Teaching Notes

The Corrupt Tree Vs. The Good Tree

Psalm 1:1-3 (The Message)

How well God must like you— you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead you thrill to God's Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. - Psalm 1:1-3

Notes: The psalmist writes that God must like you because you do not visit places of sin, you do not go down dead end roads or areas that will lead you to danger. You don't smart mouth, but instead you find your voice in the Word of God. The scripture says you chew on the scripture day and night and because of it you are a like a tree with a never ending supply of fresh water and you continually bring forth good fruit.

Question: What does it mean to chew on the scripture day and night?

Answer: When you chew on something, like food, you break it down into small pieces so that it can become part of your body. Your body digest the food and the nutrients are dispersed throughout your body. That is what we should do with the word of God. We should chew on it, or meditate on it, or break it into small pieces so that it can become part of us. To break it into small pieces means we study it and think on it until we have a deep understanding of what the word means. When we have gained the understanding, it becomes the nutrient that will sustain us when we need it. It helps us to keep away from sin, and dead end places. It allows us to be pleasing to God. That is why we can have never ending fruit that God would be pleased with.

Prayer: Lord help us today to chew on your word. Help us to gain an understanding so that we do not go in the way of sin and disobedience. We want to bring forth good fruit. Good fruit brings rewards from you and this pleases you.