They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:13
Over and over again throughout the book of Jeremiah, God reveals His deep sadness over His people who continually turned away from Him. The contrast between what He longed to give them and what they actually chose for themselves could lead to the question, “Why? How could they turn away from God who loved them so much and had promised blessing and abundance if they would only obey Him?” The warnings against disobedience were absolutely clear, and the consequences of disobedience were devastating.
Listen to God’s words in Deuteronomy 6. He has been speaking to the people of Israel through Moses of the blessings awaiting them when they entered the land He had promised to give them – great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied (vs. 10, 11). And the warning immediately follows: Then watch yourself, lest you forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt…You shall fear only the Lord your God…otherwise, the anger of the Lord your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth (vs. 12-15). God’s people could have enjoyed the fountain of living waters, but instead they chose broken cisterns that hold no water.
It is no different for believers today. God still generously offers that fountain of living water to all who come to Him. He who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35). Jesus came to give us abundant life and joy in Him.
Are you satisfied with living water from God? Or are you experiencing the frustrations and dissatisfaction of a broken cistern you have made yourself? At times we try to fill our lives with more people, more activity, more material pleasures. Too often we turn away from God, perhaps not even consciously at first. We think we would be happy …if only I had more money…if only I had a less demanding (or more challenging) job…if only my kids didn’t need so much of my time and energy…if only my husband (or wife) were more understanding…if only….
Until we turn back to God in repentance, nothing can truly satisfy us. We will always want more, and it will never be enough. There is no lasting peace and contentment from anything except being filled with living water. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the living water offered to everyone who comes to Jesus by faith in what He has done for us on the cross.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
How would you honestly characterize your life right now? Is your life a container filled with living water? Or are you still creating your own cistern and discovering that it holds no water? Don’t keep trying to patch the broken pot so that it can be filled with things that can never satisfy and will lead only to destruction. Return to the fountain of living water, to God.
Where are you tempted to turn to find fulfillment and happiness apart from God? Will you take time now to confess and ask God to fill you with the living water?
If you are already experiencing the living water, thank Him for that! Ask Him for opportunities to bring others to the fountain of living water — to God.
Thank you, dear Sherrilyn, for your faithfulness to the Word of God. What a powerful passage! Throughout my life, I’ve tried to fill my need for significance with earthly praise, the need for sufficiency with control, the need for satisfaction with earthly pleasures, and my need for security with self-righteousness–all of which are empty cisterns that cannot hold water. John Piper says, “Christ must be your prize, your treasure, your joy. He must be a satisfaction so deep, that when death takes away everything you love but gives you more of Christ, you count it gain.”
My pastor preached on this yesterday! I love hearing things more than once in a short period of time. It makes me sit up and take notice!
Absolutely fabulous. I am so thrilled that we are on the same page spiritually. You are flooding over with the truth of the WORD OF GOD. Incredible insight and wisdom. I say thank you as well as the HOLY SPIRIT says thank you and well done my good and faithful servant