Jeremiah 2:13

“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Context:The book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament. Jeremiah was a prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah before and during their exile in Babylon. The prophet’s primary role was to warn the people of their disobedience and call them to repentance.

The imagery of water:In this verse, God uses the metaphor of water to convey a spiritual message to His people. Water is essential for life, and in the context of this verse, it represents a close relationship with God that brings life, satisfaction, and spiritual nourishment.

Forsaking the fountain of living waters:God accuses His people of committing two evils. The first evil is forsaking Him, the fountain of living waters. God, as the source of life and spiritual refreshment, is often referred to as the fountain of living waters in the Bible. The people turned away from their relationship with God and sought fulfillment elsewhere.

Broken cisterns:The second evil committed by the people is that they sought satisfaction in broken cisterns. A cistern is a container used for storing water. The people, instead of relying on the abundant and life-giving water from God, tried to create their own sources of satisfaction and fulfillment. However, these self-made cisterns were broken, unable to hold water, and thus unable to satisfy their spiritual thirst.

Spiritual application:This verse carries a profound spiritual lesson for us today. It highlights the tendency of humanity to turn away from God and seek fulfillment in worldly pursuits, false gods, or our own efforts. We often forsake the true source of spiritual life and settle for broken and empty substitutes.

The consequence of forsaking God:Throughout the book of Jeremiah, we see that the people of Judah faced severe consequences for their disobedience and idolatry. By forsaking God, they brought judgment upon themselves, ultimately leading to their exile.

The call to repentance:Although the people had committed these two evils, God’s desire was for them to repent and return to Him. The book of Jeremiah contains messages of both judgment and hope, emphasizing God’s faithfulness and His willingness to restore His people if they turned back to Him.