The Hebrew root of the word “puthach” translated as unfolding in the NIV means: to open wide, loosen, plough or begin. Whichever of these we apply to this verse, God’s word can only be interpreted to us by God’s Spirit. As Jesus said, “the words I speak to you, are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63. If we want them to be a part of our life today we need to humbly ask Him and then listen with our hearts for His unfolding to give us light.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14 NKJV
Probably few of you remember my brief but illustrious career as a sculptor. Yup, back in thigh school I created several clay sculptures that inexplicably sold, (which might have a lot more to do with the fads of the 60’s than with artistic talent.) I am pretty sure these have all fallen apart by now, but during that time I learned a valuable lesson that has stayed with me. Working with clay is a process and says a lot more about the processor, than the processee, and this verse is not about seeing ourselves as a skillfully finished masterpiece, but about pointing to the Master who can make a silk purse out of anything! Instead of looking at today’s verse, as a way to build a healthy self-image, why not come away with a clearer view of how amazing God is? After all, if David were talking about himself, then we would need to figure out which part of his life was fearful and wonderful. So, let’s take a look at a few: David defeats Goliath – Yay! Fearful and wonderful. David is a jerk and sleeps with Bathsheba – Boo! Not wonderful at all! David writes the twenty-third Psalm, is crowned king of Israel and makes Jerusalem its capital – Yay! David is a big hypocrite, because after supposedly forgiving his enemies, he tells his son Solomon to wipe them out after his death – hmmm, not fearful or wonderful at all.
But before we think that we are somehow better than David, maybe we need to look in the mirror today. The encouraging part of this verse isn’t about how great we are, but about how fearful and wonderful is the one who is still in the process of working on us. Our hope is that when we look up on the shelf of those things that He has finished we can see how marvelous are all the works that He has completed – He touched the lepers and healed them, washed His diciples’ feet, calmed a storm, raised Lazarus from the dead and gave His life on the cross. Now those are fearful and wonderful works and to top them all off, Jesus walked out of the tomb on the third day to offer eternal life to all those who trust in Him. Right now, He is still able make our lives into something beautiful, if we will only believe in and yield to our sculptor’s hands. He is the one with the name that is wonderful, and He as the Master Artist, is willing to sign His name on us, the moment we fall at His feet and surrender our lives to Him!
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.
Psalm 1:2-3 ESV
Having spent most of my career working on trees, I learned that the American Sycamore is the largest deciduous tree in North America. Though its wood is not very good for furniture or firewood, its multi-colored peeling bark and beautiful open branches make it a tree that people love. One of the other amazing things about the sycamore is its choice of habitat. In regions that are heavily forested, you may travel for miles without spotting a single one. But when you come to the riverbank, you will find hundreds. That is because God has built into its DNA the desire to send its roots out along the edge of the rushing waters and deep into the soil around that stream.
In today’s verse, David paints us a picture of a person, who by meditating on God’s word can be like just that Sycamore. He chooses to live, not just in the same general area as the stream, but right on the edge. This is not just a, “I’ll stop by on Sunday for a sip or two.” lifestyle. This is a, “When I wake in the morning, the first thing I need is to hear is God’s voice.” relationship. The sycamore grows to be the largest by its daily dependence on the river. Secondly, the sycamore grows in such a way that it never withers. Even when the surrounding countryside is decimated by drought it just keeps growing and, “Its leaf also does not wither.” We need this kind of fellowship with Jesus when we are going through tough times. Without being daily immersed in God’s promises, we may hold on to being a Christian, but lose the fruitfulness and the joy. We need the kind of fruitfulness that doesn’t stop even during times of war, earthquakes or political upheaval. It doesn’t stop, because its source flows from the throne of God in Heaven! Last of all, God promises that anyone who remains rooted and meditating on His word, will prosper. This doesn’t mean money in the bank, safety in disasters or acclaim by others. This prosperity is the ability to do everything that God calls us to do today. Has God asked you to bake a cake for your neighbor, fix your grandmother’s car or visit a friend in the jail? He will help the cake to rise, give the ability to change the brakes and at the check in window at the prison, give favor with the guards. God does this, without any special performance on our part, because His blessing comes by grace that flows from Calvary. He asks us to be like that tree by fully trusting in Jesus Christ, not just for salvation but for everything in life. Then we can grow by the banks of the river of His word and remain delightedly rooted forever in Him!
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