the Symbolism of Water

The Significance of Water in Psalm 42

Okay – we gotta read starting at chapter 42.

This is the first of the Psalms that has this title prefixed to it, “To the chief Musician giving instruction to the sons of Korah.” The Syriac says, “It is a Psalm which David sung when he was an exile, and desired to return to Jerusalem.” The Arabic says: “A Psalm for the backsliding Jews.”

There is a famous song I remember from childhood composed by the first verse which says, 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Notice how verses one two and three all appeal to water in some way – In verse one the writers desire for God is likened to the panting of a deer for water, and this is the how the writer describes how his soul pants for God. In verse two the writer says that “He thirsts for God” (Adding) “for the living God,” (love that clarification) and in verse three the writer mentions his own tears, the last form of water (so to speak) now coming out from him, saying,

3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? Finally, he appeals to water indirectly by assigning its properties to His own soul, saying

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

The Importance of Water in Scripture and Life

Water (mayim in Hebrew) is mentioned 520 times in the Old Testament alone and 70 times in the Greek (from the term hudor.) That is almost 600 references to the substance with love only used 284 times in the whole book. The importance of water in the scripture is readily understood, right? Especially literally in an arid place like the middle east and as what is the single most important substance to all living things.

Some physical points about water in the human realm – First of all, water in around and on earth, is vital to the hydrosphere, impacting weather, climate, and ecosystems. Is s a renewable resource through what is called “the water cycle,” which includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Application to Human consumption and sanitation. Agriculture and irrigation. Industry and energy production. Recreation and transportation.

Specifically, water Is adaptable – It’s a liquid in normal conditions but when heated becomes steam and when frozen becomes ice. It naturally dissolves materials that have not become too hard to resist its presence (like concrete and/or stone) It controls temperature. As it has a high specific heat capacity and latent heat of vaporization, making it effective in regulating temperature. It has a unique density maximum at 4°C, (39.2 Fahrenheit) which is crucial for aquatic life. It is an excellent conductor of electricity when contaminated. It’s essential for all known life forms, forming the basis of blood, digestive juices, and other bodily fluids. It serves physical function by transporting nutrients, regulating body temperature, and removing waste products.

And with fascination – The amount of water on Earth has remained relatively constant since the Earth formed. About 97% of Earth’s water is saltwater, and only 3% is freshwater which is locked up glaciers and groundwater. And more than half of a human’s composition is water, with lower percentages found in the harder elements (teeth, bones) and higher percentages in soft tissues like the blood, brain and heart.

Spiritual Significance of Water

Of course, I would not mention any of these physiological facts about water if I did not believe that our Maker didn’t use their import and application to us physically in the same way spiritual living water supports us all in similar spiritually ways. You all know the place – its when Yeshua is traveling toward Galilee and we read

John 4:5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Yeshua therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Yeshua saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him,

The Concept of Living Water

drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Yeshua answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Yeshua answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Understanding Living Water

The Greek words translated living water are “Dhza-oh hudor.” Where material h20 could be considered living water materially, because it leads to, supports and aids material life, Christ reappropriates this idea when speaking to the woman at the well who was focused on well-water and material sustenance and tried to tell her that He was giving them a “well of water springing up into everlasting life.” And it is in the comparisons of these two waters I find significance and the spiritual reason why we seek to receive the living water Yeshua offers all. Taking the values and benefits of material water in hand, lets assign them now to the spiritual lives we all have an opportunity to possess through what Christ offers.

We might first observe that Christ in speaking with the Samaritan woman offers to give her this living water as He says in verse 10 of John 4: 10 If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Then we see a similar offering Christ mentions, saying in verse 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The Promise of Living Water

In both of these passage, Yeshua is offering to “give her” the living water that “if she drank of it she would never thirst again” because this water that Yeshua gives will be “in him like a well of water springing up into eternal life.” We know that this water of life was given by Yeshua and that Yeshua does not assign it to Himself directly (at this point).

Then we have another passage of Scripture where Yeshua speaks of “living water” and that is in John 7. The context for this passage is Yeshua is in the temple for the Feast of Tabernacles celebration and one feature of that feast was the pouring out of water at the base of the altar for seven days. On the eighth day, the ritual was suspended, and no water was poured and it was here that Yeshua made a very public, very dramatic offer and we read, (Listen carefully) John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Yeshua stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. And then John adds an important clarification for his reader, saying – 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because Yeshua was not yet glorified.)

Why was the Holy Spirit not yet given? Because Yeshua was NOT YET GLORIFIED! Yeshua was not yet glorified!? Exactly. And only after He was glorified would He be in a position to give the living water to others – until that time all of these offerings to the Samaritan woman and others were predicated on Him overcoming all things on our behalf and in so doing He would be glorified and then He alone was able to offer this water that in the spiritual sense fortifies all who drink in many of the same ways material water serves and fortifies us in our material existences. Think about it – how the living water

The Spirit of Living Water

Provided to all in whom Christ dwells, serves to hydrate all spiritual light, truth and growth spiritually in, around, and on earth. It is vital to the spiritual hydrosphere, impacting spiritual weather, spiritual climate, and spiritual ecosystems. It is a renewable resource of life itself, possibly through what is called “the Spirit of Christ cycle” which just may include spiritual evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Perhaps because of the Victory of Christ this spirit of living water is central to the increasing improvement and health of the world relative to human spiritual hydration and sanitation, agriculture and irrigation, industry and energy production, and recreation and transportation.

