Living water or broken cisterns?
Jer. 2:13: "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (NIV).
Due to desert conditions, water had an enormous impact on Israel. The quality of their water depended on its source. The cleanest water came from flowing springs. The dirtiest water came from man-made cisterns that were dug to collect rainwater. Because they were hollowed out of rock, they usually contained mud or dirt. If the walls of the cistern cracked, the people would apply plaster to try to prevent the water from seeping out, but, a cracked cistern was practically useless.
Jeremiah's analogy was perfect for the times. No one would choose water from a cistern over a sparkling spring, and particularly a broken cistern that couldn't even hold water! Yet, we all do it when we seek the pleasure of transitory things such as approval of men, money, power, beauty, or fame. When we do, we are relying on the broken promises of unstable "cisterns."
Place your trust in God and His Word, and He will refresh you with living water!
