The Wells of Salvation

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord, Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:2-3

Introduction. When we think of wells, we think of water. Water plays a major role in the physical world in which we live. It covers a majority of the earth’s surface and makes up the greater part of our human bodies. Water is mentioned over 570 times in the Old Testament, and over 86 times in the New Testament. Water is what saved Noah and his family, but destroyed the wicked world around them (1 Peter 3:20). Water is what saved the Israelites and destroyed the Egyptians (Exodus 14:21-31). It also separated Israel from the Promised Land — they had to cross the Jordan River during flood stage. It stood between the leper Naaman and his cleansing. Water is what is used by the obedient in baptism, and condemns those who are not baptized (Acts 8:36-39; 10:47-48; Luke 7:30). Water is significant in the Bible and in this article we are going to consider a few points of about water and the wells of salvation.

There Are Different Methods of Obtaining and Storing Life-Giving Water

  • Wells have been dug, pumps have been installed, reservoirs have been prepared, and cisterns were hewn for catching the rain.
  • In our many travels through many places on Earth, we have all seen several ways utilized to preserve water. This has also been the case in obtaining and storing the water of eternal life.
    • Some study the word of God one way and therefore are able to retain it, and others study another way (Psalm 119:11).
    • But some study it the wrong way and do not rightly divide it (2 Timothy 2:15). When they do this they “… 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).

Many Allow Their Wells Of Salvation To Be Filled With Debris

  • Those who are older and living in rural areas remember that you probably cleaned out your well ever so often in order to get the debris out of it that had accumulated in some form or other. Whenever an animal would fall into the well, it would have to clean out immediately.
  • Abraham dug wells but the Philistines filled them up and they had to be cleaned out. Isaac cleaned out the wells of his father and dug others as well (Genesis 26:12-33; 21:25-30).
  • The apostles, by the direction of the Holy Spirit, dug wells of pure water but men have filled them with creeds, manuals, and catechisms. We are to be filled with pure water (the Bible) leaving no room for debris (Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Ephesians 5:18). Error acts like trash which poisons the true and living water. God was very plain in commanding that nothing be added to His word (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Revelation 22:18-19).
  • We must, in order to get to the pure water, keep the wells clean. James 1:21 says, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

The Blessings of the Gospel Are Like Pure Water

  • Water refreshes so do the gospel (Acts 3:19).
  • Water revives from drought, so does the gospel (Isaiah 35:1-2).
  • Water purifies the body, the gospel purifies the soul (1 Peter 1:22-23).
  • Water cleanses the body, the gospel cleanses the soul (John 15:3).
  • Water is a universal necessity.
    • All men everywhere need it for washing, for growing, and for quenching thirst. Man cannot live where there is no water.
    • The gospel also is universal (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). It is needed by all men everywhere for:
      • Washing (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26).
      • Growing (2 Peter 2:2; 3:18; Hebrews 5:13-14).
      • Quenching thirst (John 4:13-14).

Jesus Is the Source of This Living Water

  • This fact was prophesied of Jesus (Zechariah 13:1; 14:8).
  • Jesus declared Himself as the source of living water (John 7:37-38).
    • The Feast of Tabernacles included a daily procession of priests from the temple to the Pool of Siloam, from which they drew water for a libation at the altar.
    • This offering of water memorialized God’s provision for the thirsty people in the wilderness, but the water had been poured out and had left them unsatisfied.
  • Everyone should draw this water with joy (Isaiah 12:3):
    • Because it is free (Revelation 22:17).
    • Because it satisfies (John 4:13; Isaiah 49:10; Jeremiah 17:8).
    • Because it springs up unto eternal life (John 4:14).
    • Because one cannot live without this water (Job 8:11-13; Psalm 1:3).
    • Because it cannot be obtained from the world’s cisterns (Psalm 63:1).
    • Because it never fails or dries up (Isaiah 58:11; Psalm 23:2).

Conclusion. To be filled with living water, one must thirst after it (Psalm 42:1-2). Do not die of spiritual thirst, but draw from the wells of salvation and drink of the water of life freely. Are you hungering and thirsting after eternal salvation (Matthew 5:6)? Come to the fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins, for sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

Kyle Campbell

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