Filled with greatness, Psalm One calls us upward to live in such a way that we become like the person it describes, thereby succeeding in all that we do. But distracted by our responsibilities and pressures, we sometimes forget to stay near the stream of God’s living water.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Like the apostle Paul in Romans 7, instead of doing what we want to do and should do, we end up doing what we hate. But the blessed, wise man of Psalm 1 stayed near the living stream of water. And he drank from its depths, realizing that it was the true source of his strength.
Perhaps he was a farmer and had noticed that the trees closest to the stream were the most luxuriant. They produced the best quality fruit, and more of it. So he carried extra water to those farthest from the stream, knowing they would need it to survive times of drought.
He had learned that dry spells come to all living things. So he drank long and often from God’s stream of living water, anticipating the times when he would be unable to quench the thirst of his parched soul. In this way, he built a strong faith that would keep him on the right path, and able to bear abundant fruit in all seasons.
In the same way, we must continually drink of God’s living water. Not that we can or should keep our noses in the Bible all the time. But we can meditate on the Scriptures throughout the day and constantly strive to apply them to our daily lives.
Then we will also have faith that never fades or withers. A faith that doesn’t stray from God’s ways. A faith that bears fruit even in times of drought and trial. A faith that helps us succeed in all that God wants us to do.
📷 Image credit: tree roots