Like a Tree by the Water
By Dean Collins
Jeremiah 17 contains one of my favorite Bible verses:
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
I quote this verse to myself often. Sometimes, I sing it as well. These words help me keep my heart in the right place. And as you and I both know, keeping our hearts in the right place is impossible to achieve except by the grace of God, who makes all things new. Ezekiel prophesied that God would give us new hearts, and through Christ, He has done that. But that doesn’t mean we won’t still face temptations to operate from our old, deceptive ways of thinking.
The beginning of Jeremiah 17 makes clear that the sin of Judah was visible, since it had been engraved on their hearts. The word engraved is deliberate because Judah continued to place its trust in engraved images—idols—which led to disobedience. Judah trusted in foreign gods, foreign powers, and alliances instead of obeying God. Their coming destruction could only be avoided if they would repent and turn away from placing their trust in human strength, false gods, and human alliances.
The contrast we find in Jeremiah 17:5-9 is similar to the imagery of Psalm 1:
“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. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1:1-6 ESV
Jeremiah and Psalm 1 make it sound so clear and simple. But we know how easy it is to slip back into self-reliance, or into trusting our wealth, or even our politics to guide and save us. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians that we are a work in progress, and that progress moves effectively when we keep our focus on the glory of God and not on human strength:
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
When we place our hope, our minds, and our hearts on Jesus and His glory, we can be sure that we are being transformed into the image of God as He intended in the garden—when He created us to bear His glory. This transformation is only possible through the Holy Spirit, who lives in us.
Father, today we confess that we are tempted to rely on ourselves and on others for our strength. Forgive us. Today we choose to trust in You fully. We place all of our hope and confidence in You and know that Your plans for us are good. May our spiritual roots be fed by the living water that flows from Christ so that Your good fruit will be seen in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Jeremiah 17:1-10; John 7:38; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 6:17-18; Ezekiel 36:26 ESV
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