Psalm 1:3 The Blessed Man

Psalm 1:3 The Blessed Man

Dissected and Defined.

Please see the previous posts concerning The Blessed Man.



Psalm 1:3 (KJV) ³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
C.  The Results of Living Psalm 1:1-2

In verse 3 the results of living life seperated from the world, and living life delighting and meditating on God's Word are given.

     1.  The blessed man shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.

...like a tree:  Is a symbol of blessing. It indicates beauty, majesty, and strength.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (KJV) ⁷ Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. ⁸ For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

...planted:   Not one growing wild, but carefully planted. This tree is one carefully planted and secured from the last terrible uprooting. Matthew 15:13 (KJV) ¹³ But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

It indicates ownership.  The tree was bought and planted.

...the rivers of water:   Note it is multiple rivers, if one river dries up there are others. This is a reference to the Eastern method of irrigation.  Rivers of water are made to flow between the rows of trees and thus the trees receive a constant supply of water.

Spurgeon said; the rivers of pardon and the rivers of grace, the rivers of the promise and the rivers of communion with Christ, are never-failing sources of supply.

2.  The blessed man is fruitful.

...bringeth forth his fruit in his season:   The promise of God is that the separated man who delights and meditates in God's Word will produce fruit. 

John 15:4-5 (KJV) ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The blessed man brings forth patience in the time of suffering, faith in the day of trial, and joy in the hour of prosperity.  Fruitfulness is the characteristic of the blessed man and his fruitfulness will be seasonable.

3.  The blessed man is consistent.

...his leaf also shall not wither:  There are two kinds of trees.  Decidious trees that annually loose their leaves and evergreen trees that have needles that remain green all year long. 

The blessed man is not affected by the season or the circumstances of life.  He is consistent, like the tree whose leaves do not wither. 

His faintest words shall be everlasting; his little deeds of love shall be had in rememberance.  Not simply shall his fruit be preserved, but his leaf also.  He shall neither lose his beauty nor his fruitfulness.  CH Spurgeon.

4.  The blessed man prospers.

...and whatsover he doeth shall propsper:  The word prosper means to push forward, to grow or increase. 

The blessed man is growing, increasing; spiritually alive and thriving.  He is producing much fruit to the glory of God.  His prosperity is of God and it contains no sorrow.  God's prosperity is in all areas of his life.

Wrestling with God

Genesis 32:26 (KJV) ²⁶  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Jacob would not let the angel go unless he blessed Jacob. Jacob prevailed.  He received a blessing.  He would no longer be called Jacob.  Jacob in the Hebrew means one who follows on another's heel or supplanter. A supplanter is one who undermines or overthrows.  It is certainly not a term of endearment.   It speaks of one who is corrupt.  However, God is able to change any life, and He changes this one.  Jacob would now be called Israel.  The name Israel means something much different.  It means prince of God; one who fights victoriously.  Jacob's wrestling with God resulted in victory.  He was on longer the undermining schemer, but one who is walking in victory!

Years ago I attended the funeral of the mother of a dear man who went to our church.  After the funeral he told me how his mother and step-father came to know Christ as their Savior in an old fashioned revival meeting in a little Pentecostal Holiness church in Rock Hall, MD. They both immediately fell under conviction concerning their addictive and sinful habit of smoking cigarettes.  They tried to quit many times, but failed.  One Sunday morning they walked the aisle of their little country church and told the Pastor they were giving up cigarettes.  They told him they had tried many times to quit and failed. The Pastor said, "meet me tonight at 11:00 at the church".  They thought it odd, but returned to the church at 11:00 that night.  The Pastor invited them to the altar and stated; "we are going to wrestle with God until God gives you the victory over smoking".  And they did.  They began praying and continued praying until in the wee hours of the morning, God granted the victory.  They never smoked again!

Do you need to hear from God?  May I suggest to do what Jacob did, get a hold of God and do not let him go until He blesses you!