Living waters or broken cisterns?

by Phoebe

“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.” Jeremiah 2:13

Recently, Jon has been helping our church members install some portable water filters for their homes. They were very happy to receive the water filters because this means that they can have free drinking water. In Thailand, many households choose to buy bottled drinking water as they are perceived to be cleaner and safer. People who have the means to spend a bit more will install water filters in their homes. In Singapore, we are very fortunate to get potable water directly from our taps.

One day, as Jon and I were sitting around and chatting at one of the church members’ home, we started discussing whether rainwater and groundwater in our village have chemicals in them. Unfortunately, due to intensive farming which involves spraying of pesticides, many water sources have been contaminated. The owner of the home has been collecting rainwater for drinking but also recognises that it is not 100% safe. She then recounted that in the past, rainwater tasted really sweet and had a taste so good that it is indescribable. However over time, the water she has been collecting is no longer so sweet-tasting. Fresh and clean running water is very rare nowadays.

During the time of Jeremiah’s judgment, the people of Israel had three sources of water – 1) fresh running water from a spring or stream which has the best quality; 2) ground water which is collected from well; and 3) runoff water which is collected from a cistern which contains silt and mosquito larvae – this is the worst of all three. The people of Israel had wilfully chosen the worst of the water source instead of the best. To make the situation worse, they chose a cistern which is broken, leaks and is susceptible to contamination. They had turned away from God and had chosen the path that leads to death and separation from God.

As I read Jeremiah 2:13, I am reminded that sin can be so pervasive in our lives that we are blinded to choose contaminated water from broken cisterns for our sustenance, instead of the fountain of living waters which cleanses us, fills us and renews us.

We pray that God will open the eyes of the people in Thailand to put away the broken cisterns in their lives (be it idol worship, addictions, fears, hurts or unforgiveness) which separate them from God, and to recognise that He is indeed the living waters that lead to fullness of life.