The "blessed man," or, "happy man" of Psalm 1 is said to be like a tree. "The ungodly," in the same Psalm is likened to "chaff." The contrast is an immeasurable distance between. Every person falls into the category of the one or the other. Let us simply consider the "tree" aspect.

It is essentially Christ presented before us in the Psalm, and yet inseparably connected with Him is the believer in Christ born of God, possessing His life and nature, manifesting His life in practical ways.

The believer, the saved person, is "like a tree planted." It is not a wild tree just springing up of itself but planted by divine grace and power by God Himself. Like the "incorruptible seed" of the Word if, when received by faith in the heart, it takes root by the power of the Holy Spirit and new birth takes place. The tree which symbolizes the believer, as another has said is, "chosen, considered as property, cultivated and secured from the last terrible uprooting." As Jesus says in Matthew 15:13, "Every plant which My heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up."

The believer is also like a tree planted by the "rivers of water." Water is symbolical of the Holy Spirit of God who is the divine agent of nourishment which comes from our ascended Head in heaven. It's the ministry of never-failing grace that keeps the soul, through the Word, in communion with Christ.

The result of this is "that he bringeth forth his fruit in his season." There is no unseasonable traits, like untimely figs which are never full-flavored. Delighting in God's Word, meditating in it day and night, produces the fruit of the Spirit: "Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control." Also, "His leaf shall not wither." The beauty of maturing grace even with the increasing age bears witness to the eternal life and nature of the unchanging Christ, the Same yesterday, today and forever.

Finally, the "blessed man" is promised that "Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Seeing it is Christ who is his life, and the Holy Spirit is his power, what he does will be according to the divine will and be true, lasting prosperity.

The words of the Lord in Joshua 1:8 give a similar thought for true prosperity. "This book of the law 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."

However, don't forget that these promises are only for those "like a tree planted." If one is not planted, he will be but "chaff" and will be "burned with unquenchable fire" (Matt. 3:12).