HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF
WATER
There
were times while taking my morning walks on Saint
Simons Island, Georgia that the sun rays could not
reach me because of the beautiful oak trees with
their overhanging limbs covering the street below.
Trees are one of God’s most beautiful creations
and especially these particular trees laden down
with Spanish moss. The trees on the island are so
respected that the streets are built around them.
I have often thought of this poem we had to
memorize in school many years ago.
Trees
By Alfred Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree
Psalms one is a favorite of scores of saints.
Therein is a contrast between a godly and an
ungodly person. It is of the believer in God that
demands our attention in this article. Undoubtedly
David is the writer and he informs us that this
man is blessed; that is to say he is happy and
fortunate. This is one of several ‘beatitudes’
mentioned in this book. Please observe that the
negative is first mentioned as pertaining to this
man’s character. He
“walks not in the
counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of
sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”
This means that he does not habitually seek the
advice/counsel of those individuals who would
influence him to do evil. He does not associate
with sinners in such a manner that others would
consider him one of the ‘in groups’. And certainly
he would never join the ungodly scoffers of all
that is good and sit with them in their devilish
fellowship and participate in their evil doings.
This blessed man is one whose
“delight is in
the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates
day and night.” “Law” would not only be
the Ten Commandments but would include the first
five books of the Old Testament and the words of
the prophets who spoke by the guidance of the Holy
Spirit as mentioned in 2 Peter 1:20, 21:
“(K)nowing this
first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any
private interpretation, for prophecy never came by
the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit.” This
man of God takes great pleasure and satisfaction
in having access to the Word of God to read and to
meditate on its message for his spiritual growth
and well being. The writer in Psalms 119:47, 48 &
97 expresses the same in this manner:
“And I will
delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love.
My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments,
Which I love, And I will meditate on Your
statutes.” “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my
meditation all the day.” Such an
attitude should permeate the very life of a
disciple of Jesus Christ (John 8:31, 32; 2 Timothy
2:15).
The Psalmist compares this blessed child of God to
one of His creations:
“He shall be like
a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings
forth its fruit in its seas, Whose leaf also shall
not wither; And what he does shall prosper.”
Notice that the tree was planted by someone. It
did not accidentally grow in that location. The
seed (Word of God) that is planted in the good
ground (heart)
“is able to save
your souls” (Luke 8:11; James 1:21).
The moisture from the rivers (channels) provides
the nourishment to keep the tree healthy and
strong and enables it to bear fruit to be enjoyed
by all. Even in times of drought the leaves stay
green because water is nearby. The Lord God
blessed Israel in various ways when the people
served him faithfully. The land produced bountiful
crops; the herds multiplied; wives gave birth to
children and there was food to eat. The Holy
Scriptures contain manifold promises to the
children of God who trusts in Him. Jesus taught
this as recorded in Matthew 6:33:
“But seek first
the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all
these things shall be added to you.” I
Corinthians 3:21: “Therefore
let no one boast in men. For all things are
yours.” 2 Corinthians 9:6:
“But this I say:
He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully.” The righteous man will
“bear much fruit”
as he is led by the Spirit (John 15:8; Galatians
5:22, 23).
Because Christ dwells in the heart of the
righteous man by faith, he will be
“rooted and
grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17).
This ‘tap root’ of faith in Jesus Christ and in
the knowledge of His Word, will prevent him from
being
“tossed to and
fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine”
(Ephesians 4:11-16). He will
“be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). This is
one version of an old folk song that should
express the conviction of every Christian.
I Shall Not Be Moved
Words by John Benson, Jr.
Jesus is my Savior, I shall not be moved;
In His love and favor, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.
In my Christ abiding, I shall not be moved;
In His love I'm hiding, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.
If I trust Him ever, I shall not be moved;
He will fail me never, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.
On His word I'm feeding, I shall not be moved;
He's the One that's leading, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.
Chorus
I shall not be, I shall not be moved;
I shall not be, I shall not be moved;
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.