In Psalms 1:3 we find David comparing the blessed man to a tree that is planted by rivers (plural) of water which enable it to bring fourth fruit in the proper season without fail. Also, the tree’s leaves do not turn brown and fall off during the normal dormant season. Everything the blessed man (symbolic tree) does will prosper.
Notice that the blessed tree is “planted.” It did not plant itself where it now lives and thrives. Its seed did not just happen to fall between two sources of nourishment. Trees receive their life-giving, fruit-producing nourishment from water. This tree has a double source of nourishment, which are the “waters” written about in Revelation 1:15 where Christ’s voice sounds like “many waters.” Man can go without food for weeks and still survive. I once fasted for 34 days without food. However, unless so directed and empowered by God, man can live without water for only a few days. Moses fasted for 80 days without food or water while on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. But he was in God’s presence and operating under the power of His Holy Spirit. In Revelation 7:17 the Lamb of God is pictured feeding those who have come before Him and leading them to fountains of waters where they can receive a continuous flow of life-giving water. Scripturally, God’s food is called bread. Jesus is the “bread of life.” He is called “the Word.” The Holy Bible is the God-seeker’s food which must be consumed on a continuous basis–literally. God commands that His people “redeem the time,” meaning that we are not to waste it. Time is one of those things that we can’t get back. Church people waste thousands of hours each year staring into a screen, etc. They are as hooked on their entertainment drug as a crack addict. EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD.
In John 4:13,14 Jesus is talking with a woman who has come to draw water from a well where He is resting. He tells her that water from that well will satisfy one’s thirst only briefly. However, He has living water to offer her (vs 10). He tells her that if she partook of His water it would direct her to everlasting life (vs 14). Recall that Jesus had said: “If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He that believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'” He went on to say that He was referring to the Holy Spirit.
As Psalms 1:3 says, the tree received water (the Holy Spirit) which is necessary for the production of fruit. And not just any kind of fruit, but “good fruit.” In Matthew 3:10; 7:17-10 and 12:33 we find Jesus saying that only a good fruit tree can produce good fruit, and that bad fruit trees will be cut down and burned. A good tree is one that receives a continuous supply of water. For the blessed man, that supply comes from the Word of God, as does everything else that He promises. EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT GOD WE RECEIVE FROM HIS WORD. The bad is washed away and is replaced by the good as we partake of God’s precious Word. We are literally “washed by the water by the Word” of God (Eph. 5:26) when we dine at the Master’s table.
A fruit tree produces fruit “in its season.” To produce fruit is the sole role of a fruit tree. In 2 Timothy 4:2 the Apostle Paul tells Timothy the evangelist to be ready to do God’s will (preach) “in season and out of season.” Though fruit trees are seasonal, the men the Psalmic parable is referring to go beyond the natural. Paul is telling Timothy that he must be ready at all times to bring forth the Word of God AT ALL TIMES. Some of the most powerful instances in my ministry have occurred when I was not prepared for them. For example, as I came out of a place of business one afternoon I found an acquaintance standing by my car waiting for me. I do not know how she knew where I would be at that time or on that day, but she knew. She told me that over time two of her vertebrae had disintegrated and that her doctor had just told her that a third vertebrae one was beginning to dissolve. I did not know about her back problem until that moment. She asked me to ask God to heal her. We were standing in a commercial parking lot. The wind was blowing her hair and dress in all directions. The city’s main highway was only a few feet away. Trucks and cars were making their normal noise and emitting their normal odors. It was a most unspiritual environment in which to minister. It was most certainly an “our of season” situation. I prayed a short, simple prayer, asking God to heal her. We left and went our separate ways. As is often the case with me, I forgot about the episode. A week or so later I was teaching in a home meeting and the woman was there. She told me that she had gone back to her doctor who told her that, not only had the third vertebrae been totally restored, but the two that had disintegrated had been replaced. Tears fill my eyes as I write this. Glory to the living God. How great is our Master; how wonderful are His works. That episode was most certainly “out of season.” The last thing on my mind as I left the radio station was ministry. “Out of season” is not on God’s calendar. I am hearing from God to get prepared for much more such ministry.
In Psalms 1:4-6 David notes that the ungodly trees (men) are the exact opposite of the godly trees. They are like chaff on wheat that is good for nothing but to be blown away by the wind. Note that God emphasizes the difference between good and bad, and that the two are never joined together–THERE IS NO MIXING OF THEM. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SINNING SAINT OR A SAVED SINNER. ONE IS EITHER SPIRITUALLY ALIVE OR SPIRITUALLY DEAD. IN FIRST CORINTHIANS 6:14-20 GOD TELLS US THAT HIS TRUE SAINTS CAN HAVE NO SPIRITUAL ASSOCIATION WITH SATAN’S PEOPLE. HE TELLS US IN PSALMS 1:5 SINNERS WILL NOT STAND WITH THE RIGHTEOUS ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. In verse six He proclaims that He knows the way (“walk”) of the RIGHTEOUS because THEIR WAY IS HIS WAY. They are His walking, talking, living Word–AS WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH Who was THE WORD MADE FLESH. GOD’S VERY ELECT ARE HIS WORD MADE FLESH. Satan does not want you to know this.
If everyone knew this, there would be no reason to mention it. But God is warning so-called sinning saints that they are deceiving themselves. “Sinners saved by grace” are not in His congregation now, nor will they ever be unless there is a total and permanent reversal of life. “The old must pass away. Behold, ALL THINGS MUST BE MADE NEW” (2 Cor. 5:17/ Eph. 4:24). Church business-as-usual is meaningless. Do not listen to the smiling, glad-handing, come-as-you-are, stay-as-you- are false prophets whose messages lead the salvation seeker straight into the arms of Satan. I know all about it. I wallowed in that mire for years before God graciously lifted me out, cleansed me and stood me beside the Rock Whom I gladly serve. I would love to have you stand with me. L.J.
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