“He is Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water”

Psalm one introduces and gives us insight into the five books of the Psalms. Wisdom is depicted as two ways: the way of the world and the way of God’s law.

Verse one: tells us what not to do.  Sin is progressive if you walk in it you will stand in it and in the end sit (dwell) in it. Blessed is the man/woman who does not walk, stand, or sit in the way of the world.

Verse two: “But he/she delights in God’s law”. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statues of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (Ps. 19: 7,8). The law gets a bad rap at times but here we have the true picture depicting what is important in our lives: the law restores the searching soul, restores the broken heart with joy, restores the dull mind with wisdom, restores the unseeing eyes with spiritual light and insight. “He/she is blessed who meditates on Gods law day and night”.

Verse three is the result of God’s way: We will be like a tree by a stream, always green, producing fruit, and never losing leaves. That metaphor takes on a whole new meaning when one lives in the Sahel, where water is hard to come by, shade is at a premium, and fruit is scarce.

What way are you walking on parishioners? Pastor are you the shade where sinners find rest and forgiveness in Jesus? Do our churches provide  cooling water for the soul, spiritual light for the blind, fruit for the spiritually hungry, and “leaves for the healing of the nations”? (Rev. 22:2). Missions, evangelism, outreach, and church plants come to mind here. Further, “everything we do will prosper” that is God’s promise to us. Praise the Lord!

Verses four and five: Are the results of walking the way of the world. Not a positive picture.  “But the Lord watches over the way of the righteous”.

This was my message for the send off for Rev. Benjamin Likita where I was asked to be the guest speaker. Along with the message was a call to pray for Pastor Ben to be that fruitful tree in his new work as he was in Idaci and a call to prayer for the new pastor Rev. Marcus to be that fruitful tree as well. Along with the Church here please pray for Rev. Ben and Rev. Marcus as they take up their new ministries. After the service we all gathered in the shade of two large trees and the program went on with singing, dancing, and donating money to help with the move. Pastor Ben has been reassigned to serve as the principal of the Serti Bible School. Serti, Taraba State is about a thousand miles south east of Niger State.