Some wag has said that there are basically two kinds of people in the world: those who divide people into two kinds of people and those who do not.

Jeremiah says in our text for the day that there are indeed two kinds of people. One kind he calls cursed; the other he calls blessed.

The life of the cursed he compares to a low bush in the desert, inhabiting a parched and desolate wilderness. The life of the blessed, on the other hand, he compares to a tree planted by the waters--that spreads her roots out by the river. Her leaf is green, her fruit is bountiful. Two kinds of people. For one life is meaningless, empty, without hope or promise. For the other, life is purposeful, rich, pregnant with promise, full of hope and good cheer. Two kinds of people. To which group would you like to bel…