AT A MINISTRY MEETING

(i)      SPRINGS OF WATER

Philip Eagle

Matthew 6: 28 (from “Observe with attention)-29; Psalm 104: 10-15

These two scriptures came to me as were sitting here – one of them is very well known to the brethren and perhaps the other less so, but it speaks of what is in God’s creation that is perfect, but it also speaks of God’s glory. We have been reading recently about Solomon and the house he built for Jehovah and which was, perhaps, a house of great glory. It was constructed with the best possible materials, the wood was overlaid with gold and there is much detail in the scriptures as to how it was constructed and the materials used. We also touched on Solomon’s glory, himself, what he had, his wisdom and what he had in the way of material wealth. It says as to the lilies of the field – we have all seen a lily, a bit of a simple plant, most of them are white – that they are clothed in a glory that even Solomon could not be clothed in at the height of his glory. That would speak to us as to what is great about God. We live in a world which God has created, the creation is around us and man still does not understand it. He tries to understand it in a completely different way from what God desires. This scripture came to me because it speaks of simplicity, that which God has created is simple but glorious. It goes on to say, “But if God so clothe the herbage of the field, which is to-day, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, will he not much rather you, O ye of little faith?” (v.30). That is perhaps a word to us. There is the scripture as to the two sparrows (see Matt. 10: 29), and yet God will look after us in a way that perhaps we do not expect, and sometimes our faith is weak, but God is with us. It says here, “the lilies of the field … they toil not, neither do they spin”, God makes them to grow and yet they are clothed with a glory that Solomon did not have – how it speaks to us that we need faith, perhaps our faith is low and weak at times, yet we can be dependent on God who is the provider of these things.

I turn to the scripture in the Psalms where it speaks of springs and provision, “He sendeth the springs into the valleys: they run among the mountains”. Those of us who have seen springs in valleys and mountains know that there is a certain freshness and life among them. Look at a stream that is bubbling or a river that is running fast, and it looks fresh and clear. It does not stand still. The pattern on it will change as the water comes down at speed. That would speak of life-giving. The things of God give life and there is life in God’s things, the spring runs into the valleys and among the mountains and it says, “They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst. The birds of the heaven dwell by them; they give forth their voice from among the branches. He watereth the mountains from his upper-chambers”. The last part of verse 13 is what interested me, “the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works” – think of that, the satisfaction that can be got out of God’s things – “the earth is satisfied”. Think of the woman in John 4 who was enjoined to take of the water which the Lord would give her and she would never thirst again. There is satisfaction from God’s springs. We sing that hymn:

Spring up, O Well, in Thy glory!      (Hymn 391)

This passage of scripture would speak about what is exhaustless. Everything here is satisfied – “wild asses quench their thirst”, all these different parts of creation are satisfied and yet we can be satisfied too on God’s things with the fruit of God’s work. Think of what God has, think of the many fruits that He has. We can produce fruit too (sometimes perhaps we do not do it too readily) but we can produce fruit to God’s glory, but yet it says, “the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works”. In God’s matters there is much satisfaction and you would find that in the Psalms. There is much that speaks of God’s greatness through His creation, it speaks much of streams and rivers. Streams and rivers are often sources of life to man in the natural state, without water nothing can survive, and yet God provides springs of refreshment in such occasions as these, and other meetings, the readings, there is refreshment to be had. Sometimes, perhaps, we do not always get the refreshment we need because our minds are distracted, but the Spirit would help us to gain something, no matter how small it is, it can refresh us and satisfy us. May it be so, for His Name’s sake.