Sermon for May 13, 2018; Psalm 1

Rev. George Miller
May 13, 2018
Psalm 1

Pictures.

Noted Old Testament professor, James Limburg, begins his commentary on Psalm 1 by stating that the psalms use powerful pictures.

The Lord as shepherd (23), as king (53), as a rock (92), as a father (103).

Pictures.

They are used by the psalmists not just to convey images of God, but to convey images of us.

The Lord’s people as sheep (28,80), as servants (90), as vines (128), as arrows (129).

Psalm 131 paints the picture of us as dependent children, and God as a Mom, when it states “I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother.”


As James Limburg states, pictures are used to make points, and to convey a message. He then points out the first picture presented in the Psalms:

“Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked…they are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in the season, and their leaves do not wither…”

A tree.

Of all the images, of all the pictures, of all the ways one can begin a collection of 150 praise songs to God, this is what was chosen, thousands of years ago.

The Book of Psalms could have begun with “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”(22)

It could have begun with “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up…” (131).

But instead the Book of Psalms starts with the word “Happy” and it begins with the picture of a tree besides the water.

Pictures.

Why a tree? What kind of tree?

A maple? An oak? A cypress or sequoias?

When picturing a tree, what kind of words come to mind?

Sturdy? Alive? Rooted? Bending without breaking? Beautiful?

Limburg goes on to state that Psalm 1 seems to be saying to us “This tree can be the picture of your life.”

A key aspect of this picture of a tree is not just that it is by water, or that it’s bearing much fruit, but that it is prospering; it is happy.

And what brings this happiness?

Not following the ways of the wicked. Not surrounding yourself with people who feel the need to scoff and scorn.

But most importantly happiness comes from finding delight, and experiencing joy in the Lord’s teachings.

This right here is how Psalm 1 defines prosperity. From the psalmist’s view, happiness is not based solely on money, or purchases or always getting what you want.

From a scriptural perspective, prosperity is about being connected with God, who is the source of life.

We may be the tree, but God is the water.

We may bear fruit, but it is God who provides the nourishment.

From God’s commands come other examples of happiness- Psalm 41:1 says that those who care for the poor are happy.

Psalm 89: 15 says those who walk with God, offering praise are happy.

Psalm 127:5 says happiness belongs to those who raise a family in which God builds the home.

Happiness is prosperity.

Being planted by God is prosperity.

Meditating on God’s commands brings prosperity.

Like a tree by streams of water.

Pictures.

Jesus was notorious for the use of pictures.

Think of the images Jesus used to teach about God:

the waiting Dad, the rebellious child, the woman searching for a lost coin.

Think of how Jesus used pictures when he said “Blessed are the poor in spirit…you are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world…look at the birds of the air…consider the lilies of the field...”

Of course, if we are to talk about pictures, there is perhaps no greater image for us Christians than that of the Cross.

The Cross in which Jesus hung. The Cross in which all of history revolves around. The Cross, in which suffering and salvation meet.

And, after all, what is a Cross, but a tree.

The Cross, which is the ultimate sign of our faith, is also perhaps the ultimate picture of our very depravity.

Think about the depravity of humanity- that we would take something so beautiful, so life giving as a tree.

We would take something meant to give shade in the heat, home to the birds of the air, and a fortress from winds and storms…

…and chop it down, cut it up, carve it into what? A vehicle for murder. A tool to humiliate. A means to kill.

It is heartbreaking.

It is heartbreaking to think that God wanted us to be so blessed that Christ was willing to be cursed.

It is so heartbreaking to think that our faith is such that one moment we may sing “Like a tree that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved,” to a song that solemnly asks “Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?”

…and yet, the depravity of humanity is no match for the redemptive power of God.

It is so astounding to think that God could take something that was rough and rugged, and turn it into a picture of amazing grace.

How astonishing that God could take desecrated wood, and turn it into a picture of God’s love for us.

How unbelievable that God could take something that was deadly and turn it into a picture of unity.

How shocking that God could take something that was used as a source of fear and transform it into a sign in which east meets west, north meets south, earth touches heaven, and the wounded reaches out to those who are doing the wounding.

The Christian narrative is seamlessly portrayed through the picture of trees.

A tree that was planted in the very first garden. A tree from which our savior hung. A tree that is prosperous beside streams of water.

In closing, as we prepare to enter into this summer season, as we prepare to enter into our congregation’s first ever sabbatical, let us do so mindful of today’s scripture.

That’s God’s desire for us is to be happy.

God’s desire for us is to be prosperous and to meditate on God’s commands.

That God’s desire for us is that we be like strong, sturdy, rooted trees that are well nourished, able to withstand tough times, and able to bear much fruit.

Like a loving father, like a loving mother, what God wants is for us to be happy.

For that we can say amen and amen.