Trees or Chaff

Introduction

Would you rather have a yard full of dandelions or full of peach and cherry trees?

Have you noticed how many dandelion plants are on any private or public grass areas?

The City of Boise has reduced the amount of pesticide they use in public grass areas and have led to an abundance of dandelions in the Treasure Valley.

But...why are they so annoying?

The main reason, is once the flower dries up...you see these worm-like stems and the fluffy seeds that fly all over the place.

Although people claim that dandelions have so many health properties...I would rather have fruit plants and trees instead of a yard full of dandelions.

Today we are starting a new series in the book of Psalms and in Psalm 1 the author gives us two pictures of very different plant life.

Psalm 1:3 NIV

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:4 NIV

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

We see a healthy, full of life tree planted by streams of water.

This tree is full of life as its roots have direct access to clean refreshing water.

It is so healthy that it produces flowers, that are then fertilized, and give fruit every season.

Its leaves never wither, they do not go dormant (like our trees during Idaho winters). The tree is constantly showing signs of health and life.

...but then we are also given another picture - we see someone processing wheat, they have a basket full of grain in their hands and they through the grain into the air.

You notice that the wind is blowing and carrying away what seems to be the very fine/delicate dry skin that covered each grain of wheat.

This is what the Bible calls chaff - it is dead, it has no life, and clearly has no roots - it is useless and that is why it is thrown into the air so that it can be carried away by the wind.

So, would you rather have a tree full of life that gives you fruit every season or would you rather have a bag full of dry chaff that is ultimately useless?

Well, the Bible uses these two images to describe a person that seeks God compared to the person that does not seek God.

The main difference between these two people is in verse 3.

Psalm 1:2 NIV

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

What is the main difference between a person that is like chaff that is blown away by the wind and a person that is like a healthy fruit bearing tree?

The difference is that the person that is like a healthy fruit bearing tree - they delight and mediate on the Word of God.

They enjoy learning about God’s word, reading God’s word, memorizing God’s word, they desire knowing more about God; like when they desire / want a three scoop banana split with chocolate fudge, or a cheesy pizza with lots of pepperoni.

Do you desire the word of God like you desire other simple pleasures like a delicious meal or desert?

Now notice this person’s ongoing practice of meditating on God’s word day and night.

This is not a once-a-week practice of opening their Bible and hearing God’s word.

This is a daily practice of seeking to understand what God reveals in his word.

We are living in a day where not a day goes by without looking at social media (Youtube or TikTok)...and yet, a whole week can go by without opening God’s word.

The only way to develop a deep life filled Christianity is by grounding ourselves in God’s word.

Our Christian life depends ultimately on being grounded upon God’s word.

If we are to grow in our Christian life, if we are to be faithful to the end, we must seek to be careful students of God’s word otherwise, we will have no roots, no life, and be blown around by the wind just like the chaff represented in this Psalm.