What does it mean to be like a tree planted by the water (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8)?

The happiness attendant on the character and course of the godly man is described in verse 3; first under the figure of a tree, and then in literal terms. What a picture does the former part present! "A tree" — one of the loveliest objects in creation — a specimen of living beauty.

"Planted" — not a wilding, growing from seed scattered haphazard by the wind, and alighting anywhere — but planted: some skilful eye discerning the suited situation, and some careful hand removing all obstructions to the future growth of the tree thus planted in a generous soil, with every advantage of watchful culture that could he bestowed upon it. "By the rivers of water"; and not dependent, therefore, on the fitful shower, though profiting by it whenever it falls. A river at the roots, this tree is secure from drought. What a lively representation of the man who depends not for happiness or usefulness on any creature supplies, who leans not on an arm of flesh, but trusts in the living God, and finds all his springs in Him. "That bringeth forth his fruit," and "in his season" too. Not like "untimely figs" which the tree casts unripe and unfit for use; but in his season, the time when it is expected, having reached maturity, and being fit for every end to which it is adapted. So the godly man — active when in health and vigour, patient and resigned when sickness compels retirement, firm when firmness is required, yielding and submissive when it is for God's glory that he should be so — "he bringeth forth his fruit in his season." "His leaf also shall not wither." Instead of any decay in his profession — that which man's eye meets as the leaf in the tree that profession is sustained in ever fresh and changeless vigour and consistency, by the life from which it springs. "And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Such is the literal statement of the blessing from God which attends the godly man. But this requires a little close attention.

The happiness attendant on the character and course of the godly man is described in verse 3; first under the figure of a tree, and then in literal terms. What a picture does the former part present! "A tree" — one of the loveliest objects in creation — a specimen of living beauty. "Planted" — not a wilding, growing from seed scattered haphazard by the wind, and alighting anywhere — but planted: some skilful eye discerning the suited situation, and some careful hand removing all obstructions to the future growth of the tree thus planted in a generous soil, with every advantage of watchful culture that could be bestowed upon it. "By the rivers of water"; and not dependent, therefore, on the fitful shower, though profiting by it whenever it falls. A river at the roots, this tree is secure from drought. What a lively representation of the man who depends not for happiness or usefulness on any creature supplies, who leans not on an arm of flesh, but trusts in the living God, and finds all his springs in Him. "That bringeth forth his fruit," and "in his season" too. Not like "untimely figs" which the tree casts unripe and unfit for use; but in his season, the time when it is expected, having reached maturity, and being fit for every end to which it is adapted. So the godly man — active when in health and vigour, patient and resigned when sickness compels retirement, firm when firmness is required, yielding and submissive when it is for God's glory that he should be so — "he bringeth forth his fruit in his season." "His leaf also shall not wither." Instead of any decay in his profession — that which man's eye meets as the leaf in the tree that profession is sustained in ever fresh and changeless vigour and consistency, by the life from which it springs. "And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Such is the literal statement of the blessing from God which attends the godly man. But this requires a little close attention.

In present result, judged by any human or earthly standard, this statement would not seem to be verified. When we hear the psalmist himself exclaiming, "Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant, broken down all his hedges, brought his strongholds to ruin, set up the right hand of his adversaries, made all his enemies to rejoice": when we hear him asking, "Wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?" (Psa. 89:39-47): and when we hear Christ Himself saying, "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain" (Isa. 49:4; see also Matt. 23:37) it is evident that, "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" is not to be taken as an absolute promise to be fulfilled in every sense, and in every case, and at all times. "What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law" (Rom. 3:19). This follows on a number of quotations from the book of Psalms; so that this book would seem to be included in the term "the law." it was Israel to whom "the law" was given, whether in its narrower or wider sense; and we have seen that the name of covenant relation with Israel is the name here used. Now it was part of Jehovah's covenant with Israel, that obedience should be attended with prosperity. "Blessed shalt thou be in the city, in the field, the fruit of thy body, the fruit of thy ground, cattle, kine, and the flocks of thy sheep" (see Deut. 28:3-4). The first thirteen verses indeed may be read as an exposition of the words before us, "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

