Life Giving Water
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” Zechariah 14:8,9 HCSB
In the natural world and in the spiritual world “water” is associated with life. In the quest to discover “life” in outer space, one of the first signs is if there is the chemical components or signs of water. It is interesting how water…flowing rivers and “living” water is tied to the Lord’s plan of redemption for mankind and the earth.
Zechariah’s prophesy ends with a glimpse of not only Israel’s future redemption, but the ultimate redemption of the world. We see words that related to the sacrifice of Christ in chapter 13. Words like, “Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered…” (Zechariah 13:7 HCSB) We see this fulfilled when Jesus was arrested in the garden.
Yet in chapter 14 we see the prophet looking to a time yet to come. “A day of the Lord” when great signs in the earth will take place. The regular order will be upset, a great earthquake and the imagery of water flowing out of Jerusalem, to the east and the west.
Ezekiel saw a vision of a future time when water would flow from God’s Temple. It becomes a raging river, making bitter water, sweet and bringing life. Ezekiel says, “…so everything will live where the river goes.” (Ezekiel 47:9 ESV)
The “river” of God is the life source for everything. Even in creation we read of the river that started in Eden. “A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.” (Genesis 2:10 ESV) I find it interesting and not without coincidence that the picture of a river flowing from the focal point of creation and God’s presence is seen in the creation of the earth and in the new Jerusalem and the new earth.
This what John saw, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1,2 ESV)
Jesus promises to be that source of life, refreshment and restoration for all who believe in Him. He told the woman at the well, “…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 ESV)
During the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus declared to all, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37,38 ESV)
Throughout the Bible we see these references to rivers and life giving water. In Jesus words the great prospect is that we can not only experience the life flow of the Lord’s presence, but we can become a source of refreshing and life to others.
Prayer for today… Lord, thank You for Your gracious provision of life. Allow us to always stay close to You and to receive from You all that You have for us and to vw channels of Your life flow to others.