Walking along the stream, I always notice clusters of flowers and often a tree that is planted in the waters. The perfect place to ensure growth. David compares the growth of a tree to a man as he follows the Lord.

“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. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1

David invites God’s blessing by the choices a man makes in his walk with God. Tony Evans describes what blessing is in The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (p. 506). “Blessing is the God-given capacity to experience, enjoy, and extend the goodness and favor of God in your life – whatever form God’s goodness and favor takes.” A man is happy because of the choice he makes in following God. But this happiness is a choice.

Man can choose to follow the ways of the world. A man who walks, stands, and sits among sinners is not setting himself up to reap blessing. The beginning verse of the psalm shows a progression of influence. First the man is walking alongside sinners and interacting with their life. That interaction goes further as he stands and gives attention. Lastly, the interaction is complete as time is spent sitting and talking, allowing thoughts and words of the ungodly to enter the heart and mind. When men are living in sin, things go from bad to worse.

In further describing the way of the ungodly, David refers to the chaff. Tares or weeds grow in the same furrow as wheat. Pulling out these tares could possibly pull out the wheat at the same time, so they cannot be removed until the harvest during the process of winnowing. When winnowed, kernels fall to the ground, but the wind carries the chaff or waste away. The ungodly mix with the godly in this life, and the deeds of the ungodly will blow away. Only the godly will produce anything of eternal value, which is then used to bless others.

Trees that are planted by the waters find what they need to be grounded and continually supplied with the nourishment to prosper and grow. In contrast to the way of the wicked, the godly seek to mediate or ponder on God’s Word throughout the day. Not only does this guide the godly through situations they encounter in their day, but mediating on God’s Word changes your heart and mind leading to a changed walk. What comes out in your actions comes from your heart and also brings about God’s blessing.

What path will you take?

Will you choose blessing?

The product achieved from a godly life far outweighs the temporal “blessing” of this world.

What are you doing to prepare yourself to bless and be blessed today?

In His Love,

Susan