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339. The Promised Spring

Isaiah 44:1-5; Galatians 3:15-29
Key Verse: "For I will pour out on the thirsty land, streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants."
Isaiah 44:3

        There is an old gospel song that goes:
"There's a river of life flowing out through me.
It makes the lame to walk and the blind to see,
It opens prison doors and sets the captives free.
There's a river of life flowing out through me!
Spring up oh well within my soul.
Spring up oh well and make me whole!
Spring up oh well and give to me
That life so abundantly.

In truth, the song refers to an incident during the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert when the Lord led them to a well near Beer.  (Numbers 21:16-18).  The desert, however, serves as a useful picture to describe all of us in our wanderings through the ravages of sin.

The people of Jesus’ day were, in a sense, no better off than their ancestors who wandered outside the Promised Land.  They were all suffering in sin in one way or another.  Galatians 3:22 says, "The scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe."  The Jews were oppressed by the Romans.  The Romans were oppressed by their government. There was corruption and religious oppression everywhere. Immorality was rampant.  It was a desert of hopelessness.  Yes, Jesus had come, but He had also left and now the festival of Pentecost was coming.  The religious calendar, same old, same old, marched on. The disciples were praying, but for what?

Yet, the stage was being set.  The poor and the alien alike were invited to this festival.  The oppressed of the world were invited to come and bring their offering and to give thanks for what the Lord had done for them despite their oppression.

"I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your off spring, and My blessing on your descendants.  They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.  One will say, "I belong to the Lord," another will call himself by the name of Jacob; another will write on his hand, "The Lord's," and will take the name Israel."  (Isaiah 44:3-5)  "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."  (Gal. 3:28-29)

The feast of Pentecost invited the world to come.  Come from the desert.  Come out of your struggle and receive the Lord's blessing.  He will restore what the locust of sin has eaten.  (Joel 2:26)  He will bless with His water from which you will never thirst again.  (John 4:14)  Yes, the world was poised to receive a new thing and they couldn't have even imagined just how wonderful it could be!


Hymn: "Holy Spirit Rain Down"  

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