What scriptural connections exist between Job 18:16 and Psalm 1:3 regarding righteousness? Two contrasting trees “His roots are dried up below, and his branch withers above.” “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.” Shared imagery—same parts, opposite conditions • Roots • Branch/leaf • Withering vs. flourishing • Hidden life below ground vs. visible life above ground What the metaphors teach about righteousness • Inner life directs outer life – In Psalm 1 the righteous man’s “roots” are continually nourished by God’s Word (Psalm 1:2); therefore every visible part thrives. – In Job 18 Bildad pictures the wicked: when the unseen root dries, the public life collapses. • Location matters – The blessed man is “planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1:3; cf. Jeremiah 17:8)—deliberately placed where God’s provision is constant. – The wicked stands in parched ground; no source of life remains. • Permanence vs. impermanence – “Leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3) promises enduring vitality. – “Withers above” (Job 18:16) signals inevitable decay for one cut off from God. Reinforcing passages • Jeremiah 17:5-8—curse on the man who trusts flesh; blessing on the tree by water. • Proverbs 12:3—“A man cannot be established by wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.” • Isaiah 40:30-31—those who hope in the LORD “renew their strength.” • Matthew 7:17-19—good tree bears good fruit; bad tree is cut down. Lessons for today • Cultivate hidden roots in Scripture and prayer; public fruit will follow. • Righteousness is not a veneer; it flows from a life sustained by God. • Separation from God inevitably dries a life, no matter how lush it looks for a season. |
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