Psalm 1 – The Watered Tree

by Timothy Shorey

“[The blessed one] is not under the law as a curse and condemnation, but he is in it, and he delights to be in it as his rule of life. He delights, moreover, to meditate in it, to read it by day, and think upon it by night. He takes a text and carries it with him all day long; and in the night-watches, when sleep forsakes his eyelids, he muses upon the Word of God. In the day of his prosperity he sings psalms out of the Word of God, and in the night of his affliction he comforts himself with promises out of the same book. “The law of the Lord” is the daily bread of the true believer. And yet, in David’s day, how small was the volume of inspiration, for they had scarcely anything save the first five books of Moses! How much more, then, should we prize the whole written Word which it is our privilege to have in all our houses!”
(C.H. Spurgeon[1])

Cardiphonia: Psalm 1 is both a call to Word-centered and saturated living, and to Christ-centered admiration and praise. First, as disciples of Jesus who simply love the Word of God, we should let it dwell richly within us (Col. 3:16). Second, let us see in Jesus—God’s Living Word—the perfect embodiment of this psalm. He is the Incarnate Word; the full revelation of God and his truth (John 1:1, 2, 14-18). Plus, our dear Lord is the Ideal Man as described by this psalm. He is this righteous man who, as early as twelve years of age (Luke 2:46-49), delighted in the Law of God perfectly; the righteous man whose teachings reveal a depth of insight into the Law of God that was the fruit of years of meditation day and night. Consequently, his leaf shall never wither. He is the watered tree that bears fruit now and forevermore. And we who love him are part of his everlasting harvest.

[1] I will be quoting some introductory thoughts from Charles H. Spurgeon’s classic work, The Treasury of David, as an introduction to each psalm. I recommend the reading of the psalm together with Mr. Spurgeon’s words. I’ve also added to these a few devotional thoughts, included under the heading, Cardiphonia. This term is derived from two Greek words—one meaning heart and the other meaning sounds or utterances. I discovered the term while reading about John Newton (author of Amazing Grace—and creator of his own hymnbook back in his 18th century days). Pastor Newton called a collection of his devotional letters Cardiphonia, since they were the sounds and utterances of his heart; a heart that was in love with Jesus.

Thinking that he wouldn’t mind, I’ve borrowed the term to use it in this work to label a section of each devotional in which I share sounds and thoughts from my own heart that are prompted by each of the psalms—and the King whom they reveal. I dare to hope that my cardiphonia will be filled with personal hints for the life of faith as well as observations about Jesus as well; both for your blessing, and for mine.

 

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[pdf id=1677]

 

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Click here for the Psalm 1 Lyrics Sheet 

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