Jeremiah. 17:7,8

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord, for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green. And will not be anxious in the year of drought nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

What is the condition for being blessed in this verse? It is to trust and hope in the Lord. What are the results of trusting and hoping?

“For he shall be like a tree planted by the water which spreads out its roots by the river”

What typifies a tree? Trees are tall, strong, stable, and unmovable only when their roots can access a source of nourishment. What does a river signify? A never ending source of nourishment.

“and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jer. 17:7,8

If the effect of heat on leaves is that they get scorched and dried up, why does this tree not need to fear or be anxious? Its roots are connected to a source which causes it to remain green even in the deepest drought. Not only that, but the tree bears fruit! The harsh conditions the tree is in doesn’t adversely affect the tree, nor stop it from bearing fruit because it is tapped into a source below.

Psalm 1

This Psalm is similar to the above verses in Jeremiah, but there are some differences. In this one the conditions for being blessed are different:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;”

This passage actually notes what the source is:

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”

God’s Word is mentioned as ‘the source’ that the psalmist meditates on day and night. It is so important as to be a lifeline that he returns to day and night which will cause him to bear fruit and prosper even in a drought.

 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Ps 1

“Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine” (Ezekiel 47:12).

What is your trial? No matter how severe, when you are tapped into the source, you won’t shrivel up or dry out but will be able to keep going and still bear fruit in harsh conditions. Believing God’s Word and His promises taps you into that power. You have everything you need in Him.

How deep is this source?

“And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand cubits and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed” (Ezekiel 47:3-5).

Rev. 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!” and let him who hears say, ‘Come!” and let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”