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LIKE A TREE - 4 CHARACTERISTICS OF A TREE-BELIEVER
(A
Study of Psalm 1 vs 3)
By
‘Muyiwa Omole
(FULL TEXT)
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water
That brings forth its fruits in its season
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper
PSALM 1:3
Planted by the rivers of water
That brings forth its fruits in its season
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper
PSALM 1:3
Believers are described in so many ways in the Bible. A
believer is described as a city (Matthew 5:14 ), as a sheep (John 10), as an
eagle (Isaiah 40:13).
Here is Psalm chapter 1 vs 3; a believer is described to be
LIKE A TREE.
A tree is valuable in so many ways. A tree is a blessing. It provides fruits and shades for both humankind and animals. A tree serves as herbs and supplies fresh air. Also a tree holds and enriches the soil. God in His wisdom is painting a picture here with the life of a believer.
A tree is valuable in so many ways. A tree is a blessing. It provides fruits and shades for both humankind and animals. A tree serves as herbs and supplies fresh air. Also a tree holds and enriches the soil. God in His wisdom is painting a picture here with the life of a believer.
A careful look into this one verse gives us at least 4
points to note from a tree in its typology with the life of a believer.
Note that the description of the tree in Psalm Chapter one
has a remarkable relationship with Jeremiah 17:7,8
Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord
And whose hope is the Lord
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters
Which spreads out its root by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green
And will not be anxious in the year of drought
Nor will cease from yielding fruit
JEREMIAH 17:7,8
And whose hope is the Lord
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters
Which spreads out its root by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green
And will not be anxious in the year of drought
Nor will cease from yielding fruit
JEREMIAH 17:7,8
We shall use these two passages to illustrate the image of a
believer as portrayed by features of a tree.
PLANTED
He shall be like a tree
PLANTED by the rivers of water
…
The first thing to note in this passage is that the tree was planted.
The Hebrew word for “planted” here in Psalm 1 is satal which really means “to transplant.” It depicts that the tree did not start its life by the rivers of water. It shows a picture of the tree being transplanted from a field or a nursery bed to be permanently planted by the rivers of water. This is a perfect description of a believer who has been TRANSLATED from the kingdom of darkness into light. It shows the effort of “THE GARDNER” (John 15:1,NIV) who removed us from the nursery bed of this world and planted us in His own garden where we have unlimited access to the rivers of life.
He shall be like a tree
PLANTED by the rivers of water
…
The first thing to note in this passage is that the tree was planted.
The Hebrew word for “planted” here in Psalm 1 is satal which really means “to transplant.” It depicts that the tree did not start its life by the rivers of water. It shows a picture of the tree being transplanted from a field or a nursery bed to be permanently planted by the rivers of water. This is a perfect description of a believer who has been TRANSLATED from the kingdom of darkness into light. It shows the effort of “THE GARDNER” (John 15:1,NIV) who removed us from the nursery bed of this world and planted us in His own garden where we have unlimited access to the rivers of life.
Genesis 2:8 says God is a Planter. Let me ask you: Are you
planted by God? Where are you planted? Are you rooted in besides the rivers of
water or you are still in the nursery bed of evil under the control of the god
of this world?
You need to know that only the trees planted by God is full of life
Psalm 104:16
And any tree that is not planted by Him shall be uprooted
Matthew 15:13
You need to know that only the trees planted by God is full of life
Psalm 104:16
And any tree that is not planted by Him shall be uprooted
Matthew 15:13
PRODUCTIVE
That brings forth its fruits in its season
That brings forth its fruits in its season
The tree was not only planted, the tree is productive.
Let’s quickly examine 4 points from this phrase: That brings forth its fruit in its season
Let’s quickly examine 4 points from this phrase: That brings forth its fruit in its season
Certainty of fruit bearing
Any tree planted by the rivers of water must produce fruits. God hates unfruitfulness. Please carefully study Isaiah 5:1-7. The first sign of a tree planted by the river side is assurance of fruitfulness. So as a believer if you are not productive in the kingdom of God you need to re-evaluate your life and re-examine your connection with the rivers of water (which can mean, the Word of God, Holy Spirit or healthy spiritual atmosphere). Every tree planted by the rivers side must bring forth fruits.
Any tree planted by the rivers of water must produce fruits. God hates unfruitfulness. Please carefully study Isaiah 5:1-7. The first sign of a tree planted by the river side is assurance of fruitfulness. So as a believer if you are not productive in the kingdom of God you need to re-evaluate your life and re-examine your connection with the rivers of water (which can mean, the Word of God, Holy Spirit or healthy spiritual atmosphere). Every tree planted by the rivers side must bring forth fruits.
