Table of Contents
This lesson explores the symbolic meaning of water in the Bible, representing the life-giving Word of God. Just as physical water is essential for life and cleansing, God’s Word nourishes spiritual growth and purifies from sin. Biblical passages poetically compare God’s teachings to rain, dew, and springs that give life. When the Word is openly available, it is like “living water” that eternally quenches spiritual thirst. However, when the Word is sealed or hidden, it creates a spiritual famine. Jesus brought this living water by explaining the Old Testament, and in the last days, the unsealing of Revelation’s prophecies will provide the water of life needed for that time. Understanding this figurative meaning helps grasp the Bible’s profound truths.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Figurative meanings:
Water = The Word
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Water
Through understanding the figurative bowl, we already know where the meaning of water is: the Word.
Let’s understand why and what its implications are as the word.
Main Reference
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
In John 3:5, Jesus mentioned two essential elements that a person must recognize not only to acknowledge the Kingdom of Heaven but also to enter it:
Water and the Spirit.
To gain a deeper understanding, let’s explore what ‘water’ and ‘spirit’ signify in this context.
1. Physical Characteristics of Water
When you think about water, what comes to mind?
1. Cleanses
2. Essential for life
Every living thing on this planet requires water to survive. Without water, there is no life. In fact, one of the things that scientists look for on different planets to assess their potential for life is the presence of water in its liquid form. That’s how important it is.
2. Spiritual Meaning of Water
Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.
2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
Let my teachings fall like rain and my words descend like dew.” This verse from Deuteronomy has a melodic quality to it.
Deuteronomy was originally sung to the people of Israel. In this verse, Moses is speaking, but he is referring to God’s teachings, not his own.
He uses figurative language, comparing God’s teachings to rain and dew falling from above to nourish the land below.
The imagery conveys that, just as rain and dew give life, God’s true word always comes from above as a gift to nourish His people.
Moses emphasizes that these are not his own teachings, but rather God’s teachings and words that descend from on high.
The verse poetically conveys that God’s divine message sustains and gives life, just as rain and dew allow plants to grow.
Reminder:
Rain, Dew (water) —–> the Word descends from above
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Apostle Peter quotes Isaiah 40:6-8, which compares human life to grass that withers away without water.
Just as plants need water to grow, we need the Word of God to give us spiritual life and sustenance.
The Word of God is like water that feeds the seed planted in our hearts by God. It helps that seed grow into a mature tree that bears fruit, enabling others to also receive the seed of the gospel. There is a consistent logic here.
When water is absent, plants wither and die.
Similarly, without regularly drinking from the Word of God, our spiritual lives will wither. Like a garden, our hearts need the continual watering of God’s Word to grow spiritually and bear fruit.
Reminder:
Water ——> feeds ——-> grass
The Word ——> nourish, hydrate ——> People
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.
The book of Amos contains prophecies, as we can tell from the way things were said. The prophecy states, “Men will stagger from sea to sea, looking for the words of the Lord. They will not find it, because God has put a famine on the land.”
This prophecy points generally to the time of the first coming of Jesus. Old Testament prophecies often point toward fulfillment during the first coming.
At the time of Jesus’ first coming, there were those who were starving and thirsty for the true words of the Lord. But they could not find it, and so they wandered from sea to sea.
The sea is used figuratively here and is not a good place; it represents aimless wandering. So they staggered from sea to sea looking for the words of the Lord, but could not find them.
However, this state did not last forever, because God had a plan.
Reminder:
Old Testament Prophecy ———> First Coming Fulfillment
Without water = without word
Stagger from seas to sea
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken.
Remember, John 15 takes place during the same conversation that started in John 13.
After Jesus washes the feet of his disciples physically, He then proceeds to wash their hearts spiritually with His words. He cleansed them.
Some view this as the moment when Jesus’ disciples received saving grace. This is what empowered them to then go and preach the gospel and heal others.
Let’s discuss further how Jesus provided this living water through His preaching, why He preached this message, and what His purpose was in doing so.
Reminder:
Jesus ——> open word ——> evangelizing, making disciples
3. Living Water (Springs)
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Jesus is speaking to this woman in figurative, parabolic language that she does not initially understand. At first, she thinks literally and responds, “Oh, give me some of this water so I won’t have to come back to this well.”
Often, people thought literally when Jesus spoke figuratively, just as Nicodemus did in John 3 when he asked, “How can a man who is old be born again into his mother’s womb?”
