Psalm 1 & 2 and the Two Trees

The first two Psalms are reflections on the Garden of Eden.  At the center of the Garden of Eden there were two trees representing humanity’s choice.  The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents life on our own terms, while the Tree of Life is a picture of never-ending nourishment and sustained flourishing.  

When we read Psalm 1 & 2 we are invited to listen to the echoes from The Garden of Eden.

 

Psalm 1 is about the blessed person who meditates (yegeh 1:2) on God’s way of life.  This person flourishes like a tree planted next to life giving waters.  They live without fear of drought because of the infinite water source that sustains them. This person is flourishing in an Edenic existence where the heart can freely delight in always increasing goodness.  

 

Psalm 2 has a contrasting meditation. This psalm asks "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples meditate (yegeh, often ‘plot’) in vain” (2:1).  Here, the poet considers those who dream about the “good life”, but the good life they define for themselves.  These people see life on someone else’s terms as shackles to be cast off.  The voices rise up from the mob calling out to the surrounding culture “revolt, we can define what’s good for ourselves”. 

 

As compelling as the leaders in the crowd are, the cultural tide cannot sweep aside the Lord.  Instead, he installs his son as the true king.  We can choose life on our own terms, according to our determination of what’s “good and evil” with the warning that “your way will lead to your destruction” (2:12b) …echoes of the warnings in Eden.  Or, we can embrace and “kiss his son”, knowing that “all who take refuge in him are blessed” (2:12c).

 

We stop short of what’s offered if we only see the psalms as encouraging good choices.  It has more to offer than “which will you pick?”  If we listen closer, we will hear it inviting us to meditate on the Edenic images; prayerfully picturing the "Tree of Life" type of flourishing God intends for us.  We are summoned to imagine this in stark contrast to the images of sordid human history where everyone has done “what is good in their own eyes”.  When our imaginations grasp the difference, it starts to re-order our desires.  It changes us into the kind of people who make choices that are life giving.

 

These Psalms invite us not just to become better logic machines making right choice.  Rather these inspired words are Holy Spirit empowered; able to renew our imaginations…resulting in renewed life.  

 

One person put it this way, “Poetry…is not just a set of techniques for saying impressively what could be said otherwise. Rather, it is a particular way of imagining the world”.* Stated in my own words, much of the biblical message comes in a form that is intended to be sensed, experienced, and imagined - not just heard.  

 

May we respond to the offer of the Psalms; renewed imaginations and restored lives.

 

 

 

*Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry (pp. 189-190).