Psalm 1 is imbued with greatness. It calls us to a higher life, and urges us to live in such a way that we become like the person it describes. The man of this psalm chooses to remain close to God’s stream of living water. He meditates on God’s Word day and night, and whatever he does prospers.
If we walk that same path, we too will succeed in all that we do.
But sometimes we are overcome and weighed down by our responsibilities and pressures. Or we are lured by the promises of pleasure, success, and wealth this world offers.
We stray from the path, far from the stream, and we stop drinking from 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
We find ourselves, like the Apostle Paul in Romans 7, doing what we hate instead of what we want to do, and know that we should do.
But the wise man of Psalm 1 remains near the living stream of water. He realizes that is the true source of his strength so he continually drinks from its depths.
Perhaps he is a farmer who sees that his trees nearest the stream thrive. They produce fruit of higher quality and quantity. So he brings extra water to the trees farthest from the stream, knowing they will need it to survive periods of drought.
He has learned that dry spells are inevitable for all living things, including his own soul.
Thus he drinks from God’s stream of living water, deeply and frequently, preparing for the times when he would be unable to quench the thirst of his parched soul. This is what strengthens his faith, keeps him on the right path, and enables him to bear abundant fruit in every season.
Similarly, we too must continually drink from the source of God’s living water. This doesn’t mean we should keep our noses buried in the Bible all the time. Rather, it means we should meditate on it throughout the day, striving to apply it to our daily lives.
This will keep us from straying from God’s path. It will nourish a faith that doesn’t whither but bears fruit even in times of aridity and trial. It will make us prosper in God and help us succeed in all He desires of us.
Blessed is that man or woman.
Photo by David Meier via Pixabay.