Jesus has to reframe her understanding and teach her the true meaning of his words.
The “water” that Jesus gives which rises up as springs within them is his word. Jesus’ words become springs of living water within someone when they grasp what he is teaching.
The one receiving this water of life has an internal spring of understanding opened up.
In the next lesson, we’ll look at the figurative springs, rivers, and the sea.
The spring as a source of water parallels how rain is typically formed at mountaintops. The rain falls first on the springs, collecting water in an underground reservoir. Then when that water surfaces, it wells up as a spring. The spring then delivers that water down as a river.
What Jesus meant is, “When the water that I give you from above…” Because Jesus did not speak his own words, did he?
He often had to remind people, “The words I speak are not my own.” As in John 17:8, “They belong to the Father who sent me.” And in John 14:23-24, “The one who loves me will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him.” The words I speak are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
So this word from above that Jesus sows into others washes and cleanses them. It makes them whole and gives them excitement that God is fulfilling what He promised through His Son standing before them.
Amazingly, this Samaritan woman had an impressive understanding of what to expect from the Messiah.
As John 4:25 shows, she grasped that the “water” they awaited, although not yet called water, was what the Messiah needed to provide.
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
I know that the Messiah, called Christ, is coming. What will he do?
He will explain.
Explain what? What was the knowledge that the people at the time of the first coming were missing?
What did they not yet have a complete understanding of? The open word of the Old Testament.
That’s the word that Jesus brought to the people. And when they heard this word, they understood who Christ was, why he was the way he was, and what he was doing.
This is why they were so excited. This is why the moment they understood, they immediately went back to their town and started evangelizing.
“The Christ is here!!” Go, and many people started to come.
That’s what it means for springs to well up within them.
We can’t contain their excitement. And now they’re spreading life to others, washing them with the words that they had received. That’s why it rises up to eternal life.
So let’s now look at water at the second coming. Because now we understand what water means for us at this time.
4. Water at the Second Coming!
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let all who are thirsty come and receive the free gift of the water of life (Revelation 22:17).
What is the water of life that the Spirit and the Bride are asking people to come and receive?
In which book are the Spirit and the Bride mentioned? The book of Revelation.
So, just like John 4:25, what is the water of life we need to receive now?
It is the explanation of Revelation – the book that has been sealed with seven seals for 2,000 years (Revelation 5:1-3).
It is like living water that will well up into springs within us (John 4:14).
This is what the Spirit and the Bride are saying: come to understand the revelation of this book.
And where does this understanding flow from? The only place it can flow from – from God.
Reminder:
Spirit + Bride say: “Come”
Thirsty: Receive “Water of Life!”
Explanation of Revelation
down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
The water of life flows from the throne of God in Jesus. Wherever that water flows, life springs up around it.
In the next lesson, we will examine a spring and river prophecy in Ezekiel to better understand this concept.
From God’s throne flows the river with the water of life that people use to cleanse themselves, as noted in Revelation 22:14 which references washing robes.
Let’s revisit this verse to reflect on the living water that gives life and cleanses.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
Those who wash their robes will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
They need to wash their robes in the river of the water of life, as described in Revelation. The book of Revelation was intentionally kept sealed with seven seals by God until the appointed time of fulfillment.
What does it mean for the seals of Revelation to be opened? As a book of prophecy, the opening of the seals signifies that the foretold events are coming to pass.
The opening of the seals means that the prophecies are being fulfilled.
This water that flows from God’s throne when He declares “It is time” is the water that is needed. It signifies the crucial moment when God’s plan unfolds.
When people recognize this, they gain a sense of urgency to act. The time to act is now, without delay.
Of course, Satan also offers his counterfeit water which has always posed a threat and problem. But God’s pure water is what is truly needed.
Reminder:
When will the seals be opened?
Fulfillment must happen for them to open. When the words written are fulfilled, the seals open.
5. Satan’s Water
There’s Satan’s water.
And what Satan’s water does.
Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.
Your choice wine has now been diluted with water.
We’ll have a lesson on wine as well. Figurative wine is actually very important, but this wine that was pure from God is now being watered down, similar to a dishonest scale.
It is being corrupted. Satan’s water represents lies. His lies often infect people’s thoughts, diluting the pure water of God. Unfortunately, lies are the only thing Satan can speak.
However, if we understand how to discern truth from lies, we can recognize where Satan is working and avoid those traps. That is the nature of Satan’s water.