…its season
Note that the verse says this tree shall bring forth fruits in its season. Fruit-bearing has its season. You cannot judge a tree out of its season. There is a message for you here: Before you lose hope and start complaining, before you lose assurance of God’s blessing with you, remind yourself that every tree has its season. That you are not seeing fruits now may not mean that you are not planted by God or that you are not planted by the rivers of water. It might just mean that it is not your season yet. It is also a lesson for you not to judge other believers out of their season. Before you conclude that some people are not saved or before you write them off that they are not productive remember that every tree only brings forth fruits IN ITS SEASON. See God as a Lecturer, see Psalm 1 as a topic in His textbook/handout on Spiritual Horticulture 101 and never forget this point. It is a core course.
Note that the verse says this tree shall bring forth fruits in its season. Fruit-bearing has its season. You cannot judge a tree out of its season. There is a message for you here: Before you lose hope and start complaining, before you lose assurance of God’s blessing with you, remind yourself that every tree has its season. That you are not seeing fruits now may not mean that you are not planted by God or that you are not planted by the rivers of water. It might just mean that it is not your season yet. It is also a lesson for you not to judge other believers out of their season. Before you conclude that some people are not saved or before you write them off that they are not productive remember that every tree only brings forth fruits IN ITS SEASON. See God as a Lecturer, see Psalm 1 as a topic in His textbook/handout on Spiritual Horticulture 101 and never forget this point. It is a core course.
Continuity of fruit bearing
brings forth its fruit in its season
brings forth its fruit in its season
Note: brings forth
This is present continuous tense. The tree does not bring forth fruit in this season and jump the next season. It continues to bring forth fruits as long as he is rightly located in its place (rivers of water).
The spiritual graph of a river-side-tree-believer is constant. His path shines more and more until the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18)
Note how Jeremiah puts it:
This is present continuous tense. The tree does not bring forth fruit in this season and jump the next season. It continues to bring forth fruits as long as he is rightly located in its place (rivers of water).
The spiritual graph of a river-side-tree-believer is constant. His path shines more and more until the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18)
Note how Jeremiah puts it:
Its Fruit…
Here the passage says “its fruit”
I have my fruit, you have your fruit. You can’t judge me for not bringing forth your own kind of fruit. Do not judge any ministry or business by the outcome of others.
Here the passage says “its fruit”
I have my fruit, you have your fruit. You can’t judge me for not bringing forth your own kind of fruit. Do not judge any ministry or business by the outcome of others.
3. PLEASANT
Whose
leaf also shall not wither – (Psalm 1:3)
But its
leaf will be green – (Jeremiah 17:8)
I believe there are a lot of reasons why a plant has leaves.
I am not a plant scientist but I know that one of the reasons is for the sake
of beauty.
As a matter of fact we nourish some plants not because of
their fruits but just because of their beauty (flowers). For these types of
plants, their productiveness (not that I didn’t say “productivity”) is in their
being pleasant, being beautiful.
On the one hand, we have some trees, though productive but
unattractive and unpleasant to look at. On the other hand, some trees are full
of leaves and unproductive (like the fig tree that Jesus cursed in Mark 11). Some
Christians are full of anointing and aggressive soul-winners, inspirational
singers but saucy and crude. Some are “nice” but powerless and fruitless.
As believers it is important for us to strike a balance here.
It is the balance between Charisma and Character.
My point here is that in addition to being productive, this
tree is also pleasant. That is a call for us all. (Please, study 2Corintians 2:14-16).
It is noteworthy that Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17 state that the
fruit bearing of the tree is in season, but the idea of being pleasant is not a
product of season. The tree brings forth fruit in its season but concerning the
leaves it shall ALWAYS be green.
This suggests that even while you are waiting for your
season of fruitfulness, remain pleasant. It means that whether things are
working for you or not, you are beautiful. Even when you are going through dry
season of life, you shall always remain “green.
4.
PROSPEROUS
And
whatever he does shall prosper
The tree is PROSPEROUS.
This speaks of success in all endeavours
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green
And will not be anxious in the year of drought
Nor will cease from yielding fruit
But its leaf will be green
And will not be anxious in the year of drought
Nor will cease from yielding fruit
“When” not if
The heat will definitely come. There shall always be dry season of life but this believer has no cause for alarm. When others are saying there is a casting down, he is smiling and saying there is a lifting up. When gross darkness covers the earth he is shining.
The heat will definitely come. There shall always be dry season of life but this believer has no cause for alarm. When others are saying there is a casting down, he is smiling and saying there is a lifting up. When gross darkness covers the earth he is shining.
Joshua 1:8 says:
This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth;
but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to
do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make
thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
I liken the book
of the law here (the word of God) to the rivers of water. So for a believer who
is rooted in the Word of God, prosperity is sure.
I ask you again:
Are you are tree planted by God? Are you productive? How pleasant are you? Do
you want to be prosperous? Spread out your root to the rivers of water and it
shall be well with you.
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