Reflections on the Psalms (Psalm 1)

Psalm 1:2-3
"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."

As I reflect on this passage, I am reminded of the importance of Gods Word in our lives. The text says we are to firmly plant ourselves in God's Word and it will wash over us like a stream of water. What a refreshing metaphor (literally). Gods word has a way of speaking into our lives in a fresh and new way through the Holy Spirit that lives within us. I know that one of the temptations or easy habits to fall into after being a disciple of Christ for any amount of time is to feel like you don't want or need to read the Bible anymore. You tell yourself you have read the book several times, what else is there to learn? While it's true that we often need to do more "living out of Gods Word" than "reading it", we can't stop reading. Using the same metaphor it would be like digging up the tree by the stream and moving it away from water. Eventually the tree would die or be extremely dehydrated.

The second point I enjoy is that the text says the tree will yield fruit in its season. It's important to remember that we go through seasons in life! People talk about finding balance in life but I have come to believe balance is a myth. It's better to understand life in seasons. We will have high points where we feel like worshipping and there will be times when we lament. The promise is that in the proper season we will yield fruit for the glory of God.