As we study the figurative sea in future lessons, we will understand more.
One key trait of the sea is that it contains a mixture of many things – salt, minerals, diverse creatures. Thus the sea depicts a place abundant in Satan’s corrupting waters.
We will examine this idea further in coming lessons.
Memorization
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
Instructor Review
SUMMARY
Water represents the word of God. Like water, God's word cleanses us and is essential for life. God often compares His word to water in its life-giving and cleansing properties.
The water cycle starts with rain falling from above, landing on the earth, fulfilling its purpose, evaporating, and repeating. Similarly, God desires that we receive His word, share it with others to cleanse and give life, and then they in turn can pass it on, like water spreading.
Jesus spoke to His disciples and rebuked them to remove impurities, washing them with the truth. The water Jesus brought was explaining the Old Testament prophecies - what people were waiting for, though most did not accept it. But some, like the Samaritan woman and the disciples, accepted it and gained understanding.
Likewise in the last days, God's end-time message will say "Come" to the thirsty who need the water of life - flowing from God and Christ's throne, bringing life wherever it spreads, explaining the book of Revelation. When God's last day word is unsealed, it is the word we need for this time.
Review with the Evangelist
REVIEW
Title of Lesson: Secrets of Heaven, Figurative Water
Today we learned about the true meaning of figurative water.
Water is used to represent God's Word. Deuteronomy 32:2 says "Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." So water nourishes us spiritually, just as physical water nourishes plants.
We also talked about the famine described in Amos 8:11-12, which is a famine of hearing God's Word. This spiritual famine means God's Word is not openly available and people struggle to find it, like seeking water in a dry land.
When the Word is sealed or hidden during this spiritual famine, where do people go to try to find it? They go "to the sea", meaning man-made teachings and ideas, which we will study more soon. The point is, this "sea" is not a good place to seek spiritual water.
But there is good news - this spiritual famine ended when Jesus came and openly shared the Word, which is pictured as "living water" that gives eternal life (John 4:10). When people receive this water of life from Jesus, their spiritual thirst is quenched and they are cleansed from sin. They are spiritually reborn. And they can then share this living water with others.
I pray we listened well and understood this spiritual meaning of figurative water - God's Word that gives life, in contrast to times of famine when the Word is not openly available. Understanding the Bible's symbolism helps us grasp its deeper messages for our lives.
Let's Us Discern
Discernment is still a work in progress .... Proverbs 14:15 (ESV)
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Analysis
Questions to Self-Reflect
Outline
Unlocking the Symbolism: Understanding Figurative Water in the Bible
I. Introduction: Deciphering the Symbol
- This section establishes the core concept: water symbolizes the Word of God. It draws upon the imagery of a bowl as a vessel for water, linking it to the Word as a container of divine truth.
II. Revisiting Riches: The Value of God's Word
- This segment recaps the previous lesson's exploration of "treasure" and "rich," emphasizing the supreme value of God's Word. It highlights the distinction between spiritual wealth found in God's Word and worldly riches that lead astray.
III. The Essential Elements: Water and the Spirit
- This part focuses on John 3:5, where Jesus emphasizes the necessity of both "water" and "spirit" for entering the Kingdom of God. It sets the stage for delving into the significance of water.
IV. Water's Physical Nature: Parallels to Spiritual Truth
- This section examines the tangible qualities of water – its cleansing and life-sustaining properties – as a foundation for understanding its spiritual meaning. It establishes the vital link between physical water and the Word's impact on spiritual life.
V. Water's Spiritual Significance: Nourishment and Sustenance
- This part explores the metaphorical use of water in scripture, particularly in Deuteronomy 32:2, where God's teachings are compared to life-giving rain and dew. It emphasizes how the Word, like water, nourishes and sustains spiritual growth.
VI. The Perishable and the Imperishable: The Enduring Word
- This section delves into 1 Peter 1:22-25, which highlights the contrast between the fleeting nature of human life and the enduring power of God's Word. It emphasizes how the Word, like water, is essential for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.
VII. Famine of the Word: Seeking in Barren Places
- This part examines Amos 8:11-12, which prophesies a spiritual famine, a time when people desperately seek God's Word but find it scarce. This section emphasizes the dangers of seeking spiritual sustenance in barren places, symbolizing man-made teachings.
VIII. Cleansing Through the Word: Spiritual Renewal
- This segment analyzes John 15:3, where Jesus declares his disciples cleansed through his spoken word. It highlights the transformative power of the Word to purify and empower believers to spread the gospel.
