A Sage: The Wisdom of Roots Reflections for Renewal Series [4] Psalm 1

HOW DOES THE SAGE DEPICT A “BLESSED/HAPPY” LIFE? 1 Blessed is the man… 3 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. (vs.1a, 3) Blessing #1: Fruitfulness  “…yields its fruit in its season…” Blessing #2: Strength & Vitality  “…its leaf does not wither…” Blessing #3: Effectiveness  “…in all that he does, he prospers …”

WHAT IS THE SAGE’S INTENT IN CONTRASTING TWO WAYS OF LIFE? “He is like a tree planted by streams of water… The wicked is not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” (v.3a, 4) The sage’s intent is to contrast two SHAPING INFLUENCES not two types of behaviors on the visible level [= wisdom of roots].

TWO WAYS: TWO SHAPING INFLUENCES The Wicked The Righteous His delight is in the law of the LORD. On his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water The LORD knows the way of the Righteous. Walks in the counsel of the wicked. Stands in the way of sinners. Sits in the seat of scoffers. Like chaff… the wicked will perish.

WHAT IS THE SAGE’S INTENT IN CONTRASTING TWO WAYS OF LIFE? “He is like a tree planted by streams of water… The wicked is not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” (v.3a, 4) The sage’s intent is to contrast two SHAPING INFLUENCES not two types of people [wisdom of roots]. The source of vitality and strength is in the HIDDEN part of life. Hence, the most important part of a happy/blessed life is WHERE you are rooted.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR US TO APPLY THE WISDOM OF ROOTS IN THE NEW YEAR? 1)It requires us to stay away from DOWNHILL INFLUENCE of the ungodly way of life. (v.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… (v.1) THREE STAGES of downhill influence:  It starts with subscription [WALK] —to “the counsel of the wicked”.  It leads to participation [STAND] —in “the way of sinners”.  It ends with identification [SIT] —with “the seat of scoffers”.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR US TO APPLY THE WISDOM OF ROOTS IN THE NEW YEAR? 2)It requires us to choose the godly influence by BEING DELIBERATELY ROOTED IN SCRIPTURE. 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 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. (vs.2-3) THREE CHOICES in this deliberate process:  Choosing the right place for delight. — “his delight is in… the LORD…”

97 Oh how I love your law! 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:97,

WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR US TO APPLY THE WISDOM OF ROOTS IN THE NEW YEAR? 2)It requires us to choose the godly influence by BEING DELIBERATELY ROOTED IN SCRIPTURE. 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 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. (vs.2-3) THREE CHOICES in this deliberate process:  Choosing the right place for delight. — “his delight is in… the LORD…”  Enthusiastic commitment to Scripture. —“his delight is in the law of the LORD…”  Deliberate disciplines to meditate on Scripture. —“on his law he meditates day and night…”

Holding the Word of God in your heart until it has affected every phase of your life…This is meditation. Andrew Murray

WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR US TO APPLY THE WISDOM OF ROOTS IN THE NEW YEAR? 3)It requires us to be relentlessly patient in CULTIVATING THE HIDDEN PART of life. (vs.4-6) 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (vs.4-6) THREE REASONS for relentless patience:  Quick charms of the ungodly way of life are short-lived.  It takes time to (1) be rooted, (2) to gain strength/vitality, and (3) to yield fruit—to experience the impact of Scripture.  The godly way is not popular in this world—but GOD sees us and watches over our way even through our barren seasons.

The Most Important Thing to Do Daily The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished… Now I saw, that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it, so that in this way my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, while meditating, my heart might be brought into experiential communion with the Lord… How different it is when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when the service, the trials, and the temptations of the day come upon one without such spiritual preparation. - George Müller

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR Have I made a commitment to stay away from the downhill influence of the ungodly way? How will I renew it every day? 2.Where is my delight? What will I do to deepen my delight in God and His Word? 3.What is my first step in cultivating the hidden part of my life with relentless patience in the new year 2012?

My Psalm 1:2 Decision “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2) LORD, I resolve to take my delight in Your Word every beginning with Your Child, _____________