God's Trees
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalm 1:3).
The blessed man, or happy man shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. In 1949 we lived at the Homesteads in Crossville, Tennessee and had ten acres of alfalfa hay. My brother, Cliff (ten years my senior) had another six acres of alfalfa adjoining our place. Weather permitting, we cut it four times during the summer and when our two barns were full we decided to make some big pole racks to stack the rest of the harvest. Our cows could eat from the racks at will but the racks of closely-spaced vertical poles reduced the amount of hay that was trampled and wasted. (This is a re-run but is important for the verse for today.)
A neighbor let us take our axes and go into their woods to cut 120 Oak poles. There was no road so we had to carry the poles out, one at a time. It was uphill all the way and limestone jutted out of the ground here and there. At the bottom of the hill, a creek ran the length of the woods, usually too cold to swim in. The banks were covered with moss and a profusion of wild flowers. Thrift, with its beautiful deep pink blooms, caught my mother's eye and she had to have several wheelbarrow loads transplanted to our front yard.
We started chopping trees at the top of the hill and worked our way down toward the creek. The big surprise was that the trees within fifty feet of the creek got harder and heavier as we neared the creek. Every pole near the creek was hard to cut and heavy to carry out.
When I came across today's verse a few years later, my eyes opened wide! I knew something about this! This truth was known thousands of years ago but I didn't know it—until then.
The man or woman who walks with God will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. It is not talking about a wild tree, but a planted tree. Trees are planted at a selected spot when they are small. God's trees are "planted" trees. The planting takes place when one is born again of the Spirit of God.
Isaiah 61:3 says, "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."
God is in the tree planting business. His trees are born again trees set out in His garden; set out by the rivers of water. McGee asks: "What does "rivers of water" mean? That is the Word of God. Somebody asks, 'Are you sure about that?'
"Oh, I know it, because Isaiah 55:10-11 tells me, For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. God wants His Word to come down like rain" (McGee).
We are to get out the Word of God. It is God's rain and it will cause trees to grow. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted" (Psalm 104:16). God's trees which He has planted are full of the Word of God. If they are not full of the Word of God, they will not be full of sap.
Each tree "bringeth forth his fruit in his season". God's trees don't bring forth fruit all of the time. They bring forth in their season, and the power is in the Word of God.
2Corinthians 2:14-16 says, Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
We are to win everybody we can to the Lord but not many will listen. Noah was one of God's sturdiest trees and he got only eight people on the ark in 120 years. Jesus did not win but a few people among the multitudes He preached to. But Noah and Jesus bore fruit in their season.
This is the way God works: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44). One of the scariest verses in the Bible is: And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years (Genesis 6:3).
If we, like Noah, spend a lifetime giving out the Word of God and no one accepts it, then we are a savour of life to those who are saved and a savour of death to those who perish. My responsibility is to give you the Word of God, and it is their responsibility to do something about it. I have thought a lot about this.
Isaiah commented: Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, (Isaiah 6:11)
Ezekiel was told by the Lord: And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. (Ezekiel 2:5)
His leaf also shall not wither—Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The outward testimony of the Christian should never be in a withered state. Our text indicates a tree in a continual state of being a planted tree and being continually supplied with water. What God has planted and watered will show life and will accomplish God's purpose. It will prosper.
Our Goliaths—Barbara Carr
In our mid-week Bible study at Flat Rock, we were studying the life of David. Roy Gamble was doing an excellent job of teaching this class. I don't think he would mind if I use some of his thoughts mixed in with my thoughts.
Saul, the people's choice for a king was doing battle with the Philistines. "Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim." (1Sa 17:1)
All of David's brothers were members of Saul's army at Shochoh. David the youngest was left at home to tend the sheep. His father ask him to take food to his brothers at the front line of the battle. He arrived about the time Goliath came out to make his war cry. You remember how big Goliath was—approximately nine feet, nine inches tall. He was dressed in armor that weighed hundreds of pounds. David turned to his brothers and ask, "… who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1Sa 17:26b)
David's oldest brother, Eliab was angry when he heard David's remarks and reprimanded him for his words. "And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" (1Samuel 17:29)
What is the biggest problem you are facing? Is there a King Saul or an older brother in your life? Often appearances and words are giants in our lives. We sometimes allow a severe look or stern words prevent us from doing the will of God. Saul, at this time was faithless and spiritless. David was both faithful and spirit filled. Saul had forgotten what it was like to fight in the strength of the Lord. David had delivered the lambs from both the bear and the lion. He knew what it was to be given strength from the Lord.
"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands." (1Samuel 17:45-47)
The Goliaths or giants in each of our lives are different, but we each have our own. These giants come in all sizes and shapes. They may be a death of a family member, an unhappy marriage, a child that has strayed away from God and the list could go on. We face these giants in different ways, but the best way is the way David took. "I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts." We may have to suffer along the way, but we can gain victory with our Lord by our side.
Before the battle began David declared victory over Goliath. David also believed he would win because he belonged to the Lord. David had a strong relationship with the Lord. He spent time alone with Him and knew with certainty that he was a beloved child of God. His Father above had blessed him with wisdom, courage and strength.
David also learned that he could not use the weapons of this world to fight the battle. Saul offered his armor to protect David. He put on the heavy, burdensome armor, but found it didn't fit him. David had to use his own weapons, his own methods—those which God had taught him. Today, we need to recognize that the world can be overcome only by our faith and confidence in God.
Mr. Gamble stated that we could expect a road block when fighting our giants and give three points. 1) Facing giants is always an intimidating experience. 2) Doing battle with your giants will be a lonely experience and 3) The battle is God's.
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
It would be great if we would practice David's faith habits. Spend time alone reading God's Word, praying and singing spiritual songs. We can believe with all confidence that God is sufficient, no matter how big our giants are. He will give us victory if we stand in faith and confront our Goliaths.
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