Whilst reading Friday’s appointed Psalms[1], I was struck by these words:
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water; You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges, softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth (Ps 65:9a, 10).
Sounds too wonderful! I had to remind myself the psalmist was familiar with life in a “water stressed” nation – hence his gratitude for rain. This deep awareness of water’s life-giving value is why, in Scripture, water is often a metaphor for the life God gives. Jesus said: “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:38b). In God’s New Creation a river of life, bright as a crystal, flows from God’s throne into the city. (Rev. 22:1).
The “drought” in political leadership has kept us crying out to God. We rejoice in the green shoots of life we now see. Our Lord will also lead us through this time of drought. We’ll learn valuable lessons and ultimately rejoice with gratitude at God’s provision.
For now, may our worship lead us to drink deeply from God’s river of life! May living waters overflow from our hearts into a dry and thirsty land.
God Bless,
Sean
[1] In the Daily Office, Common Book of Prayer