for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the
fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken
cisterns that can hold no water. [Jeremiah 2:13 ESV]
The people of Judah had a clear choice between "living waters" and "broken cisterns." Jeremiah presents a stark contrast in this verse in his outspoken message from the Lord. The people of Judah have chosen the broken cisterns as distinct from the living waters.
In the Old Testament setting, water was vitally important as it was a scarce commodity. Jeremiah says that his people have chosen to drink water from broken cisterns which hold no water. These cisterns have nothing to do with flushing toilets! Palestine had three sources of water in the Old Testament setting: the best is fresh running water, such as flows from a spring or stream, which is called “living water”; next comes ground water, such as might collect in a well; and last is runoff water collected in a cistern (a pit hewn into the limestone and plastered to prevent seepage; these pits also collects silt and mosquito larvae). Jeremiah laments that his own people have not only traded the best of water supplies for the worst, but their cistern is broken, with all its water leaked out and nothing but sludge remaining.
Incidentally, Jeremiah himself found himself in one of these cisterns when he presented the message God had given him. "So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud." [Jeremiah 38:6 ESV]
[See Day Share entitled Jeremiah: Persecution of a Prophet 15/11/2021]
Instead of drinking foul-tasting, impure water the people of Judah could have been enjoying life-giving water from the divine fountain. "They have hewed out cisterns for themselves." This suggests hard graft and effort. This is the way of Cain - that is, man doing his own thing without God so that he can say "I did it my way.". It is also for themselves - that is, it is entirely selfish and self-centred. This is typical of today's society - living a life without God. The people of Judah were choosing to serve Baal or other man-made gods instead of serving the Lord. We may not serve a stone or wooden idol but if there is something in our life which is taking the place of God or His Son, then we are choosing a broken cistern instead of a fountain of
life-giving water.
The order these evils are listed is significant. The first evil is forsaking God. The second evil is seeking an inadequate alternative to God. In other words, the problem begins with a lack of commitment to Him. It is not the attractiveness of the alternatives which start the downward trend. How often we blame the lure of the world for our lack of spiritual interest when in reality the problems begins with us and our lack of affection for Him.
Notice that God speaks about the people of Judah as 'my people.' He had created them in His image. He had chosen them to be a nation for Himself. This was not because they were a better sort of people. God chose them because of His grace or undeserved favour. God still cares for his people today. He wants the best for us. He is deeply hurt when we turn our back on Him and choose a substitute god instead.
There is an old hymn has just come into my old head.
O Christ, in Thee my soul hath found, And found in Thee alone, The peace, the joy I sought so long, The bliss till now unknown. Now none but Christ can satisfy, None other name for me; There’s love and life and lasting joy, Lord Jesus, found in Thee. I sighed for rest and happiness, I yearned for them, not Thee; But, while I passed my Saviour by, His love laid hold on me. I tried the broken cisterns, Lord, But, ah, the waters failed! E’en as I stooped to drink they fled, And mocked me as I wailed. The pleasures lost I sadly mourned, But never wept for Thee, Till grace the sightless eyes received, Thy loveliness to see.
[Picture by Carolina del Castillo on Unsplash]
The same hymn popped into my head too before I scrolled down. I'm a wee bit younger too!
The prodigal Son's journey did not begin in the Swine pen it began with him being unsatisfied in the Father's house.
Having tried the broken cisterns of this world and finding no satisfaction but rather being hungry miserable, friendless and destitute he contemplates that his Father's house isn't that bad after all, 'In my Father's house there is bread enough and to spare'.
This is a familiar story regarding God's people, the children of Israel who often grumbled and complained against God and loathed his provision (manna delivered every day) calling it light bread (unsatisfying). They forgot that God had delivered them…