Like the Tree Planted by Streams of Water

Trees must hold considerable significance for God because they are mentioned all through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. They served as markers on the physical landscape (Genesis 12:6) and also markers on the historical landscape, such as the fall in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). The Lord used trees in military tactics (2 Samuel 5:22-25). Jesus used them as illustrations in his parables (Luke 13:18-19). Wisdom is called a “tree of life” (Proverbs 3:18).

Major figures are connected with trees, for example, Noah and the olive leaf (Genesis 8:11), Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-5), and Zacchaeus and the sycamore-fig tree (Luke 19:1-4). And Jesus himself was hung on a tree (Galatians 3:13).

Even God’s people are compared to trees. In Isaiah 61:3 the people of God are referred to as “oaks of righteousness.” Oaks can grow up to 60 feet or more. They are hardy and resistant to disease, living 500 years and beyond. Their hard wood is excellent for construction. Their branches extend far out from the trunk, forming a large, shady canopy.

Like the oak tree, I want my life to have a straight and purposeful ascent toward God. I want to be strong in his Word and resistant to the enemy’s attacks so I can help build his kingdom. I want to stretch out beyond my own reach, in his strength, and be a safe haven for others. I want to be God’s oak of righteousness.

There is much about the oak to aspire to, but many other trees also draw me to their virtuous qualities. One is the weeping willow. I’ve always loved its unique appearance. When all other trees reach up or out, it is destined to hang limply. But even in its sorrow, it does not give in to bitterness or self-pity. It retains its loveliness, dancing gracefully and humbly in the mercy of the wind.

Like the willow, I want to move through each day to the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit, even in my most sorrowful times, trusting totally in the goodness of my Creator.

The beauty of the dogwood fills me with delight. In spring, the creamy white or pink blooms profusely adorn dark gray branches. Their soft, delicate faces gaze upward, happily drinking in the sunshine of their benefactor. Each bloom reveals the story of God’s immense love for us, cleverly described in the “Legend of the Dogwood Tree.”

Like the dogwood, I want always to be looking to Jesus and displaying his love to all who have eyes to see him.

Evergreen trees boast an endless variety of specimens. In the conifer group alone are about 630 species. But what they all have in common is the gift of retaining their foliage all year round. Through every season, they are fresh and alive. Among the many ways they serve, they provide refuge for wildlife, protect property from winter winds, and supply essential pieces for our Christmas decorations.

Like the evergreen, I want to flourish in every season of my life—the dark and turbulent times as well as the joyful and peaceful ones—always ready to be used by God.

I recently learned of my brother’s fondness for a particular evergreen: the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I realize I’m straying into fiction here, but there is something very special about this tree too. As puny and pitiful as it was, it had potential. Charlie Brown was discouraged when everyone made fun of his tree, but then along came Linus and the other children to lavish their love on it. The end result was a miraculous transformation into what that little tree was meant to be.

Like the Charlie Brown tree, I want to freely receive the extravagant love of God and be changed into the person he created me to be. In spite of how scraggly I or anyone else may appear, we are all full of potential.

Another verse also speaks of people as trees. Psalm 1 compares the righteous and the unrighteous man. The righteous one does not live according to the ways of the world, but delights in the law of the Lord (v.1-2).

 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
 Which yields its fruit in season
 And whose leaf does not wither.
 Whatever he does prospers.  (Psalm 1:3)

No specific tree is indicated in this verse. It doesn’t matter what kind of tree it is. But two other factors are important.

First, the tree is planted. It didn’t grow wild. A seed wasn’t dropped by a bird, or buried by a squirrel (actually squirrels aren’t mentioned in the Bible) to be retrieved later. And the tree certainly couldn’t dig its own hole and hop in. It was thoughtfully placed in that spot, probably as a young sapling, and then lovingly cared for.

The psalmist recounted God doing this for Israel: “⁸You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. ⁹You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land” (Psalm 80:8-9). The Lord spoke of the same event through Isaiah. “They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands” (Isaiah 60:21). In a deliberate act that the Israelites could not carry out themselves, God transplanted them from Egypt to a place he prepared for them, the promised land of Canaan.

That leads to the second important point: where the tree is planted. For us it is not a physical place as it was for the Israelites. God wants to transplant each of us “from the dominion of darkness . . . into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

To flourish in God’s kingdom, we need a constant supply of fresh life-giving water. We must be “planted by streams of water” (Psalm 3:1). The Lord is called “the spring of living water” (Jeremiah 17:13). Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). The stream we drink from is Jesus.

When we acknowledge Jesus as our loving gardener and allow him to transplant us into his kingdom, we will experience the same marvelous life as the righteous man in Psalm 1:3.

• In every season of our life, God will produce mature, delicious fruit through us that will nourish those who are hungry to know him.
• We will flourish every day, constantly replenished as we abide in him.
• We will find success in whatever we do for his glory.

I just want to be like the tree planted by streams of water.

I believe God created each tree to symbolize characteristics for us to aspire to. That’s how he is: forever revealing himself in nature. But if we just allow the Master Arborist to plant us, and we sink our roots deep into the rich soil of his Word and drink from his constantly flowing grace, we will be on our way to developing all of those virtues.

Scripture quotations are from NIV.

Feature photo by Mike from Pexels