A cold morning with mist hanging over a dry field. Panning over, you see a cold stone house. It seems like people live there, but it seems cold, and you can even imagine it being damp. But within this dreary picture you see a small stream and a large tree. This tree is green, tall, and magnificent. It grabs you, and the psalmist’s words echo, “like a tree planted by streams of water.”
Two Ways, One Crossroad
Blessed is the person who does not walk in wickedness but delights in the law of the Lord. We read that we need to not just hear His words, but obey Him (Matthew 7:24). We should delight in His ways. So on the one hand, we have a delighted view of the law, and on the other, a disregard for it. So we are at this crossroad — which way do we turn? One to destruction, and one to blessing. But how could we find joy when we consider a bunch of rules?
Delight, Not Duty
If we look at the 10 commandments (Exodus 20), we see a set of rules. Do this, do not do that. We have all seen — or even been — the person who never wanted to walk on the grass. But as soon as the sign said “Do not walk on the grass,” an urge to walk over it arises. As soon as we see the 10 commandments, we tend to feel an urge to rebel. Romans 3:20 reveals to us that the law has this effect — it exposes sin. How could the Psalmist delight in the law? Paul referred, in Romans, to the law being a schoolmaster. So what is it pointing us toward? Jesus summed up the law in terms of relationship: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). If we look at this now, the law is only a schoolteacher that shows us love. A loving person would act the way the law requires of us. This is why we have a new command — to love each other (John 13:34). The law did not fall away, it is fulfilled.
Rooted, and Bearing Fruit
Let us look again at Matthew 7:24-27. We see here that disregarding the words of Jesus leads to destruction; obeying leads to blessing. The two houses look the same, but only one survives the storm. Jesus explains in John 15 that we, as the vines, should stay with the vineyard, abiding in Him. We should love each other. Two vines could look the same, but only the one that abides in Christ by loving will bear fruit. If we look at Psalm 1 now, we can see that a tree near water, bearing fruit all year long, looks close to the vine. So we should understand that we need to listen to Christ and love as He did. Delighting in — loving — our God and each other will cause us to bear fruit.
He Knows the Way
Psalm 1:6 — He knows the way. Imagine walking on a wild trail. The whole area is filled with animal paths and treacherous turns. But the Lord knows the way. So when He calls out to us, telling us what path to take, it will be the right way. Even if it seems wrong or counterproductive, He knows the way. Even when the fog is heavy, follow His voice. Even when tiredness drags you, Jesus knows the way. Even when the masses walk on another path, the Lord knows the way. In fact, Jesus claimed not just to know the way. He is the way (John 14:6).
A Tree, Not a Cold House
A cold stone house is like the loveless relationships we know very well. It may seem like the rest, but it is dry and unyielding. It brings destruction and does not reflect our Lord God. But a tree, next to streams of water, brings joy to a tired heart. The fruit brings joy and rest to the soul. The shade protects you from the heat of the day and feeds your very soul. We know that love is turning colder and colder (Matthew 24:12). Let us be faithful and love each other as Christ loved us. Let us be a fruitful joy to each other, imitating Christ and bringing Him the glory.
Psalm 1