Young People's Group

“BLESSED IS THE MAN”

by Pastor Mitch
July 15, 2012

The One Who Trusts In Man

Most people prefer to trust in what they can see rather than what they cannot see. During the times of Jeremiah, people found it hard to trust in God. They chose to put their faith in the strength of people and to turn away from Him rather than to place their hope in Him.

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
For he shall be a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.” 
Jeremiah 17:5-6

Instead of trusting in God, the people of Judah trusted in their allies, the Egyptians and the Assyrians, against the Babylonians (Jeremiah 2:27). Of course, these allies were of not much help when the Babylonians came to besiege Judah. Young people, it is easy for us to fully trust in all kinds of alternatives: friends, teachers, books, including ourselves, instead of the Lord. The person who does not trust in God will end up like a lonely dried-up shrub. He will not experience the goodness of the Lord. He will shrivel up in the wilderness and there will come great dryness of soul.

The One Who Trusts In God

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” 
Jeremiah 17:7-8

The man who trusts and hopes in the Lord will be indeed blessed by Him. Instead of being a stunted shrub, He will become a solid and strong tree. He will be specially planted by the river channels and be greatly enriched by them. He will have deep root systems which will enable him to draw nutrients from the ground even in times of drought. The Lord is the fountain of living waters (Jeremiah 17:13). Those who trust in Him will draw “living waters” from Him. They will have deep roots in His word. There will come life and light to sustain them (Psalm 36:9). What are the results concerning those who trust in the Lord?

1. They will not be fearful in times of small trials.
2. They will have peace of heart even in long periods of adversity.
3. They will be spiritually strong and healthy.
4. They will always be fruitful.

Young people, the choice is clear. Do you want to be a weak shrub or a strong tree? If we understand what the word of God is saying to us, there is only one sane choice to make, and that is to trust fully in the Lord. May we be challenged to trust in the Lord and hope in Him now and always.

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