Rivers of Living Water

The journey of the children of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years is recalled during the celebration called The Feast of Tabernacles, Ingathering or Sukkot.  That celebration will begin at sundown tonight and is the greatest harvest feast of the year.  The Jews build and dwell in temporary shelters called sukkahs or booths.  The tops are open and covered with tree branches that allow those dwelling in the booths to see some of the stars in the sky.  For seven days they have their meals or sleep in these temporary shelters.  The Jews are taught to pray that God will send rain for the coming year since none falls between May and October.
 
In Israel, the borders of the Sea of Galilee have shrunk because of drought.  Much of the land is desert and, its inhabitants are keenly aware of their need for water.  On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles the Temple priests performed the Water Libation or Pouring Ceremony.  During this time, impassioned prayers were lifted to God by worshipers for abundant rain.  It is significant that water was collected from the Pools of Siloam (meaning sent or sending forth) and brought to the Temple in Jerusalem where the priest would pour it out, along with wine, onto the altar.  While this pouring was taking place, the people and the priests sang Isaiah 12:3-6.  "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  In that day you will say, 'Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted.  Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.  Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.'" 
 
For those of us who know Jesus as Savior, this Scripture is particularly meaningful.  Yeshua is the Hebrew word for salvation.  For us to have the abundant life that He offers we must draw deeply from the "wells of Salvation." The wells of Yeshua will never run dry.  In fact, here is what He proclaimed: "Then on the most important day of the feast, the last day, Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds--'All you thirsty ones, come to me!  Come to me and drink!  Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!'  Jesus was prophesying about the Holy Spirit that believers were being prepared to receive..." (John 7:37-39 - TPT)
 
Just as the Israelis cry for the physical rain, we must use this season to cry out for the rains of the Spirit to saturate us.  Yeshua has already poured out blood and water from His side as He hung on the Cross.  He was poured out like a drink offering so that we could have eternal life.  He wants us to draw deeply from Him for deep calls unto deep.