IX. Living Water: The Spring Within
- This section explores the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4:7-14. It decodes the symbolism of "living water" as representing the understanding of Jesus' teachings, which becomes a source of eternal life within believers.
X. Unveiling the Messiah: Explanation and Excitement
- This part builds upon the Samaritan woman's anticipation of the Messiah as one who will "explain" (John 4:25). It connects this expectation to the unveiling of the Old Testament's true meaning through Jesus' teachings.
XI. Springs Welling Up: Uncontainable Sharing
- This section expands on the imagery of "living water" becoming a spring within believers, symbolizing their overflowing joy and eagerness to share the newfound understanding of God's Word with others.
XII. Water at the Second Coming: The Unsealed Revelation
- This part shifts focus to the end times, examining Revelation 22:17, which invites the thirsty to receive the "water of life." It connects this invitation to the unsealing of Revelation, signifying the understanding of end-time prophecy.
XIII. The Flow of Life: From Throne to City
- This section delves into Revelation 22:2, depicting the river of life flowing from God's throne. It emphasizes the life-giving and cleansing power of this water, connecting it to the right to enter the heavenly city.
XIV. Washing Robes: Purity for the Kingdom
- This part focuses on Revelation 22:14, which highlights the importance of washing robes in the river of life to gain entry to the Kingdom of Heaven. It connects this act of cleansing to understanding and accepting God's revealed truth in the book of Revelation.
XV. Unfolding Prophecy: The Urgency to Act
- This section emphasizes the significance of the seals being opened in Revelation, signifying the fulfillment of prophecy. It highlights the urgency for believers to recognize and act upon God's plan as it unfolds in the last days.
XVI. Satan's Counterfeit: Diluting the Truth
- This part introduces the concept of "Satan's water" as a counterfeit to God's pure water. It explores Isaiah 1:22, where diluted wine symbolizes the corruption of truth with lies, representing the deceptive nature of Satan's influence.
XVII. Summary: The Life-Giving Cycle of God's Word
- This section provides a concise summary of the lesson, reinforcing the core concept of water representing God's Word. It emphasizes the cyclical nature of receiving, sharing, and passing on this life-giving truth.
XVIII. Review: Key Takeaways and Reflections
- This concluding part revisits the main points of the lesson, highlighting the symbolism of water in relation to spiritual nourishment, famine, cleansing, and the contrast between God's Word and Satan's deceptions.
A Study Guide
Unveiling the Depths: A Study Guide on the Figurative Meaning of Water in Scripture
Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- Explain why water is used to symbolize the Word of God in the Bible.
- What is the spiritual significance of water as described in Deuteronomy 32:1-2?
- How does 1 Peter 1:22-25 connect the concept of water to spiritual growth and sustenance?
- What type of famine is described in Amos 8:11-12 and what does it signify?
- How is Jesus portrayed as providing “living water” in John 4:7-14?
- Explain the Samaritan woman’s understanding of the Messiah in John 4:25.
- What is the symbolic meaning of "springs welling up" within believers who receive the water of life?
- What is the "water of life" offered in Revelation 22:17 and why is it significant?
- Describe the imagery used in Revelation 22:2 to depict the abundance of life associated with the water of life.
- How does Satan's "water" as described in Isaiah 1:22 contrast with God's pure water?
Answer Key
- Water symbolizes the Word of God because, like water, it cleanses, sustains, and is essential for life. Both nourish and revitalize, fostering growth and purity.
- In Deuteronomy 32:1-2, God's teachings are compared to rain and dew, emphasizing their life-giving and nourishing nature. Just as water sustains physical life, God's Word sustains spiritual life.
- 1 Peter 1:22-25 likens the Word of God to imperishable seed that, when nourished by the Word, leads to spiritual growth and sustenance. Similar to plants that need water, humans need God's Word for spiritual flourishing.
- Amos 8:11-12 describes a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. This signifies a time when God's true Word is scarce, leading to spiritual emptiness and a desperate search for truth.
- Jesus offers "living water" in John 4:7-14, symbolizing his teachings that quench spiritual thirst and offer eternal life. Unlike physical water, this living water brings lasting satisfaction and spiritual renewal.
- The Samaritan woman (John 4:25) anticipates the Messiah as someone who will "explain everything," highlighting the need for understanding and revelation of God's truth.
