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.
Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.
Psalm 1: 1-3 The Message
Like many things which have been canceled or rescheduled lately, our local Apple Blossom Festival has been put on hold. Perhaps a scaled down celebration will be held at some point later. Yet even as the festival is postponed, trees and plants are still growing. The dogwood trees in our valley have been gorgeous this year, and yesterday, my mom shared with me a picture of a dogwood on our lower lot at the church, near the shed. The vivid colors are stunning.
In some translations, we who treasure God’s word are likened to “trees planted by streams of water.” In our valley, we definitely know the importance of irrigation. Were it not for the dams on the Columbia River, and a system of canals and irrigation districts, our valley would be nothing but sagebrush and tumbleweed.
Here, the Psalmist likens our dependence upon God’s word to the thirst for water by plants and trees. We draw our sustenance from the springs of God’s word. The word of the Lord is life-giving to us. Jesus later made use of this analogy when he offered the woman at the well, “Living water.”
Watered by God’s word, we are not like annual plants, which bloom in the summer and then die. Instead, we are more like strong trees. We produce leaves, and hopefully, some of our branches will bear fruit. Even when the colder weather comes along, we are still growing and being nurtured by the water and the good soil: the word of God.
As our roots stretch out, like those in scripture, may we continue to grow and nourish those around us, even as we are nourished by God’s word. May we bear the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness- never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
Prayer
God of all seasons,
We rejoice that you are the provider of our souls. When we thirst, you are there to feed and nurture us. You are the great provider. May we grow in our love for You, and for Your word, like trees which grow strong by streams of water. We pray this prayer in the name of Your son, and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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