I’ve been dwelling on the song this week Spring Up O Well. It was inspired by a song the Israelites sang about 40 years after fleeing Egypt and 38 years into their 40 in the wilderness. They were a new generation, not the fearful untrusting ones who refused to enter the promise land. But as we often do, they inherited their fathers’ sinfulness. Just verses before the aforementioned song, they are singing another national hit, “We don’t have food or water. Moses, why have you and God brought us out here to die?!” So what does God do except send “fiery serpents” among them, biting and killing people! Once they repent, God commands a bronze serpent to be lifted upon a pole so that whoever looks on it would be saved from the fiery serpents’ lethal bite. Jesus uses this account as a parallel to Himself being lifted on the cross to save the world when speaking to Nicodemus in John 3.
Later on, God provides water like he has done before, by having the “princes” dig a hole in the dry desert. And they sing this song:
“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!— the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs.”
So now thousands of years later we sing Spring Up O Well. But our song isn’t one of physical satisfaction. It’s a song of invitation and confession: an invitation/plea for Jesus to work in us in sanctification and to work through us as His ambassadors in the world; and confession that we are hopeless without the life He gives. Without Him, we are indeed hopelessly wandering in a land that produces nothing to really fulfill us.
The Israelites were desperate for nourishment, but with angst we cry for more of the Lord and the grace He gives. Just as Christ is the bronze serpent lifted for the salvation of all who look to Him, He is the spring of living water that flows to us and through us. I have a River of life flowing out of me… the living gospel of a living Lamb.
It’s encouraging to see God take care of such a petulant people isn’t it? Around all our whining and lack of faith, He is their provider still. But He provided more than water for Israel. In the face of their transgressions, He issued discipline, and also a way for salvation. Our God is just, but He is also a gracious God who is faithful to fulfill His promises. And the promise we sing at the end of this chorus is this: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Cling to this promise. Chase it with confidence in our Christ.
I've got a river of life flowin' out of me
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to seeOpens prison doors, sets the captives freeI've got a river of life flowin' out of meSpring up Oh WellWithin my soulSpring up Oh WellAnd make me wholeSpring up Oh WellAnd give to meThat life abundantly
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