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Isaiah 12:3

3With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.


This verse immediately follows yesterday's verse. Centuries after it was written, during the time of Christ, it was sung by a priest as he drew water from the pool of Siloam and brought it up a staircase to the Temple. Then he would bring it to the bronze altar where he would meet another priest with a pitcher of wine. They would circle the altar seven times on the last day of the Feast of Booths. Then they would raise the pitchers high and pour the water and wine out on the altar. It was to symbolize the hope of the coming rains and the ultimate pouring out of the Spirit.

It was sometime on that last day of the feast that Jesus shouted out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37-38). It seems obvious to me that Jesus read these verses with His name (salvation = "Jesus" in Hebrew) and knew the Spirit through Isaiah was referring to Him. It is the same thing he told the woman at the well, only there He said it would spring up unto eternal life (John 4:14). Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit that everyone was looking forward to in that water and wine ceremony (John 7:39).

Are you thirsty? Later in Isaiah, the LORD will ask that same question. He invites all who are thirsty to come to Him and drink. Jesus was declaring Himself to be the source of the Spirit and eternal life, one with the Father.

Consider: The world will never satisfy our spiritual thirst. Jesus invites us to joyfully draw water for our spiritual thirst from the well of Yeshua (Jesus).