Dear Family,
Today is Saturday, May 17, 2025. This is Day 7 of Week 5 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 35th day of Counting. Today is the Sabbath.
The ancient Israelites witnessed God’s gift of water flowing from the Rock. They were in a dry, parched wilderness; yet, at God’s command, a great river flowed through the area, giving life as it went.
There are a number of times in the Bible when God uses the analogy of dry land versus a watered land. When we compare the verses we find that dryness is connected to rebellion and to those who are away from God (including evil, fallen angels). God says He will even make some places into a dry wilderness.
Psalm 68:6 God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
Zephaniah 2:13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
Unclean spirits are described as wandering in dry areas. Clearly, these are places where we do not desire to live.
Matthew 12:23 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
On the other hand, being watered is God’s gift to those He desires to refresh, for those who thirst for Him.
Psalm 63:1-2 (1) O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (2) To see Thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.
Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
From the lesson of ancient Israel, let us learn that when we are thirsty we must humbly go to God instead of turning to mistrust of God, murmuring or complaining. Today, God offers His Church the true Water of Life. On this Sabbath day, let us thirst for our God and “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).
May God bless us richly with all we need for life and godliness!
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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