Trust

Jer 17:7 Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Jer 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when fear cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

"Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD"-That means we must really trust in Him, like Proverbs 3:5 says "with all your heart", "and lean not unto your own understanding" (your mind). Your mind will deceive you, count on it.

"and whose hope the LORD is.--He is our hope through the faith we have in Him in our hearts."

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters,--By the waters, the waters of Christ. "Jhn 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." We must be planted close to the waters.

"and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river,"--Our roots must be deep and strong, reaching to the water, the neverending spring of Jesus.

"and shall not fear when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green"-We then shall not fear when things get hot, out of our control, understanding. Our life shall remain in Christ, and we shall remain green and healthy in Him.

"and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."-We continue in Christ, trusting, hoping, and he keeps us safe, even in the worst of times. And by this miraculous green in the times of trouble, He is glorified, we are blessed, our life is a witness to His grace and mercy, and fruit is produced.

There it is. But what if we don't trust Him? What if we trust church, religion, man or worst of all: OURSELF?

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Jer 17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, [in] a salt land and not inhabited.

"Thus saith the LORD" - ie, this is seriously important!

"Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm"-Don't trust in man, don't rely on him, don't depend on him or your flesh (yourself)

"and whose heart departeth from the LORD"-This is the result of not dying to self, but relying on self.

"For he shall be like the heath in the desert"-Heath, a shallow rooted shrub, maybe like a tumbleweed. Something with no firm foundation, no root, blown two and fro with every new and exciting doctrine and trend.

"and shall not see when good cometh"-Because of shallow roots (self-dependence) he cannot know that life giving water is just out of his reach.

"but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, [in] a salt land and not inhabited."-He will be prone to wonder why he is not happy, not satisfied, not fulfilled. "Chasing the wind". Nothing will seem enough, and he will be empty of God (even though full of self).