Vain Repetitions

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)

During their forty years in the wilderness wanderings the Israelites lived in booths, temporary shelters to protect them from the heat of the day and the cold of the night.

Following the wilderness experience the Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three annual feasts of the children of Israel. It was to commemorate their struggle in the wilderness and God’s provision and protection of them during that time. During the week long observance they quoted or read the forty-second psalm. Over and over again they would repeat, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” (Psalm 42:1)

It was upon observing this monotonous repetition that Jesus, who had now arrived for the Feast, made the statement which is our text. It would be Rivers of living water. Rivers, not wet weather spring branches. Not trickles. Rivers, Amazons, Mississippi’s, Niles. Rivers shall flow from within. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was letting us know that there is no magic verse to repeat then and there are none now.  Vain repetitions do not move God. Come to Jesus for satisfaction.