Archive for May 20th, 2007
Living Water
“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11 )
Back in the days when I was in seminary, the above text was part of a chapel service that I was planned. This text from the Old Testament was paired with the text from the New Testament about Jesus’ baptism. I interwove the two texts for a choral reading, and the Old Testament portions were read by one of the seminary professors who had a wonderful booming bass voice. The portions “never again” sounded and felt like God’s voice from heaven promising that all life would be safe and saved. The juxtaposition of water not cutting off life, but actually confirming re-newed life through Christ Jesus was a powerful metaphor that was supported by the cups of fresh water given to the chapel participants. They were invited to drink the water or use it to bless or baptize something or someone. The leftover water was used to water and “baptize” the flowers in front of the chapel building.
It is so characteristic of the Divine to promise not only safety from something, but re-newing and blessing of that same thing or person. Not only did God’s covenant promise protection but went further to save those who were to come through Christ Jesus so that all of humanity past, present and future might be protected and saved.
The promise ‘never again’ shall water harm but it will heal is powerful and should be held on to. This is further by the gift of ‘living water’ that was Christ Jesus. An interesting note, the column ‘Pondering at the Well’ is inspired by this notion. May you all be blessed and refreshed by the living water this is Christ Jesus, gifted to us by God, on this Sabbath day.
