PLANTED BY THE WATER

Psalms 1:3

A. "He shall be like a tree by the streams of waters"
  1. The figure used by the Psalmist:
    1. Describes the live of a person attached to the Word of God - the law of the Lord
    2. Its frugality is enchanting and is indicative of its healthy growth
  2. What a marvelous inside of the close relationship:
    1. Between the person that is influenced by the Word of truth
    2. And the spiritual prosperity that follows this healthy relationship B. Let us not the simile used in our text
  3. "He shall be like a tree planted by the streams of waters" (R.V.)
    1. Note, please, the tree is planted; it did not plant itself
    2. It surrenders itself wholly and utterly to the husband man
  4. The husband man:
    1. Took it in his hand and dealt with it, and that was the beginning of prosperity
    2. Thus it is when we wholeheartedly surrender our life to the husband man of our soul; prosperity follows
  5. These facts illustrate forcefully;
    1. The great differences between those who are the Lord's and those who are not His
    2. They point out the secret of spiritual power in the lives of those who are like a tree planted by the streams of water
  6. Planted:
    1. The tree begins to put forth at the one end roots that go out and grasp the rocks, taking hold of firm earth to be nourished by the life-giving minerals deposited by the Creator
    2. At the other end spreading branches and unfolding leaves that drink in the sunshine and the rain of heaven
    3. It is an emblem of the man of God, rooted in obedience, rising to communion
    4. The roots are fixed and twisted round the Rock of Ages, they know no shifting, no change
    5. That is the man of God; the law of God is for him an authority supreme, that knows no argument, no exception, no choice. There is stability personified; Examples: Joseph - Gen. 39:9; Daniel - Dan. 6:10; Paul - Acts 21:13; the three Hebrews - Dan. 3:17-18; the apostles - Acts 4:19; 5:29
    6. A tree is the most steadfast and enduring of all living things
    7. of special significance to us is
  7. A tree planted by the streams of water:
    1. There is not only the rock to hold unto but there is the river for refreshment
    2. The is peculiarly an oriental image - a river in the East is an artery of life, and the only source for vegetation; and the trees are found on its banks
  8. What a vivid description of the advantages:
    1. Of a man that is connected with the life giving source of grace
    2. What a difference it makes between dead formalism and vigorous spiritual vitality
    3. Dear reader, are you blessed like the man so beautifully pictured in Psalms 1:1-67
  9. Note a few more wonderful thoughts coming from a portrayal of the man of God as indicated in our opening text:
    1. A tree with its head in the torrid sunshine, and it's feet leaved by the perpetual stream that has its source in the snowing mountains is of the most beautiful image of a righteous man, who flourishes in the withering atmosphere of a sinful world.
    2. He is independent of precarious supplies of the world
    3. He endures the trials of life, just because he is rooted in God's word, his faith attaches itself to the rock of ages.
    4. Such a relationship between man and God is truly a blessed and abiding one
    5. Examples: That explains Enoch's walk with God - Gen. 5:22-24. That reveals the secret why the man Daniel was greatly beloved - Dan. 9:23. That plants the 144,000 on Mount Zion - Rev. 14:1-5


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