They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither...(Ps. 1:3)

Why would the psalmist imply that a tree along a riverbank never dies? That seems like a pretty bold statement to make in a world that faces death every day. Let's think about it for a moment. What is a tree's job? What is its purpose? To grow, provide shade, change with the seasons, and, perhaps, to bear some sort of fruit or flower. Those duties, when fulfilled, are the "fruit" of that tree's life. That is what the tree accomplished.

What is our purpose? According to scripture, we were created for a relationship with God, to glorify Him, and to enlarge His kingdom. That is our purpose. Whatever we do during our lifetime that fulfills that purpose, then, can be considered our fruit.

In that case, why would the author compare people who dwell on the law of the Lord to trees along the bank of a river? Trees along a river are different from trees in a meadow because they have a constant supply of what they need: water. Without that, a tree would not be able to do what it is supposed to do, and would even cease to exist. Nothing good can come from a tree's life if it is not connected to a source of water. The psalmist's comparison begins to make sense when we consider that the Word of the Lord is to us what water is to a tree. Without the Lord and His law, we would be able to do nothing good. We are fruitless when we become disconnected from the source of life. If we want our lives to mean something, and if we want to bear any sort of eternal fruit, we have to stay connected to the Source.

God, thank You for such vivid images to show us how badly we need You. Thank you for helping us to understand. Teach us to depend on You for life, and to stay connected to You in all things. Make our lives bear fruit for You. Amen.

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Psalm 1

Do you feel that your actions/behavior allow you to flourish and prosper to your potential?

I certainly do not; that's not to say that my life is not full of joy and abundant gifts from my Lord. But I am very aware that my walk is not always focused on pleasing God. I am easy to stray in the worldly temptations that meet me each day and give me instant, yet temporary satisfaction. I allow myself to justify my ways because I serve a gracious, forgiving God.

How sad is that.....to know that God's heart breaks with my repetitious, sinful ways?

I know that if I were to start each day with prayer and time meditating in God's word that my walk with Him would go much smoother and reward me in numerous ways (see Psalm 84). Instead I choose to sleep in, or do the quick prayer in the car "I'll get back to you soon God"...especially if I'm struggling or have an urgent request.

My new daily goal is to make a choice to meet with my Savior each morning and find time to meditate and fully digest His word so that it roots itself in my heart (see Psalm 63).

I challenge you to walk closer with God and listen better to His message of hope and love that He so freely gives.

See also Psalm 27 and Philippians 3:16-21

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Psalm 1

It is amazing how reading the same verses will often reveal different truths. The last time I read over Psalm 1 I really didn't get anything out of it. It seemed very black and white. Bad is bad, good is good, do good. This time it was different. In particular the last verse caught my attention, and in that verse one word. Psalm 1:6 "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Way... what is so special about that? Well, it strikes me that he's not talking about people, or specifics, he doesn't say, "the Lord watches over the righteous, but the wicked will perish". So I looked up the Hebrew meaning of the word 'way'. "A path, a route, a road, a journey, by extension: conduct, a way of life." The point of this passage isn't the demise of the wicked, but the demise of their way of life. We aren't being promised that the present will be a bed of roses, but that the outcome of the challenges and difficulties we face now is certain. In a way it reminds me of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." I think in both passages God isn't necessarily referring to our present comfort, fulfillment, and success, but to the ultimate success, His success. It is a promise that in the end good will triumph. One day God's way will be the only way, and the mind blowing thing is that we can be a part of that today, He seeks us, loves us, and wants us to be with Him when that final day comes.

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"...you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night."

Psalms 1:2 MSG

Psalms 1 sings the praises of people who follow God, and it illustrates how a faithful life is different from an unfaithful life. Psalms 1 says that a person who studies God's word is a righteous person, and a righteous person follows the Bible's teachings closely. It says that the person not only reads the Bible, but they "thrill to it." They don't just sit down to read a passage, but they look forward to it and enjoy doing it. Furthermore, when they are done reading they do not forget what they studied but they take time to reflect on it during their day. This reflection, or meditation, allows the righteous person to memorize the lesson they studied and thereby make it meaningful to their everyday life.

This deep study helps the righteous avoid behaviors that are displeasing to God. For one thing, it is easier to make good choices when God's word is fresh in your mind. Furthermore, the very act of study and meditation fills part of the day with acts that are pleasing to God and leaves less time for making poor choices!

Psalms 1 seems to suggest that if we study and reflect on God's word, the Bible, that we will be on the start to a life that is pleasing to God. If regular Bible study is not part of your routine, consider that you may be skipping step one!

Pray this week that your Bible study time will become a key part of your life. Ask God for discernment before beginning to study and ask him to give you a spirit of enthusiasm for Bible study.

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Psalm 1 lays out two clear paths we can choose to follow. We can choose to live a life of righteousness by seeking Christ, who is the living water OR we can choose to follow the ways of the wicked which leads to destruction and death.

There are 3 things that stand out to me that challenge us and guide us into living the way of the righteous.

In verse 2 we read that the man who seeks righteousness, his delight is in the law of the Lord. What does that really mean? We delight in all kinds of meaningless things, but how many of us and how much of our lives do we delight in the law of the Lord? The law of the Lord is to love the Lord and to love others and I am challenged to think of how different our lives would be if we truly found our delight in the law of the Lord?

In verse 2 again we read that the man who seeks righteousness meditates on the Lord's law day and night. The Bible is the law of the Lord given to us to guide us in our living and speak to us from God. When we seek God and desire to know Him and become righteous, we will dive into His word and get as much as we can by reading and meditating. Think about something you are really interested in such as your favorite hobby? How much time do we spend diving into informing ourselves of that stuff? How much more should we spend time getting to know our creator?

In verse 3 we read that one who seeks righteouness is like the tree planted by streams of water. John 4:14 says, "The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." When we choose to drink the water of Christ, it satisfies our deepest longs. It is in this water that we find true satisfaction.

For today, be challenged to choose the path of righteousness. It requires an intentional choice, but the reward is more than this world has to offer. The reward is everlasting life.

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