- "Springs welling up" signifies the internal abundance and overflowing joy experienced by believers who receive the Word of God. It symbolizes a continuous flow of understanding and spiritual life.
- The "water of life" in Revelation 22:17 represents the complete revelation of God's truth, specifically through the book of Revelation. It offers a full understanding of God's plan and promises.
- Revelation 22:2 portrays the water of life flowing from God's throne, nourishing the tree of life which provides healing and sustenance. This imagery emphasizes the abundance and vitality associated with God's presence and revelation.
- Satan's "water" (Isaiah 1:22) represents lies and deception, which dilute and corrupt the purity of God's truth. It contrasts with God's pure water, which brings life and clarity, while Satan's water leads to confusion and spiritual decay.
Additional Questions
1. What is the true meaning of water?
- Word of Life
2. What are two things I need to be born again?
- Water = Word of Life
- Spirit
John 3:5 “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit.”
3. What happens when someone receives the water of life?
- Their thirst is quenched and they are cleansed.
- They can also give that water to others.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Figurative Water: A symbolic representation of the Word of God in the Bible, highlighting its life-giving, cleansing, and sustaining qualities.
- Living Water: A term used by Jesus to describe his teachings as a source of eternal life and spiritual fulfillment. It symbolizes the transformative power of God's truth.
- Spiritual Famine: A period characterized by a lack of access to or understanding of God's Word, leading to spiritual emptiness and a desperate search for truth.
- Springs Welling Up: A metaphor for the internal abundance and overflow of spiritual understanding and joy experienced by those who receive the Word of God.
- Water of Life: In Revelation, it signifies the complete revelation of God's truth, specifically through the book of Revelation. It represents ultimate understanding and access to God's presence.
- Satan's Water: A representation of lies and deception that distort and corrupt God's truth. It contrasts with the purity and life-giving nature of God's Word.
Breakdown
Timeline of Events
This lesson doesn't provide a timeline of events in a historical sense. Instead, it uses biblical events and teachings to illustrate the symbolic meaning of "water" in scripture. The main points illustrated, and their scriptural basis are:
- Old Testament Times:God's word is like life-giving water (Deuteronomy 32:1-2)
- A spiritual famine occurs where people lack access to God's word (Amos 8:11-12). People search for it in "the sea" - representing man-made teachings.
- Jesus' First Coming:Jesus brings the "living water" of his teachings, explaining the Old Testament and bringing spiritual life. (John 3:3-5, John 4:7-14)
- His words cleanse and purify, like water. (John 15:3)
- Some, like the Samaritan woman, recognize and receive this living water, while others reject it.
- The End Times:The "water of life" will be available again, representing the revealed truths of the book of Revelation (Revelation 22:1-2, 14, 17).
- This water flows from God's throne and brings life and healing.
- Those who "wash their robes" in this water, meaning accepting and living by these truths, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Cast of Characters
- God: The source of all truth and the giver of "living water" - his word.
- Moses: Delivers God's word to the Israelites in Deuteronomy, comparing it to life-giving rain and dew.
- Amos: The prophet who foretells a spiritual famine where people lack access to God's word.
- Jesus: Brings the "living water" of his teachings, explaining the Old Testament and offering spiritual life and cleansing.
- Nicodemus: A Pharisee who initially struggles to understand the concept of spiritual rebirth through water and the Spirit.
- The Samaritan Woman: Represents those who recognize and receive the "living water" of Jesus' teachings.
- Apostle Peter: Quotes Isaiah in his letter, highlighting the enduring nature of God's word compared to fleeting human life.
- John (the Revelator): Receives the visions of Revelation, which depict the "water of life" flowing from God's throne in the end times.
- The Spirit and the Bride: Symbolically call people to come and receive the "water of life" - the revealed truths of Revelation.
- Satan: Offers a counterfeit "water" of lies and deception, which dilutes and corrupts God's truth.
This lesson primarily uses biblical figures to illustrate the symbolic meaning of "water". There are no detailed personal biographies presented.
Overview
Briefing Doc: Figurative Water in the Bible
Main Theme: This lesson explores the symbolic meaning of "water" in the Bible, specifically focusing on its representation of God's Word. It analyzes key biblical passages to highlight water's life-giving, cleansing, and revealing properties, contrasting it with periods of spiritual famine and Satan's deceptive influence.
Key Ideas:
- Water as God's Word: The core concept presented is that water consistently symbolizes God's Word throughout the Bible. This is supported by verses like Deuteronomy 32:2: "Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." This emphasizes how God's Word nourishes and sustains spiritual life just as water does for physical life.
