is planted and therefore rooted. Jeremiah tells us “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 (17:7–8).” Trees have a root system and all of the roots go down into the soil and branch out underground that is all except one root. The tap root drills straight down into the earth, and the older and stronger a tree is, the more deeply rooted it is. I love the popular bonsai tree, but to keep the tree small the roots are cut therefore the tree is left dwarfed. It looks great aesthetically, but the roots do not go down deep. However think of a Great Oak Tree whose roots drive deep into the earth. Its tap root is what causes it to be rooted and grounded. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 3:17, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love.” This person is rooted and grounded because and ONLY because they are connected as a branch to the Vine. In John 15 Jesus likens our lives to branches and Himself as the Vine, with God the Father as the Gardener. Jesus says more than once in this passage that apart from Him we can do NO-THING, nothing. Do you believe that? Both in John 15, and Psalm 1, the key to being fruitful is the connection to the Vine and to the rivers of [Living] Water [emphasis mine]. God wants fruit from His tree, because He is the Owner and the Gardener. The blessed life will produce fruit in his season, as those living in right relationship with God will receive God’s blessing and enjoy life as a gift of God.
The cursed life is personified as the chaff that the wind blows away. Chaff, in the vernacular is, light straw which can be easily be blown away. Ultimately the wicked will be easily blown away. I picture the western movies when the tumbleweeds, like chaff, blow through the town. Why can the chaff be easily blown away, because it has no root, it becomes dried out, and can be eaten by the animals. Paul tells us “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14).” Again in John 15, Jesus spoke of the branches that a branch that fails to remain in Him is thrown away, withers, and thrown into the FIRE! Although it may seem at times that the wicked are really getting ahead in life, over and above the Christian. The ultimate thing that the cursed life, which is dead in sins and transgressions (Ephesians 2:1), will be death. Death will blow and the wicked will move to its influence, wither away and be thrown in the fire.
When death comes reaching for, and blowing murderous threats at the blessed life, the Lord Himself will not allow that life to be budged in any way. Why, because whatever the blessed life does shall prosper. Did Jesus Christ prosper in this life? That is almost a foolish question I realize, but as we live like Him and in Him, we will process like Him because we are in Him. When your faith is put to the test will you bear fruit in season? The storms of life will show if you are a tree planted of chaff getting blown. Make sure that you are attached to Christ, and that you remain in Him.
Application: If you were put on trial for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you? Your faith MUST stand trial to see what you are putting your trust in.
By Pastor Phil
He Has Magnified His Word 