1. Blessed is the man who trusts the Lord (1-8)

Israel lost her inheritance because of her unfaithfulness to God. Their sin is indelibly engraved on their hearts, and cannot be washed away even by sacrifices on the altar. One who trusts in man, who depends on himself or on someone else and not on God, will become like a dried-up bush in the desert. But the man who trusts in God will be like a tree planted by a stream of water. He is alive and growing and fruitful, even in the time of drought.

2. The deceitful heart, its cause and cure (9-27)

When we trust in ourselves or in people or material things, we become fearful and our hearts become deceitful. We don't even know ourselves--but God knows us. Only God can heal and save. When he does so, we are truly healed and saved. Then we can't run away from being shepherds (14-16). Keeping the Sabbath (19-27) is a way to combat the cancer of materialism and teach people to depend on God.

Application: Cure my deceitful heart, O Lord. Heal me and I will be healed.
One Word: Only God can heal the heart