Day: June 15, 2022

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13 KJV).

What priceless lesson can we learn from today’s Scripture?

The Holy Spirit through the Prophet Jeremiah faults the people of Judah on the grounds of two grievances. Firstly, they have deserted the LORD God, “the fountain of living waters.” Of course, this means He is the source of spiritual life—just as He is the origin of physical life. They declined whatever spiritual nourishment He could provide them. Secondly, they have replaced Him with something of their own efforts: “they have… hewed [cut] them out cisterns.” These reservoirs or containers “can hold no water,” so whatever they have done has been in vain. No matter how hard the sinner tries, he or she cannot substitute or replace the living God: “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit” (verse 11).

In other words, the Jewish people were dead spiritually—not only individually, but corporately or nationally. They were without “water.” However, to be sure, from all outward appearances, they were quite religious. The LORD, in chapter 1, verse 16, of Jeremiah, stated: “And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.” Chapter 2, verse 32: “Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.” They were too busy with idols to give JEHOVAH God any attention! Like the aforementioned “frozen ship,” they were drifting along—but were as lifeless as could be.

An evangelist once remarked: “I have been to churches where they have not had a controversy there in 20 years. Those churches are dead!” Again, they are also wandering or moving (“having a form of godliness;” 2 Timothy 3:5), but inside, there is no living God to impart spiritual life to them….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Was Jesus 50 years old during His earthly ministry?”