The believer in Psalm 1 is likened to "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" (v. 3).

A fruit tree grows from a planted seed. The believer is one who has by faith received the incorruptible Seed of the Word of God which by the power of the Holy Spirit imparts to him eternal life. He is thus born again (see 1 Peter 1:23).

Planted by the rivers of water suggests the source of nourishment for the soul of the believer by the Word and Holy Spirit, so as to become "Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith" (Col. 2:7). Thereby, growth and unwithered beauty of the tree will be manifested. Along with this, fruit will be produced in due season for the glory of God. The Lord Jesus says in John 15:8, "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit."

The Lord Jesus is the only One who could claim the perfection spoken of in Psalm 1 concerning the truly "Blessed … Man." In His prayer to the Father in John 17:4 He said, "I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do."

The secret of success is given in both a negative and positive way. In the negative, we read, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (v. 1). There must be absolute refusal of any counsel of the ungodly; there must be total separation from the sinner's ways of unrighteousness; there must be no fellowship with, nor toleration of, the brazen hardness of the scoffers who say, "Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways" (Job 21:14).

The positive side of the "Blessed man" is that "his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night" (v. 2). There is a constant delightful purpose of heart to lay hold upon the precious truths of the Word of God. There is also a desire, through the impulse of the divine nature, to have these truths practically manifested in daily living. As another has said, "There is nothing unpractical in the whole range of that which God has given to us" (F.W.G.).

All is summed up in the word the Lord told Joshua: "This book of the Law [for us the entire Word of God] shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

"Blessed," indeed, is the one who would seek to follow these negative and positive spiritual qualities in the energy of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Such an one would truly be "LIKE A TREE PLANTED," fulfilling the purpose of his Father's planting. Let each believer be such a tree, for the glory of the Father!