January 1, 2003
Reading: Jeremiah 2:9-13

 

“They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters” (13)

 

The rebellion of God’s people is considered as “two evils” (13). Not only have they forsaken Jehovah, they have sought to replace Him with a system that does not work. The “broken cisterns” they have become is compared to the “fountain of living waters” they have forsaken. Since the Garden of Eden, God has provided living water for His people – Gen 2:10. The righteous are frequently spoken of as receiving their nourishment and growth from water, and the Holy Spirit is depicted as a stream flowing out of the Temple of God – Ezek 47:1-12. Jesus told the Samaritan woman of the “fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” John 4:14. The Holy Spirit is God’s Gift to His people and it is through His ministry in their lives by the Word of God they are cleansed and sanctified – Eph 5:25-26. The Jews sought to replace the “fountain of living waters” with their own creation. The best they could manage were “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” The Hebrew word translated “cistern” is “bo'r”, and is from the same root as the word “pit” into which Joseph’s brothers threw him when they wanted to kill him (Gen 37:24). Other words are used in various versions such as “well”, “pit” and “dungeon,” but is generally used to describe a hole dug to hold water. It is the same word used to describe the “dungeon” into which Jeremiah was later thrown (Jer 38:6-13).

When Jesus met the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well, he introduced her to the “fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Jesus and the God who said He is the “fountain of living waters” in Jer 2:13, are one in the same Person. God, in the Person of Jesus, once again offers Himself as the Fountain of Living Water to His rebellious people. It is interesting to note that Jehovah was speaking to Judah and Jesus to a woman of Samaria. Samaria is synonymous with the Northern Kingdom that had been destroyed and scattered 120 years before the time of Jeremiah. Toward the end of His life, Jesus looked over Jerusalem (Judah), and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matt 23:37. John wrote, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” John 1:11. Time had not changed the rebellious and stubborn attitude of the Judeans. The same Fountain of Living Water was offered to them by Jesus, but they continued to reject Him. Jesus offers this Water of Life to one who represented the Northern Kingdom thereby substantiating the second part of John’s comment, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” John 1:12.

It is appropriate for us to remember that the Source of spiritual refreshing and sustenance is the Holy Spirit. He is our Comforter and Teacher, and it is only through Him we can maintain our spiritual walk and exhibit to the world a life that is glorifying to God. If we look to anyone or anything else as a substitute, it is looked upon by God as forsaking Him.

“’Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you,’ says the LORD God of hosts” Jer 2:19. “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" John 4:14.