I start in Psalm 1 on the "tree" topic, because that is the tie-in for all the other verses, to me.

Here, Psalm 1 shows us two "Ways" that people have to choose from. "The Way of the Righteous" or "the Way of the Wicked." They are visualized for us in the image of two opposing harvests; fruit versus chaff.

"The Way of the Righteous" all centers around the visual image of a healthy fruit tree planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:3). It yields its fruit in season, prospers and its leaves never wither.

"The Way of the Wicked" is shown in a contrasting visual of "chaff" (Psalm 1:4). When grain is harvested, the wind blows the chaff, the dry broken bits, away and what is left is burned in fire. This is the ultimate destination for the Wicked Way.

The healthy fruit tree was first a reality in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden. There were lots of trees in Eden; trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. But two trees were spoken of with great importance and they stood in the center of the Garden. The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. These two trees in the center of everything offered two Ways: "the Way of the Righteous," and "the Way of the Wicked." Adam & Eve were told by God not to partake of the later tree or death would follow. And follow it did. What is death but ultimate separation from God? When Eve made that choice, took that bite, she turned to the fruit of the tree rather than to God. It became a false god or idol to her then because she looked to it for all the answers, to fulfill her. She & Adam, who also ate the fruit, chose the wrong Way, warned of by God; sin & death then came roaring into the world, into mankind. They chose "the Way of the Wicked." A path to destruction and death.

As for the other tree, the Tree of Life? The Tree of Life gave everlasting Life. It was the "Way of the Righteous." The Way that led to Jesus, to everlasting life. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." Satan's motto, in direct contrast to Jesus, would sound something like this: "I am the Wrong Way, the Lie, and the Death. No one comes to the Father thru me." After man's fall and separation from choosing the wrong path, this Tree of Life was guarded by angelic beings with a flashing sword to keep man from accessing it (Genesis 3:24). But God had a Plan for healing! Jesus' birth was the ultimate death blow to Satan, spoken of by God in Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

Back to Psalm 1. It's interesting to note that this Psalm starts with the word, "blessed" and ends with the word, "perish." Again, two direct opposites. The blessed man is described as a tree planted by streams of water. We learn more about this water in Revelation 21. It flows from God's throne in the Sanctuary, from the "spring of the Water of Life." Jesus said in Rev. 22:6-8: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

So the first death is overcome by Jesus, and by believing in Him and accepting His Covering, we are healed and given everlasting life, exempt from the second death. Unbelievers, however, become like chaff; sentenced to being burned for all eternity. On the Day of Judgment, God will separate the wheat/tares, the sheep/goats, the trees/chaff...the believers/unbelievers. The Way we choose will take us to life or death.

So, ultimately, Psalm 1 tells us the Way to blessing/life and the Way to judgment/death. It also describes (1) The person who receives a blessing by walking rightly in God's Way; (2) the person who is a blessing to others, with fruit to show/share (vs. 1-3); and (3) the person who needs a blessing, or the unbelieving person the godly must reach with the gospel/fruit outreach (vs. 4-6). The "tree" doesn't eat its own fruit; others do. So, fruit gives seed for more fruit trees, and on and on.

During our stay here on earth, we are meant to be like Trees of Life, showing the Way to Jesus. To bear the fruit, we have to stay in, and by, the Water of Life. His streams of living water run through us when we accept Him and walk in His Way. We are not to sit on our blessing of everlasting life, on the side of our path, without an eye on the harvest. We are to bear fruit so others can "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). Reseed our seeds and ensure a bigger harvest.

This tree image comes to the earth in actuality once again when Christ reigns for 1,000 years. Revelation 22:1-5: "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."

Other scriptures to consider:

Proverbs: "The Way of the Wicked" and "the Way of the Righteous" is spoken off numerous times in this book.

Jesus ("the true Vine" in John 15:-8; "a branch of Righteousness" in Jeremiah 33:15).

Proverbs 3:18
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

Proverbs 11:30
The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise.

Ezekiel 17:24
And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts down the tall tree and helps the short tree to grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives new life to the dead tree. I, the Lord, have spoken! I will do what I have said."

Revelation 2:7
"Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

Revelation 22:19
And if anyone removes any of the words of this prophetic book, God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.