Attributes of His Spirit

As His Spirit is adaptable and can spiritually modify itself to spiritual heat and cold respectively, that it serves to naturally dissolve spiritual materials that have not become too hard to resist its presence (like a stoney heart or willful pride). That it serves to help control the temperature of our human passion (meaning He tempers us). And that the more polluted our interpretation of Him and His Spirit, the greater a conductor of electricity which serves to shock us back to reality?

That His Spirit is essential for all known life forms in heaven and earth and below the earth. That it spiritually serves to transport spiritual nutrients, removing waste products from our minds, will, and emotions. And perhaps we might even see a parallel between the facts about physical water being similar with the Living Spiritual water and can say that the amount of Spiritual living water on Earth has remained relatively constant since the New heaven and new Earth were formed by Him and that maybe even the breakdown between physical fresh water being only 3% and the other 97% being salty that we are also given insight into the percentages of those who are Truly His and in His Kingdom versus those who are outside.

The Invitation of Yeshua

So before being glorified, Yeshua stands on the last day of the feast which was the climax of the festival, and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” And John adds his clarification to this whole scene, saying, (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

What John adds is vital to understanding the meaning of the term, “living water” which Yeshua extended there in the temple to everyone (“anyone” in John 7:37 and “whoever” in verse 38). For them, the requirement for salvation was faith in Christ (verses 38 and 39) and the result of salvation would be the gift of His Spirit (verse 39), likened unto “rivers of living water” (verse 38). The picture of His Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, deemed “living water” leads us to the following conclusions:

Just as water refreshes and revitalizes a thirsty person, and is the central element to the healthy of all materially living things, so the Spirit of Christ (which would be given after He was glorified) gives life to all – in that day to believers only, and in our day to all via His victory – enabling God to produce the fruit from any and all willing to drink. Today, then, the Spirit of Christ given to all, is like an inner well we all have access to but like the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you? CAN’T MAKE HIM DRINK.

Just like in Moses’ day, the material water in the desert kept the Israelites alive, so the Spirit of Christ is present in all, but is beneficial and applicable to those who are followers of Christ and drink from the water only He can give. It is no mistake that Paul, speaking of the Nation of Israel, said in 1st Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Because His Spirit is living, it is active, and is not like other waters that are still, standing or stagnant. His living water flows, therefore it is a verb – actionable, like real love. This amazing reality shows that within those who choose to drink, we become dispensers of that very living water, as Yeshua said in Samaria that the water would be “in them” and would “well up.

The Promise of Living Water

And overflow.” And like He proclaimed at the Feast of Booths, saying that the water would “flow from within them.” Back in Isaiah, YAHAVAH prophetically promised the Nation in Isaiah 44:3, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” And Paul declared in 2nd Corinthians 1:20. The Spirit, whom the Father likens unto water, was indeed poured out on all of those who put their faith in the Son. It’s just one of the many promises of God that are “yes” and “amen” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Today, we exist in a heavenly and earthly economy where the Spiritual world, its living and its dead inhabitants are blessed by the Living water, just as the material world was blessed by God from the first creation. This caused John, after seeing the wrap up of the former economy under Law in Revelation to add a description of where our world is now,

Revelation’s Vision

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst (not those that believe) of the fountain of the water of life freely. And then in the last chapter of Revelation, John reports the following from the Glorified Christ. Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Then at verse 17 of the same last chapter we read Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Whew – and I prepared to just read today. And continuing that lets start at verse 5 where the Psalmist says, 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore, will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

The Psalmist’s Reflections

And just as an FYI, at verse seven the writer returns to notions surrounding water and says, 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 Yet the YAHAVAH will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

CHAPTER FOURTY THREE

There is no title to this Psalm in the Hebrew, nor in the Chaldee but the Syriac says it was composed “by David when Jonathan told him that Saul intended to slay him,” and just like the former Psalm, the Arabic says of this, as of the preceding, that it is a prayer for the backsliding Jews. 1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. 2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

We note that the last line repeats the last line of chapter forty-one so it is believed that they are directly connected.

FOURTY FOUR

Same title here as that in Psalms 42:1. Seems to be a Psalm connected

Reflections on Divine Intervention and Kingship

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favor unto them. Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves. Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, for the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

The Struggle and Faithfulness

All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way; though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Shawns note – Paul Romans 8:36)

Awake, why sleepest thou, O YAHAVAH? arise, cast us not off for ever. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.

Kingship and Majesty

PSALM 45

Ps 45:1 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.>>

And the topic seems to be about kings – you decide – but if you agree we might see the use of God here applied to earthly kings – you decide.

My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. Kings’ daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy YAHAVAH; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the…

The Majesty and Refuge of God

People shall intreat thy favour. The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

God as a Refuge and Strength

PSALM 46

<<To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.>> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. YAHAVAH of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the YAHAVAH, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The YAHAVAH of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Praise and Exaltation

PSALM 47

<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For YAHAVAH most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

God is gone up with a shout, YAHAVAH with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

The Beauty and Stability of Zion

PSALM 48

<> Great is YAHAVAH, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

(Shawn Note on This speaking to Jerusalem not God)

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the YAHAVAH of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

PSALM 49

Ps 49:1 <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> Hear this, all ye people; give ear,

Reflections on Life and Wealth

Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

The Majesty of God

PSALM 50

<> The mighty God, even the YAHAVAH, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

The Call to Righteousness

Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Main Topic: Upcoming Scripture Study

We are caught up. Next week Psalm 51 and beyond.

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