- Spiritual Famine and the Search for Truth: The lesson contrasts periods of abundant "water" (God's Word readily available) with times of spiritual famine, as described in Amos 8:11-12: "People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it." During such times, people desperately seek truth but are often led astray by man-made teachings, symbolized by the "sea."
- Jesus as the Source of Living Water: Jesus' arrival is presented as ending the spiritual famine. He offers "living water" that quenches thirst and cleanses from sin, leading to eternal life (John 4:10). This highlights Jesus' role as the embodiment of God's Word made flesh, bringing truth and salvation to humanity.
- The Cleansing and Revealing Power of God's Word: The lesson emphasizes that just as water cleanses physically, God's Word purifies spiritually. John 15:3 states: "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." Furthermore, Jesus' explanation of the Old Testament prophecies is presented as the "water" that reveals God's plan and brings understanding.
- Water of Life in the Last Days: The lesson connects the concept of "water" to the end times, specifically referencing Revelation 22:17: "The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." This "water of life" is interpreted as the understanding of the book of Revelation, providing guidance and hope during the last days.
Contrast with Satan's Water:
- Satan's influence is depicted as the corruption of pure water with lies and deceit. Isaiah 1:22 describes this as: "Your choice wine is diluted with water."
- This highlights the danger of accepting distorted or false teachings that dilute the truth of God's Word.
Key Quotes:
- Deuteronomy 32:2: "Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew..."
- Amos 8:11-12: "People will stagger from sea to sea... searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it."
- John 4:10: "...he would have given you living water.”
- John 15:3: "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."
- Revelation 22:17: "Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life."
- Isaiah 1:22: "Your choice wine is diluted with water."
Conclusion:
The lesson emphasizes the importance of recognizing "water" as a symbol of God's life-giving, cleansing, and revealing Word. It encourages students to seek and embrace the truth found in scripture, contrasting it with the dangers of spiritual famine and the deceptive influence of Satan. Understanding this symbolism provides a deeper appreciation for the power and importance of God's Word in our lives.
Q&A
Q&A: Figurative Water in the Bible
1. What does water symbolize in the Bible?
Water in the Bible is a powerful symbol representing the Word of God. Just as water is essential for physical life, the Word of God is crucial for spiritual life. It nourishes, cleanses, and sustains us.
2. How does the Bible connect water to God's Word?
Several verses in the Bible explicitly make this connection. Deuteronomy 32:2 poetically compares God's teachings to rain and dew, emphasizing their life-giving qualities. Similarly, 1 Peter 1:22-25 highlights the enduring nature of God's Word, contrasting it with the fleeting existence of human life, likened to withering grass.
3. What is the significance of "living water" in John 4?
In John 4:7-14, Jesus offers a Samaritan woman "living water," representing his teachings and the Holy Spirit. This living water quenches spiritual thirst and becomes a source of eternal life within the believer. This encounter illustrates the transformative power of accepting and internalizing the Word of God.
4. What does the "famine of hearing the words of the Lord" in Amos 8:11-12 refer to?
This prophecy points to times when God's Word is scarce or inaccessible. During such periods, people may desperately seek spiritual guidance but find themselves lost in a sea of man-made teachings and ideas, represented by the "sea" they wander in.
5. How does the Samaritan woman in John 4 demonstrate understanding of the Messiah's role?
The Samaritan woman recognizes that the Messiah will "explain everything" (John 4:25). This statement reflects the anticipation for a clear understanding of God's Word, which was previously veiled or misinterpreted. Jesus' arrival and his teachings fulfill this expectation by revealing the true meaning of the Scriptures.
6. What is the "water of life" offered in Revelation 22:17?
In Revelation, the "water of life" represents the complete revelation of God's plan, particularly the unveiling of the book of Revelation. This understanding flows from God's throne and provides spiritual cleansing and access to eternal life.
7. How does Satan use "water" in a negative way?
Satan attempts to corrupt and dilute God's pure Word with lies, symbolized by diluting wine with water in Isaiah 1:22. This "Satan's water" represents false teachings and deceptive ideas that lead people astray from the truth.
8. What is the importance of recognizing and understanding figurative language in the Bible?
Recognizing figurative language like the symbolism of water helps unlock deeper layers of meaning within the biblical text. Understanding these symbols allows us to grasp the true essence of God's message and apply it to our lives.