12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Justice is a big deal to God. Whenever people choose to behave that way, whoever chooses to behave that way, God responds by treating them like His own, cherished Garden of Eden. The righteous (tsaddiq, 6662) flourish so they can promote even more justice and rightness. The wicked (rasha, 7563) also flourish. The wicked, who are the opposite of the righteous, flourish like grass and weeds (verse 7).

If justice and righteousness is the accomplishment, the end product of our efforts, what is the process? What is the means by which that is accomplished? The first five verses describe that. It is "good" (tov, 2896), that is, it is "pleasant, beautiful, excellent, lovely, delightful, convenient, joyful, fruitful, precious, sound, cheerful, kind, correct, righteous, the good, the right, virtue, happiness" to do the following things:
To give thanks to the LORD,
To sing praises to the name of the Most High;
To declare God's steadfast love in the morning,
To declare God's faithfulness by night;
To be glad for God's works,
To triumph in God's works,
To be in awe of God's works

The surprising application of all these things is that we get to be included in His list of accomplishments--we're one of His works, too. Humbling!



4 To be made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!