“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. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” (Psalm 1:3,4 KJV)
What a way to start off a book! This first Psalm speaks volumes that we only begin to unpack throughout the balance of the book. Let us start by looking at these middle two verses quoted above. Who drives the chaff away? Us or the wind? How we would love to be the one who chases these deadbeat scoundrels away! Even worse, John 3:8 notates that the wind blows where it wills. We can feel the wind. We can acknowledge it’s presence and the effects of what it does, but we cannot claim to give it direction or power. So, what about this tree? Who plants it? Do we actually think that it plants itself? We like to think of ourselves as self made towers with a good root system, but upon further examination, is that entirely true? If verse two is true, this person’s delight was in something very specific. Something worth meditation both day and night. Meditation because it probably was not native to himself. Meditation because there is always something more to it. Meditation because we as people naturally get distracted and stray.
So, what do these verses imply is an effective strategy for dealing with the wicked? Include all six of these first verses. Does that strategy change? Why would this idea of not being able to stand in judgement or the wind driving away have a bearing on our strategy? If something is brought into judgement it implies that something has happened that needs a trial. If something is being driven away, it implies that it has somehow obtained a place that may not be it’s proper place. This strategy is not necessarily one of prevention, but one of resolution.
Do you notice the idea of “day and night” or “bringeth forth”? Contrary to popular belief, this is not a passive person. This is an ever active strategy. Almost a strategy that sees through or past these things which will not stand in judgement. How does that kind of clarity or right perspective of reality come about?
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)