Good day dear friends.
Our text for today comes from Psalm 1: 1 How well God must like you - you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. 2 Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. 3 You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. 4 You're not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust - 5 Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. 6 God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row. (The Message) Okay, this version just doesn't quite do it for me. Here's NRSV: 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
There's something about the biblical image of a tree planted by streams of water that intrigues me. Early in my ministry I would pray for the sick using that image from Jeremiah 17:7-8. This opening Psalm speaks of how good it is for believers to stay connected to God. There is never a drought of the spiritual nature for the connected. A tree planted by a stream or river never knows thirst because its need is meant right at the source. Cool, flowing fresh water daily nourishing that tree; in the same way, God's Spirit and Word nourish us in our desire to stay connected to the Source. Those are the ones who bear fruit and are desired by those who are hungry. The psalmist also knew those who choose to be the opposite; away from God and mocking those whose desire is God. The modern images of "Sin Saloon," "Dead End Road," "Smart Mouth College (Where are those shirts?)," and "Skid Road" (though this modern version may be showing its age in that term is almost outdated), speak of places where the righteous do not desire to be.
The positive images continue with "In all they do, they prosper." What is this telling us about ourselves and our churches? Are we staying close to the Source, the one, true living God? Or, are we seeking to please ourselves with our desires and wants and find ourselves straying? It's always our choice, but I would pray that we pray to choose the connected life.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for Your love and Your easy accessibility. Let us be like those trees planted by streams of water so that we never thirst and that we may bear fruit for You. May we prosper in our faithfulness to You. We need You and we love You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
