Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the LORD- For wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all. Jeremiah 31: 12, NKJV.
Dear God, we long for the Well of Living Water to flow over us, and revive us, and enable us, to do Your will. This we ask in the precious name of Jesus, our Savior and Friend. Amen.
When I read the phrase “well-watered garden,” immediately, the Garden of Eden came to mind, “For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground” (Genesis 2: 5b, 6). Emphasis provided. The garden of Eden was well-watered because God had made provision for it to be watered. God was not depending on Adam to take care of the garden. That thought put into motion many other thoughts:
1) God gave Adam the privilege and opportunity, to be a co-worker with Him in tending the garden, “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (15). God gave humankind a home that was lacking in nothing. Everything that was conducive to their happiness, was in that home: food (16); companionship (18, 21); beautiful natural decorations, a giant aquarium with all kinds of fishes and mammals, with which they could swim safely! Winged pets, four legged pets, creeping pets – and endowed them with the ability to rule over them!(Genesis 1). He also gave them the ability to grow morally through obedience ( 2: 17); and intellectually, through observance and application(19, 20a). In a well-watered garden, all our needs are supplied!
2) We read again from the Scriptures, “A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates” (Genesis 2: 10-14). Emphasis provided. Eden was a well-watered garden!
What stands out in my mind when I read the phrase, “a well-watered garden” as it compares to the garden of Eden, is the fact that the garden was watered from within and without. The “mist went up” from the [bowels] of the earth and watered the whole land! And the four rivers flowed “out of Eden” to water the garden. There was no lack, because God was the Provider! Our Scripture for today speaks of all that God has planned for His children. When God blesses we are blessed indeed! Jesus could tell the woman at the well that she would never be thirsty again if she drank from the water that He was offering her (John 4: 14)! He could tell the multitude that whoever ate of the bread that came down from heaven (Himself) would live forever (John 6: 50, 51). Their internal, as well as their eternal, needs would be satisfied. He can say to all of us, ” ‘ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ . . . For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” ‘ ” (Matthew 6: 31, 32b, 33). Our external needs will also be satisfied.
Have you met Jesus? Today is a good day to have an encounter with the Savior. Two days ago the promise was that Jesus would free His people from the waterless pit – Today he promises that our souls will be like a well-watered garden. In the time of ancient Israel, drought was a sign of God’s displeasure. Yesterday, we read how Jesus proclaimed “the acceptable year of the LORD.” God is waiting to receive all who come to Him, and show them favor ((John 6: 37). Now is the time to come to Jesus just as you are. If you are living in a time of drought, He can cause rivers of living water to well up in you! If your life is parched He can hydrate it by allowing His Holy Spirit to descend in torrential showers upon you. He has the power, and the desire, to make of your life, a well-watered garden!