Planted by Water

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

“And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12

The simile utilized by prophets and psalmist to describe the individual who delights in and trusts the Lord attracts every attentive, thirsty soul. Water meant life, streams the lifeline for the eastern dweller. The image of strong roots entrenched alongside fresh flowing water growing trunks high and branching loftily with green leaves and clustered with fruit stimulated a verdant longing. This flourishing was God’s original intent planted in the heart of man. (Genesis 1:27-29; 2:8-14)

In the present day, nations and peoples have disparate goals and means to achieve them. Independent or tied to families, aspirations and ambition often insert themselves into the daily press to take precedence over deeper spiritual nurture. With plans for preparedness and success, we get caught up in the tangible and urgent.

Only long drafts of God’s living water can nourish souls, inform plans, and satisfy passions. His streams of mercy, truth, and life bear hidden and visible fruit in attitude, demeanor, and witness. Do we take advantage? (John 4:13-14; 7:38)

On what do we meditate? Whose counsel do we value and let guide our hours? What time and consistency are we taking to settle and spread hearty spiritual roots? When are we soaking in God’s word to bear seasonal fruit, to trust through fallow times and drought? The press of immediate needs and impatient wants can easily choke out the disciplines that matter most and yield the greatest eternal benefit and productivity.

“Blessed is the man that never
Doth in godless counsel meet;
Nor in sinners’ way stands ever,
Nor sits in the scorner’s seat,
But on God’s all-perfect law
Meditates with holy awe;
Day and night he delves for treasure
In the Word–’tis all his pleasure.

As a tree that has been planted
By the flowing waters fair,
In its season e’er is granted
Fruits and foliage to bear;
So is he, the righteous, seen
Ever fruitful, ever green,
And his leaf shall wither never,
All he does shall prosper ever.” ~Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

Father, keep me firmly planted by and issuing fruit from Your streams that never run dry, to Your praise.