There are two roads we shall travel in our lives: An empowered Spirit-led rocky and difficult narrow walking path that leads to eternal life or the self-justifying six lane wide broad highway that leads to eternal destruction. Jesus taught this simple truth in this way, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Mt 7:1-14). This Psalm offers some distinguishing characteristics of the righteous vs the wicked by highlighting their differing disposition towards God.
Verse 1 describes what a righteous man avoids:
- Such a person endeavors not to live according to the wisdom (counsel) of the wicked.
- Such a person does not enter into collusive activities with the wicked against the righteous.
- Such a person guards their heart and mind against the influence of a worldview of unbelievers by rooting themselves in Word of God by which they meditate on day and night (v2).
A righteous person is like a tree and bears the fruits of God’s will and kingdom in their lives by having proximity to and being rooted in Bible truth. The psalmist illustrates it this way, “He is like a tree planted by the streams of water…” The source of the “water” being described is from God, is living and springs forth in a life of faith. Christ offers this life-giving refreshment to all who thirst for him. Remember, Jesus encouraged the Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s well, “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn 4:14). When we are planted and rooted in God, he works in us making it possible to live a god-glorifying life (note: this is not referring to perfection, but rather faithfulness), thus the Psalmist say of such a person that they will, “…yield its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (Mt 7:18).
In contrast, the unbeliever’s (wicked) lives are not anchored on truth and are therefore carried away by every wind of doctrine, “…but (they) are like chaff that the wind drives away” (v4). The Psalm rightly states that the path of the wicked ends a Perish City.
What are the practical applications of this Psalm for you and I? Staying with the tree illustration here are some helpful exhortations to meditate and pray about:
- Like a Tree…. we are to be Stable (minded). Our worldview should be rooted in the strong foundation of the gospel which will ultimately inform how we live and act toward others (Mt 7:24-27).
- Like a Tree….we should Bear Fruit. Being connected to Christ is key here. In his teaching, “I Am the True Vine,” he is the life-giving vine and we are the branches connected to that vine. As long as we are grafted to him, our lives will produce kingdom fruit, for our life source does not originate from the branches (within ourselves), but Christ, the vine. Without him, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5-8).
- Like a tree….we are able to Endure Harsh Seasons (by faith). A tree with deep and strong roots can endure seasons of severe weather conditions. Though it loses its leaves and weak branches are torn (or pruned) away, the tree is able to survive due to its foundation. Its root structure gives such a tree access to water and soil nutrients underground that is shielded from unfavorable weather conditions topside. Likewise, steady daily progress in spiritual maturity in the knowledge of and with accompanying God-glorifying life grows our roots. Another way to understand this truth is in the development of an infant baby. To grow physically, it cannot drink only milk forever. Sooner or later, it gradually has to be fed more solid food that it may grow properly. Using this same illustration, Paul taught, “for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (14) But solid food is for mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:13-14).”
- Like a tree…we should Be Appealing. What gives a tree its appeal is not simply in its look and stature, but by the fruit it bears. A Christian should be bearing in “increasing measure” the fruits love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…. for each of these nourishes the one who experiences these with the mercy of God. These fruits are designed by God to attract non-believers that they may come to share in salvation with us. Notice, fruits of the Spirit do not include social status; good health; size of our bank accounts and stuff it buys; nor in tribal attitudes. God creates a redemptive disposition in our hearts that we will be able to spread the scent of salvation everywhere we go, for we are the fragrance of Christ (2 Cor 2:15-16).
Those that take the path of the righteous are blessed (happy) because they enjoy God’s special favor and grace that we may bloom in the will of God, thus, “…In all that he does, he prospers” (v3).
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com