Proper 28 / Pentecost 26 / Ordinary Time 33
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
-- Isaiah 12:3
It was a unique configuration of events that made it possible for Israel to occupy the hills of Canaan. At the time of their occupation of this land, the world had just discovered how to smelt iron. This enabled the manufacturing of axes that could take down the trees and clear the land for agriculture in the mountains. Also, the world had discovered slake lime with which they could plaster wells that could capture the rainwater for both their animals and their crops. Unlike Egypt, with the Nile River, Canaan's hill country was dependent on rainwater. Wells were essential for survival. The prophet drew upon this image of a well to speak of God as "my strength and my might; he has become my salvation."
As Judah lived on the brink of destruction as a nation, Isaiah offered an image of hope when "though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me." In the midst of their despair, they would discover again that the source of their salvation was God. As we come to the end of the church year, we are invited again to rediscover the source of our salvation. Like a well that collects the goodness of God that falls like rain all around us, the church becomes the collector of the water that slakes our thirst and gives us hope and joy.
A well holds the water that sustains life, but only if we let down a bucket can we taste the water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water" (John 4:10).
-- Isaiah 12:3
It was a unique configuration of events that made it possible for Israel to occupy the hills of Canaan. At the time of their occupation of this land, the world had just discovered how to smelt iron. This enabled the manufacturing of axes that could take down the trees and clear the land for agriculture in the mountains. Also, the world had discovered slake lime with which they could plaster wells that could capture the rainwater for both their animals and their crops. Unlike Egypt, with the Nile River, Canaan's hill country was dependent on rainwater. Wells were essential for survival. The prophet drew upon this image of a well to speak of God as "my strength and my might; he has become my salvation."
As Judah lived on the brink of destruction as a nation, Isaiah offered an image of hope when "though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me." In the midst of their despair, they would discover again that the source of their salvation was God. As we come to the end of the church year, we are invited again to rediscover the source of our salvation. Like a well that collects the goodness of God that falls like rain all around us, the church becomes the collector of the water that slakes our thirst and gives us hope and joy.
A well holds the water that sustains life, but only if we let down a bucket can we taste the water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water" (John 4:10).
