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Psalm 36:7-9 - The Fountain of Life and Light.Psalm 36:7-9 (NLT) How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. 9 For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.WORD STUDY The fountain of life. Life literally and spiritually; life here and hereafter. God is the source not only of life but of all that gives life meaning. [SDA Bible Commentary] In thy light. As God is the source of light, only in Him can we see light. Apart from God, all our understanding is only darkness. Our prayer should be: "What in me is dark, illumine" (Milton). [SDA Bible Commentary] INTRODUCTION This vivid image - "fountain of life" - gives us a sense of fresh, cleansing water giving life to the spiritually thirsty. This same picture is used in Jeremiah 2:13, where God is called the "fountain of living water." Jesus spoke of himself as living water that could quench thirst forever and give eternal life (John 4:14). When we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to forgive us by faith, we receive this never-ending supply of life-giving water through the presence of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL Living Water An Amazing Fact: Water is essential to life and to nearly all functions of the human body. Water helps to keep tissues in the eyes, nose, and mouth moist. It helps protect body organs and lubricate joints. Water dissolves the minerals and nutrients in food, making them accessible to the body, and water also helps carry those nutrients throughout the body. Recent studies have shown that drinking five or more glasses of water per day can even reduce the risk of heart attack by around 50 percent over drinking two or fewer glasses of water. It is no secret that people, animals, and plants must have water to live. In Ezekiel's vision, a man "with the appearance of bronze" showed him a stream of water flowing from the temple that is even more necessary to life than the water from a faucet. When the stream, which quickly became a river, reached the ocean, the waters of the sea were healed. Along the banks of the river grew trees that never withered and bore new fruit every month. Most amazingly, the man told Ezekiel that "everything will live wherever the river goes" (Ezekiel 47:9). Jesus wants His people to be sustained by "water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). Once we experience the water of salvation, a new miracle occurs. Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). Ezekiel's stream, at first only ankle deep, kept getting wider and deeper until it was "a river that could not be crossed" (Ezekiel 47:5). Jesus wants His gospel message to be spread the same way - from person to person until the whole world has access to His living water. [Moving Mountains by Amazing Facts] COMMENTARY A Spring For The Soul Sadly, many people get their happiness only from outward circumstances. As long as their lives are untroubled, they feel happy. But when illness strikes, or a relationship breaks down, or any of a thousand other unexpected troubles engulf them, then happiness flees. Near my home is a spring that never varies its flow. Floods may rage, but its output doesn't increase. A long summer's drought may come, but it won't decrease. Its flow is steady, reliable, and unending. Such is the peace we all yearn for - and such is the peace Jesus promises to all who trust in Him: "The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.... My peace I give to you" (John 4:14; 14:27). Have you come to that unending spring - which is Christ? Are you coming to Him each day? The world attempts to woo people with its version of happiness. Today spend some time alone with Christ and experience joy that is full and pleasures that are eternal. [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham] CLOSING PEARLS God offers the only real life there is. When we give ourselves to Him and walk in the light He provides us, in His Word and by His Spirit, we begin to see more and more how we can enjoy life to the fullest. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley] God's love is measureless. It is more: it is boundless. It has no bounds because it is not a thing but a facet of the essential nature of God. His love is something he is, and because he is infinite, that love can enfold the whole created world in itself and have room for ten thousand times ten thousand worlds beside. A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Psalm 36:9 - The Fountain Of Life and Light. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220103-1055.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150218-1416.html Psalm 36:7-9 - The Fountain Of Life and Light. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20110217-1311.html Jeremiah 2:13 - Living Water or Broken Cistern? (updated - part one) https://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090519-2108.html Jeremiah 2:13 - Living Water or Broken Cistern? (updated - part two) https://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090520-0745.html John 4:14 - How to Satisfy Your Spiritual Thirst. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240502-0947.html John 7:37-39 - Are You Thirsty? https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240312-0832.html Isaiah 12:2, 3 - God Is My Salvation, Strength and Song So I Trust Him and Do Not Fear. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240420-0938.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |