Jeremiah 2: Broken Cisterns

In reading in Jeremiah, I was very struck by this word that the Lord speaks to the prophet:

“My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV)

In Jeremiah's time people used cisterns as a place to hold water in case of drought. We all need a deep source of reserved strength and in spite of the fact that we know that nothing we can do will ever be able to keep us safe from the difficulties that face us in life, we often try to make our own "cisterns" in relationships, jobs or pride in our accomplishments or looks. All of those things can be lost in a moment. Moreover, none of those things is actually going to fulfill us in the way we need to be fulfilled and strengthened.

The people of Jeremiah's time had been warned over and over not to neglect what God wanted them to do to purify their hearts and minds, forgive others and help the needy. They had a lot of religious activity but not a lot of real love for God and others. I think we are sometimes also too busy with doing things and not really thinking about whether we are letting God give us the cisterns he has ready for us. We all need a deep patience, joy, faith and love that can't come from any activity, accomplishment or pleasure.

How often do I spend time worrying about what someone thinks about me? Or fussing about some irritation that interrupts my day? I grow so impatient when other people mess up on something. These verses remind me that what I need to focus on is the fact that if I don't feel I have the spiritual, emotional or mental resources to deal with something, I need to remember that God does.

Jesus offered the Samaritin woman "living water that will never run dry." I need that water! Instead of taking a drink from my own emotional resources of broken cisterns that run dry, I need to stop by the cisterns of my Father, where eternal springs of living water flow unending. I've written this poem/prayer from this passage to remind me to seek the water which gives me Life.

Jeremiah 2:13: Broken Cisterns

Oh Lord Your People

Have committed two sins,

They have forsaken you

The stream of living waters,

And they have built cisterns,

Broken cisterns,

When the rain falls down

Still they have no water.

Oh Jesus, Lord Jesus

You are the Life,

the Source,

the Living Water.

Jesus Lord Jesus

you are the Life.

Oh Jesus, My Lord Jesus,

I confess my sin,

I have forsaken you.

I have built cisterns, broken cisterns,

When the rain falls down,

Still I have no water.

Oh Jesus, Lord Jesus,

You are the Life,

the Source,

the Living Water.

Jesus, Lord Jesus,

you are the Life.

Oh Jesus, My Lord Jesus,

Take away my sin

Fill me up with your spirit.

Take away my cisterns,

Break down my cisterns,

Holy Spirit rain down

Fill me up with living water.

Jesus, Lord Jesus,

Rain down your life,

Rain down your living waters.

Jesus, Lord Jesus, you are my Life.