But, on the other hand, what can be more lovely or more refreshing than the figures used to set forth the deep blessedness of simple trust in the Lord? "A tree planted by the waters" — "Spreading out her roots by the rivers" — the leaf ever green — The fruit never ceasing. Perfectly beautiful! Thus it is with the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. He is nourished by those eternal springs that flow from the heart of God. He drinks at the Fountain, life-giving and free. He finds all His resources in the living God. There may be "heat," but he does not see it. "The year of drought" may come, but he is not careful. Ten thousand creature streams may dry up, but he does not perceive it, because he is not dependent upon them. He abides hard by the ever gushing Fountain. He can never want any good thing. He lives by faith.

Verse 3 tells the results of meditation on the word of God. The individual will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. The water speaks of the word of God (Eph. 5:26), and flowing water denotes the power of the Spirit of God in making the word vital and precious to us. More than this, the tree is a fruit tree, producing fruit in its proper season, for there are times of rest also as the fruit is developing. Fruit is primarily for God, while the leaves speak of the profession of faith, and these in a devoted believer do not wither, as they do in one who is merely a professor with no reality. Revelation 22:2 speaking of the tree of life (symbolizing the Lord Jesus) says, "The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Thus, the outward profession or declaration of God's glory in Christ, will have wonderful effect in the outward condition of the Gentile nations in the millennium.

But what will be the result for the individual who thus has the Lord as His confidence? Instead of being in parched places, he shall find himself where the living waters never cease to flow. Like a tree planted by never-failing moisture, he shall be always fresh and fragrant. He retains his greenness and fruitfulness at all times, for his wide-spreading roots appropriate the plentiful supplies of God. Strengthened today by the Holy Spirit in “the inner man,” he has Christ dwelling in his heart through faith, and being rooted in God’s unchanging and unfailing love he finds Divine abundance there notwithstanding all the outward failure. How like this is to the blessed or happy man described in the first Psalm! There again we are not simply told what such an one does not do, but the perennial prosperity and seasonable fruitfulness so vividly described are the rich results of positive delight in the law of the Lord and constant meditation therein. There was One of whom all this was true in perfection, and it is that One we are to consider well, our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. He could say, “Thy law have I hid within My heart,” He lived by the Father, His love was the joy and rejoicing of His heart, as He daily confided in Him alone. And, oh! what rich fruit in immeasurable bountifulness results from this for eternal ages.

Just another word before we leave these two men. Of each of them it is said, He “shall not see.” Both are blind to something! How great is the contrast though! The cursed man is blind to the coming good; the blessed man is blind to the coming evil. The cursed man whose heart is away from the Lord, trusting in man and in the arm of flesh, has no power to lift up his eyes to see the bounteous blessedness that is to be brought by Christ’s coming; the blessed man, on the other hand, whose confidence the Lord Himself is, dwells in faith and in the Spirit’s power amidst scenes of plenty, and sees not the parching heat which comes with withering force, for his living fountains fail not. This precious portion of the blessed man is open to each one of us today in Christ Jesus.

(v. 3) Further, his life is one of dependence upon the unfailing sources of supply in God like a tree drawing its sustenance from the rivers of water. Moreover, this separation from evil, devotedness to God, and dependence upon God, leads to a fruitful life. It develops a beautiful character that is fruit in the sight of God. Further, before man, his profession of godliness, set forth by the “leaf,” is not marred, or withered, by any inconsistencies. Finally, he is blessed in all that he does.

(vv. 4-5) It is far otherwise with the ungodly. They may appear to be established in the place of authority, sitting at their ease. Nevertheless, in the government of God they will be driven away like the chaff before the wind. For the present the wicked may prosper, and the godly suffer, and thus the government of God may appear to have failed. This manifests the important principles that, for the full display of God's holy government, whether in blessing the godly, or dealing with the wicked, we must await God's intervention in judgment in the day to come. Then it will be seen that the ungodly will not stand in the judgment; whereas the godly will be established and come into display, and blessing, in the congregation of the righteous.

To return: he is "like a tree planted by the water-streams." Here the figure is of tender care and ministry. The fruit-tree is not a natural growth of the soil: a Hand has planted it, and that amid the divided streams of an irrigated land. The "living water" — and we, know this living water prepares soil for root and root for soil; and not without such care will this dependent life be sustained.

Notice, that it is the man meditating day and night upon Jehovah's law of whom this is said: the Spirit of God acts through the word of God; there is no other way than this. As, to handle the Word without the Spirit is but rationalism, so the dream of the Spirit ministering apart from the Word is delusion and fanaticism. The word of God is the work and gift of the Spirit in man's behalf, and He cannot be expected to set aside the very instrument that He has prepared. It is by "all Scripture, inspired of God," that "the man of God" is to be perfect, "thoroughly furnished unto every good work." Let us take care not to sunder what God has joined thus together.

So nurtured, the result is sure: he "giveth his fruit in its season." There is no crude prematurity about it: truth has to be digested and assimilated; but the activity and energy of life are there, and progress day by day. That which presents itself as of God must needs meet the challenge of the conscience ere the heart is free to yield itself to it, and the life is cast into the mould of the doctrine. But the seasonable fruit is found which God can take pleasure in. It is not for the tree itself that the fruit is produced, and it is not what we find in ourselves that is the point, but what the Lord finds. Even when, with the apostle, "I know nothing by myself," — am conscious of nothing wrong, — "yet am I not hereby justified, but He that judgeth me is the Lord." (1 Cor. 4:4.) The soul that is thus able to say nothing for itself is just that in which the Lord will find the fruit He seeks.

And "his leaf shall not wither": it is impossible to forget, as we think of this, that tree upon which once the Lord sought fruit; and finding none, He said, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever," and presently the fig-tree withered away. Thus the leaf withered because the fruit was not to be found, for in the case of the fig-tree the putting forth of leaves takes place after the fruit. "The time of figs" in general was, indeed, as we are told, not yet"; but on this tree, however precociously, there was already the leaf of profession, and the significance of the judgment is therefore apparent.

We may gather from this usage the force of the psalmist's comparison of the godly man with the tree planted by the rivers of waters. Like the tree he has a constant supply of life and strength. Underneath the ground the great tree sends out its main roots, each with its multitudinous tiny rootlets exploring in all directions for moisture. By and by they tap the ooze of the river-bed, when every little hair-like filament becomes a greedy mouth to obtain as much nourishment or food (for we may call water food in this case) as possible from the damp soil. Then from the tip of the tiniest root which may be farthest from the stem or trunk this food of the tree is conveyed to the tip of the loftiest leaf on the topmost bough. Cut off the supply of water, and the tree must wither and die. Stint it with an insufficient supply, and the fruit becomes poor and scanty, while the leaves turn from bright green to dull brown. But plant it by rivers of water, and it brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

Then in the Psalm we come to what is the subject of my letter; "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers [streams, R.V.] of water that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper." Here the godly man is compared to a tree. But it is to be observed that the comparison is not with any tree, wherever it may be situated. This tree was planted by the streams of water. And in Eastern countries such a situation was of all others particularly favourable for growth and fruit bearing, rain being so uncertain and infrequent.

Fruit is first, as to importance, then the unwithered leaf, which we may take to illustrate testimony. Fruit is for God; testimony is rendered to others who are about us. Such actions and words as commend Christ in the eyes of others are the green leaves of testimony. But if there is no water there will be no greenness. Be careful then, everyone of you, to keep up your prayers and Bible reading.