A tree planted by 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).

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

The previous two weeks were about two fundamental trees: the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God creates life, He creates us; He is the source of all goodness in the tree of life. We respond by falling away from God, choosing to control good and evil as if we could decide what they are. But God is greater than even our sin. “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” (Romans 5:20)

The Old Testament tells of Israel, whom God calls to himself. The depth of their calling to be God’s people can be found in the image of the tree planted by water. Israel is given God’s word, and they delight in it. Meditating on what God has said to them means that they are rooted in Him, like the tree planted by streams. (Psalm 1)

But Israel is also called to trust in the Lord. Jeremiah writes at a time when trust is hard. Because of their own unfaithfulness, Jerusalem is destroyed, and even the temple is forsaken. How could God still be their God? Yet, Jeremiah speaks for the remnant, a small number of faithful, who still trust in the Lord.

Even in times of drought, when there is no rain, the deeply rooted tree finds sources of water. So, the one who trusts in the Lord flourishes even in times of exile. We will not wither, but bear fruit.