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Author: Nico Angleys, from the Servants of the Word, an international, ecumenical brotherhood of men living single for the Lord.

The stability of belonging

The book of Psalms begins: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

The book of Psalms is the Christian prayer book, it is the part of the Bible that teaches us how to pray and how to be holy. It begins with these three verses that describe the holy person. Such a person finds his/her happiness (blessedness) by being rooted like a tree next to the streams of water of life, by being fruitful, and by being healthy. The Holy Spirit is often described as that water we thirst for which makes us fruitful. We see here a contrast between this stable tree that finds its life in the streams of God and the person that is walking with the bad advice of the wicked, hangs out with sinners and sits with those who mock everyone. This is quite a jarring image.

In what ways can you become more like this tree and draw life from this stream and avoid walking around with the wrong people?

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.