The blessing for those who trust in Yahweh (Jer 17:7-17:8)

“Blessed are those

Who trust in Yahweh!

Blessed are those

Whose trust is Yahweh!

They shall be

Like a tree

Planted by water.

It sends out its roots

By the stream.

It does not fear

When heat comes.

Its leaves shall stay green.

In the year of the drought,

It is not anxious.

It does not cease to bear fruit.”

Yahweh, via Jeremiah, wants to bless those who trust in him. They will be blessed if their trust rests with and in Yahweh. They will be like a tree planted by water with good roots. They, like the tree, will not fear when heat comes, because this well watered tree will stay green. Even if there is a drought, this tree will not be anxious, since it will not cease to bear fruit. Everything depends on trust.

Yahweh is trustworthy (Ps 115:9-115:11)

“O Israel!

Trust in Yahweh!

He is their help.

He is their shield.

O house of Aaron!

Trust in Yahweh!

He is their help

He is their shield.

You who fear Yahweh!

Trust in Yahweh!

He is their help.

He is their shield.”

This choral hymn asks Israel to trust Yahweh. It also asks the house of Aaron, which are the priests, to trust Yahweh. They always seem to be separate in some sense from the rest of the Israelites. In the end they ask all who fear Yahweh to trust him. He was going to help them. He was going to be their shield against evil doers. Thus this two line refrain is repeated 3 times.

Trust in God (Ps 52:8-52:9)

“I am like a green olive tree

In the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God

Forever and ever.

I will thank you forever,

Because of what you have done.

In the presence of the faithful

I will proclaim your name,

Because it is good.”

David was like a green olive tree in the house of God.  He had always trusted in the steadfast love of God.  He would be eternally thankful.  Thus this psalm ends with David proclaiming the name of God because it was good.  Once again there is a connection that is more vivid in English with God being good, the difference between God and good being just a little “o.”

Yahweh blesses David (Ps 21:3-21:7)

“You meet him with rich blessings.

You set a crown of fine gold on his head.

He asked you for life.

You gave it to him.

You gave him length of days forever and ever.

His glory is great through your help.

You bestow on him splendor and majesty.

You bestow on him blessings forever.

You make him glad with the joy of your presence.

The king trusts in Yahweh.

Through the steadfast love of the Most High

He shall not be moved.”

David was blessed by Yahweh so that this seems like a psalm about David rather than from him. Yahweh gave him rich blessings, a crown of fine gold for his head, as well as a long life. He helped David by bestowing on him splendor and majesty with eternal blessings. Yahweh made David glad in his presence because the king trusted Yahweh. The steadfast love of the most high one will not be moved.