I would like to continue my Bible study on Psalm One, with a look at verse three as follows:
“he is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields it’s fruit in it’s season, and it’s leaf does not wither. In all that he does he prospers”.
I do not ascribe to any kind of ‘prosperity gospel’ teaching, in the way some recent teaching tries to make credible. I do not believe when a person becomes a Christian, suddenly they become wealthy, with a big house and a nice car parked in the drive.
Nor do I believe that when a person comes to Christ they live a problem free life. In fact the Bible tells us plainly that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33) but it also goes on to say that Jesus has overcome the world.
I do not ascribe to a prosperity Gospel – but I do accredit the Gospel as prosperous.
To prosper means to to thrive. Jesus said the purpose of his coming was that we ‘might have life, and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10). In other words a life that thrives.
The abundant life promise doesn’t automatically grant a fat bank account. But it dose guarantee us Christ is all we need, and He will meet all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). God is not stingy, He is more than able to supply all our needs.
The word prospers (tsalach) can also be translated as success. God has granted us success when we choose to walk in His way, walking not as the ungodly or even pious mockers do (verse 1) but to truly walk in His way.
The walk of God can actually be physically understood in the ministry of Jesus, who made himself of no reputation, became an object of scorn (mockery), became despised by men and became a curse for us (Philippians 2:7, psalm 109:25, Isaiah 53:2-3, Galatians 3:13).
Jesus came preaching a Gospel of salvation, restoration and forgiveness – He came to serve and not be served (Matthew 20:28).
He has commissioned us to preach the same Gospel, to show Christ in us, to point others to the way. This ministerial calling on our lives…the preaching of the true Gospel will be successful. It will succeed because it is a Gospel that is prosperous. The word of God never returns void, but always accomplishes what it sets out to do (Isaiah 55:11).
Verse three could be interpreted as a ministerial calling on our lives. ‘Bearing fruit in season.’
For everything there is a time or a season, as the writer of Ecclesiastes points out (Ecclesiastes 3).
In ministry there is a time to sow and a time to reap but God alone determines the harvest. He alone produces growth – we are simply workers in the field (1 Corinthians 1:8).
This is a ministerial calling that includes every believer. Everyone of us, has been commissioned to share the Gospel and has been equipped by God to do so. Maybe not from a platform on a Sunday morning, but perhaps over a coffee in work. A ride on the bus or over the garden fence…we love the Gospel, we live the Gospel…we share the Gospel.
Paul talks about fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are characteristics of the Christian life. They take time to cultivate and develop. Some might come easier to us than others …but if we are walking close to God, guided by the Spirit, yielding to the Spirit these fruits will come. They will manifest manifest themselves in our lives…they will be on show for all to see.
The fruits of the spirit displayed in us in season, will minister to others too (this is Gospel ministry). In chapter five of Galatians Paul continues “Against such things there is no law”.
The law of Christ or the Law of the Gospel which is love (verse 2) is not written on stone or parchment … It’s written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15) it must be obvious it is so – because the fruit we manifest testifies to it.
Back to an earlier point I made about verse one…how will we know who to choose to help us on the way in our Christian journey? We will know by the fruits we see manifest in season. In seasons of hardship – do believers display patience? In season of temptations do they display self control? Above all, do followers of Jesus Christ display fruits of love?
Do we?
Jesus said:
“by their fruit you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-20)
To display our fruit in season we must be like the tree planted by the water.
The tree that gets nourishment and so produces life. A tree in a dry and arid place will wither and die. It will not live because it has no sustenance nor will it provide life to those around it.
In nature trees produce fruit, berries, nuts and seeds which go into the food chain of all manner of insects, birds and animals, even humans.
A tree brings life because it lives!
This is a wonderful analogy of a Godly man … He brings life because he himself lives. Life is contagious! when someone is living a powerful God centred abundant life, and is producing fruit from his abundance …this will rub off on others.
Remember, though that the tree cannot sustain itself but must be sustained by the water. Jesus described himself as living Water, inviting all who were thirsty to come and drink and never thirst again (John Chapters 4&7).
The stream of LIVING WATER (the psalmists says the tree is planted by a stream…a stream moves, it is flowing and full of life – it is not stagnant and still.) living water sustains the tree – not the other way around!
Jesus supports us He is our living water.
The message paraphrases verse three as:
‘you are a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month.’
I like this as it again adds to the idea of God hitting the reset button (verse 2).
In Eden everything was fresh, new, perfect, unspoilt. But the most important factor of the garden was unbroken relationship between God and man. God walked with Adam in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8).
Walking Gods way not our own way means repenting of our past selfishness of wanting to go our own way, (which is what sin is) and instead trusting in God to walk His way.
Taking Him at His word when He tells us His way is best. Accepting Christ as Saviour. Being born again (John 3:7) means God hits the reset button on us. For God comes where we are and walks with us, like in Eden – in restored relationship.
Verse three also talks about the leaf on our tree never withering.
There are a few evergreens but most trees shut down in autumn and ‘sleep’ through winter.
In our Christian journey we may experience many ‘winters’. Winter in some cases brings imagery of cold, storms, scarcity of life. We envision snow and wrapping up tightly against the elements, staying indoors – we might think of long dark nights.
In a spiritual sense we might experience ‘winter seasons’ times of trial, hardship, temptations and so on. These can take many forms, financial hardships, marital breakdowns, unemployment, illness and so much more. But God will not forget us – He will not abandon us.
We will be that tree that remains green, our leaves will not wither.
We may not be producing the finest apples during winter but the stream of water is nourishing our roots – and we are alive!
The Hebrew word is nabel, meaning to wither or droop. But it also means to be senseless or foolish.
God had given us His Holy Spirit. He is our companion, our guide, our comforter. In fact Jesus refers to Him as ‘another comforter’ (John 14:16 AV, translated ‘helper’ or ‘advocate’ in other versions). The Greek is paraklétos and means primarily one who is called to the aid or comfort of another.
The Holy Spirit therefore, helps us, comforts us and aids us, in our spiritual winters; so we will not do anything foolish, nor will we feel senseless when our winters do not seem to make sense – because we walk with and trust in God to see us through and make sense out of the seemingly senseless.
The tree planted by streams of water cannot be moved. It grows strong and steadfast. It is not easily shaken. It doesn’t easily blow over.
The godly man who is like a tree planted by streams of living water, will not be controlled by circumstance but trust in Him who is above all situations.
christian 