There's That River Again

Scripture:
What a day!
Wine streaming off the mountains,
Milk rivering out of the hills,
water flowing everywhere in Judah,
A fountain pouring out of God’s Sanctuary,
watering all the parks and gardens!
Joel 3:18

Observation: Joel prophesizes about the future restoration of Judah and Jerusalem with the language of a land fully restored. Yes, people will be returned from exile. Yes, enemies will be judged and punished. Yet some of the most joy-filled language is used to describe the promised land itself, restored with fruit-filled trees, perfect weather, lush fields, and flowing waters.

And just like other prophesies, the hill of Zion - God's sanctuary, the temple - produces flowing water. This water goes out and leaves the sanctuary, flowing into all other parts of the city and the nearby land and on out toward wherever, providing life-giving water to parks and gardens, fields and trees, animals and communities.

Application: I am struck again by the image of a flow of water produced out of the temple. Certainly it was clearly understood that there was no aquafer, or any meaningful water source, on the hill of Zion, in the center of Jerusalem, within the rock-hard temple mount. Therefore, it can never be mistaken that when a prophet sees this image, that prophet is reporting out a clear and consistent message ... that life manifests within, and flows out to the entire world from, the Lord himself.

I so want to see that flowing river for myself! I have the images in my mind of what that might look like. It is an earthly image, but somewhere in my heart I understand it to be a heavenly image, too. It involves relaxation at the water's edge, children at play splashing about, and wild animals drinking peacefully. And just a ways away are the headwaters, seemingly coming from a city on a hill, and a great building in that city, and a mighty throne within the courtyard of that building, and a man of blinding light on that throne. And it all radiates a feeling of ... warm peacefulness.

A fountain pours out of God's sanctuary, and waters all the peaceful places of the world. Be that sanctuary heaven, a figurative or literal new temple, or something else I don't understand, I do know the water itself is the Lord's love, poured out for us all, to give us life in the full.

Prayer: Lord, I desire to enjoy the warm peace of your love for all eternity. May I worship you today and every day, finding how to serve you and do your will. Amen.