Like a Tree

Psalm 1

1 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;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 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.
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 knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

This weekend was my first experience watching the Peachtree Road Race live. Last year, I watched the broadcast of the race on the tv. But as is the case with live performances of art, music, or plays, you miss something being when you're not there.

Saturday, as Leslie and I watched, we didn't move for three hours as people upon people upon people came running past the church. We were "planted by streams of people" to borrow the language from the Psalmist.

However, our joy is not found in watching, in being there for live performances, or even staying in one place. To be like a tree planted by the water is not an excuse to not be active. It is not a metaphor for us. Instead, it is a matephor for our faith. It is how we remain in God's teachings and law. For the psals starts not "Blessed are those who never waver" but "Blessed is the one...who meditates on the Lord's law day and night."

We are to be active in the world, but always meditating on the laws of the Lord, day and night.

Prayer: God, teach us to be blessed, content, and happy when we meditate on your law. Amen.

G. Thomas Martin