In the first Psalm two men are contrasted who are greatly different in mode of life and symbolization One is righteous, the other is ungodly The first is likened to a tree planted by a riser, the second to the chaff which the winds drive away Not much effort is required to see the extreme contrast between the two symbols, as they are not at all comparable One is useless waste to be cast away, while the other, alive and growing, produces fruits and is useful.
First, let us consider a beautiful shade tree, a flowering tree, a tree bearing luscious fruit, or one of the large California redwoods, ornamental, aromatic, fruitbearing Then think of chaff, the husks of grain and grasses separated from the seed by threshing, the worthless part so small that it is blown away by the wind There is nothing in any of these trees that is like chaff, they are distinctly different So it is with men, the righteous and the ungodly They are as different and as far removed from each other as it is possible for two classes of men to be.
There is still more significance in these symbols, both in a natural and a scriptural sense Here in the west we have a better opportunity than in most other areas to observe the types and growth of trees In the deserts there are no trees growing at all, only cacti We can travel through our local foothills with their live oaks to the northern part of the country where we find huge forests of evergreen trees, red woods, cypress, cedars and firs What makes the difference? Water.
Notice the scriptural symbol of the tree representing the righteous man, planted by the rivers of water Abundant rainfall will produce the larger and sturdier trees, but even more so if the trees are near rivers The continual flowing of water soaks deep into the earth The roots of trees grow deeper where the water levels are lower, therefore producing more resistance to winds, and are generally stronger and sturdier trees, which produce more and healthier leaves and an abundance of luscious fruits This is the accomplishment of our symbolic tree, it brings forth fruit in its season and its leaf is very healthy and does not wither The tree produces fruit and leaves A tree without fruit may be beautiful to look at, but not life sustaining, and a tree without leaves would be dead. The leaves are its longs and breathing organs.
It is interesting to note how much is written about trees in the Scriptures We find mention of them in the first chapter of Genesis and in the last chapter of Revelation, and in numerous places in between The particular trees mentioned in the opening and closing chapters of the Bible have great significance in God s plan, and especially as they are compared to the righteous man The story of creation tells us that on the third day God brought forth the trees, and on the sixth day, after He had created man, God told him that the fruit bearing trees were for his meat This is the principal purpose of fruit trees We are next told that God planted a garden Eastward in Eden and made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, also the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
We are familiar with the fall of man brought about by eating of the tree of knowledge in disobedience to God’s command, that God drove out the man and placed at the east of the garden cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life, lest man put forth his hand and take of the tree of life and eat, and live forever.
Although the tree of life was denied to man at that time, it will be restored We find this referred to in the last chapter of the Bible, Rev 22 1-5 ‘And he shewed me a pure riser of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month and the leas es of the tree were for the healing of the nations And there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign forever and ever.
In this vision John was translated to the time after the kingdom is set up and Christ’s throne is established in Jerusalem He saw a pure river of water of life clear as crystal That this is to be an actual river is supported by the prophets “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea in summer and in winter shall it be” (Zechariah 14 8) Ezekiel saw the exact locality of the fountain from which they issued He said they came down from under the south side of the altar, that they flowed into the desert, into the Dead Sea, and into the Great Sea, bringing forth life John and Ezekiel saw trees growing by the river John says “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22 2).
While these things are literal they are also symbolical, as interpreted by Dr Thomas in “Eureka’ The pure, transparent stream of life issuing from the throne of Deity is His Almighty power or spirit The tree of life, or, according to Dr Thomas the wood of life (wood-aggregate leaves, individuals), is the great wood of life of many choice trees of righteousness planted by God in His divine garden The leaves are representative of individual saints who assist in sending forth the healing powers to the nations In summary the living water through the wood produces the healing knowledge, and the leaves yield it to the nations through the law that goes forth from Zion From this we get a better comparison of the righteous man likened to a tree in the first Psalm.
- He is planted by the river of water, planted and deeply rooted in the Word of God
- His leaf shall not wither, his motivation that keeps him alive in God’s work shall not weaken Eventually he will obtain eternal life and truly shall not wither
- He shall bring forth fruit in season Fruit is what is produced, the apocalyptic trees produced in all months
Christ spoke of the fruits of men in the Sermon on the Mount He said ‘By their fruits ye shall know them Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down
A tree planted by the river of living water will bring forth good fruit and will do so in all seasons According to the Psalm everyone is not likened to a tree It states that the ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away We are interested in those who are the trees The Psalm defines this by showing what we should not do, and what we should do in order to be selected It mentions some of our activities in this life standing, sitting and walking We are not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful
All those whom a righteous man will avoid are opposed to God “Ungodly” means irreverent, impious, perverse “Sinners” are those who disobey God’s law ‘Scorn’ means despise, treat with contempt, scoff, mock How does one avoid these ungodly associations ? The Psalm tells us “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night’ It starts, then, from our mental attitude or the manner in which our minds are directed If we think of God and His requirements in all that we do, we will not be tempted toward the pursuits of the ungodly
Here is our difficulty The natural mind does not of Itself direct us in the right way It takes determined effort to turn our thoughts in the way they should go In other words, we must overcome the natural tendencies In this connection, there is another reference to the tree of life which we should keep in mind In the message to the ecclesia at Ephesus John was told to write “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the ecclesias To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God”
Thus from our study of the first Psalm we learn that our everlasting future depends upon how we live, whether we shall be likened to chaff which the wind blows away or to a living tree: oblivion or everlasting life. It is a gift of God through Jesus Christ that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish but have eternal life. We are instructed to keep separate from the ungodly, meditate on God’s laws and do them. Only those who overcome will be acceptable. What must we overcome?
Christ said: “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We must overcome the world, or all those things opposed to God. Although this is difficult we are not alone, e always have help in Jesus. He overcame, and thus he knows our weaknesses; he is our Mediator and High Priest. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15, 16). Through all of our efforts we should remember that the gift of eternal life is through the love of God and our recognition of it.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:3-5). “The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:6). He that believes, has been baptized, and then, by patient continuance in well doing, overcomes the world, will eat of the Wood of Life.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One