Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water

by Jessica Toot

While studying what it means to be transformed by Scripture and the importance of reading and meditating on the Word of God I wrote this short story. Below is my response to a bible study prompt on Psalm 1, specifically on verse three.

Picture the scene described in verse 3 where the Psalmist says the man who meditates on God’s instruction is “like a tree planted by streams of water” (see also Psalm 92:12-15). Imagine that you are the tree in a dry, arid land whose roots are reaching down to receive the life-giving water of the Scriptures. Describe what this experience was like.

The sun is so hot. “Why are we all here?” I wonder as I look at myself and the other trees around me, our brittle leaves begging for a drink. This is just so hard and I’m so thirsty. I remember a long time ago I heard of a secret water that was deep below the surface, but it took a long way to get there. I heard this water never runs out. I told the other trees about the secret water and that I was thinking about trying to reach down to it. They whisper amongst themselves “We’ve heard of it too but we don’t really need that water. We’ve made it this far, haven’t we? Plus, how does she know it’s really there?”. They warned me that if I make too much of an effort on the way down, I may not withstand the struggle and die altogether. Their whispers continue of a hope in a rain that’s sure to come soon and that it will suffice. I contemplate, maybe the other trees are right. We do seem to survive off of the occasional light rain. However, I noticed something as they were whispering. They haven’t borne any good fruit. I’ve only seen small sour fruit that not even the birds will eat. Their voices don’t shout with joy. Their leaves don’t shine with the beautiful waxy coat I’ve seen on other trees. So why am I listening to these trees? Is this all I ever want? Sure, we get to see the sun and the sky and the beautiful moon and stars. We get to intake fresh carbon dioxide, but I think there might be more. I think we haven’t been able to fully enjoy it all because, well, maybe we’re barely alive. Maybe there’s more to our design than this. Are we able to do what we were designed for with this occasional light rain? To me, I wonder if it’s even water at all. It must be something that looks like water but can’t be real water. Surely if it were real water, we wouldn’t be so thirsty and we wouldn't wither and whisper the way we do. 

No, I’ve got to find the real water, even if it means I die. I want the fullness of life, the guarantee, the water that never runs out. Even if it is a fairytale, it’s worth the risk of finding out.  I push my roots down deeper living in the hope that soon I’ll reach my Water. I spread out. It’s painful and my thirst is ever growing. It's risky but I know without this Water the life above isn’t worth living. Just as I ran out of energy to keep going, I felt the Water. It’s as though it reached up and found me, even up to my smallest and weakest root.  My home has found me and my roots are wide and deep.  I have all I need and I smile. As I lift my leaves to the sun with joy I see my shiny waxy coat appearing and a little bud of sweet fruit smiling back at me. Turns out it was real after all. I think to myself  “I wonder if the other trees will look at me and realize it was worth the digging?” 

Will they hear my voice when I tell them? 

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;

² but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

³He 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.

⁴The 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.

John 4:14

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.