“Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water…
“Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
Have you not brought this upon yourself
by forsaking the Lord your God,
when he led you in the way?
And now what do you gain by going to Egypt
to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
Your evil will chastise you,
and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
for you to forsake the Lord your God;
the fear of me is not in you,
declares the Lord God of hosts…
“Though you wash yourself with lye
and use much soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,
declares the Lord God.” Jeremiah 2:11-13,16-19,22
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but 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 4:13-14
Thirst is a natural urge, yet we humans sample many liquids that never quench. Often we keep returning, foolishly thinking more of the same—- cheap entertainment, illicit or excessive substances, strange gods—- will finally satiate, but bad water never does. Thirst of soul will gnaw all life long until it is satisfied in the Lord alone.
What keeps us changing gods? Is it because we have dismissed the true One? Man is fickle and flirty beyond repair when he forsakes living water for devices of his own design and taste. A restless spirit remains so when it seeks everything but truth, yet the one who sets his mind on Christ will be kept in peace. Which strange and bitter rivers, whose cisterns, what false beliefs are keeping us from the water that truly quenches? (Isaiah 26:3)
It is vital to recognize the polluted rivers that attract us, and turn the other way. We need to name beliefs and attitudes that are apostasy, and return to the Lord. And when we take our guilt to Him and claim Christ’s substitutionary death for us, we are free to drink from Him life forever. Allelujah! (1 John 1:9)
“I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.” ~Robert Lowry (1872)
Lord, lead me in my thirst to Your living water, and fill me to overflow so others may taste it too.
As the rain and snow 