wonder-blessings

Isaiah wrote, and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 58:11 

Jesus said, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. John 7:37, 38. 

I Thirst No More 

We have been considering the amazing blessings of life and joy that God gives us in our lives. The metaphor that God uses to teach us this principle is that of water. Specifically, a spring of water or fountain that is within us and flows from us. 

We are the recipients of His blessings! As such, we are sources of blessings that become dispensers of His blessings. 

Making a Difference 

When we bless others, does it really make a difference? 

Tucked away deep in the book of Ezekiel is a description of the fountain that flows from the temple of God. Since we are also the temple of God, this description from Ezekiel is a metaphor for our lives.  

For us as Christians, this fountain describes the far-reaching effects of our blessings as they are released by us into the lives of others. 

The God Who Multiples 

In Ezekiel 47, the prophet was given a vision of the Temple of God. And He said that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple. Similar to what Jesus said to us; from [our] innermost being will flow rivers of living water, John 7:37, 38. 

The living water within us is a blessing of life and joy to us… but it is not just for us! The metaphor describes the water as flowing from us (the temple) and giving life to others. 

We are blessed so that we might bless others.  

Let the water flow!

• Ezekiel describes the water flowing from the temple at first as a trickle. And behold, water was trickling from the south side, 47:2 
• Ezekiel then goes out a thousand cubits and the water is now ankle deep. And he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. 47:3 
• Ezekiel goes out another thousand cubits and the water is knee-deep. And led me through the water, water reaching the knees. 47:4 
• Ezekiel goes out another thousand cubits and the water was waist-deep. And led me through the water, water reaching the loins. 47:4 
• Ezekiel goes out another thousand cubits and the water is deep enough to swim in. For the water had risen, enough water to swim in, 47:5. It was now a RIVER! 

Ezekiel goes on to describe that all water life will flourish. Additionally, the fresh water will produce abundant trees, bearing fruit and lush greenery. So, everything will live where the river goes, 47:9. 

In business, when a company grows and expands quickly, we say that it is scaling. In digital media, we say it is going viral.  

When it comes to blessing others, our words and actions may begin like a simple trickle of water. But God will multiple our meager efforts and expand our blessings toward others into a flowing river. We may never see it and we may never realize it. But it is God’s work and He will bring it to pass as He sees fit. 

He doesn’t tell us all that He is going to do when we release our blessings toward others. But His Word tells us Who He Is! And we know His attributes of power, love and abundance is enough. He will do mighty things!

Who is He? He is a God who multiplies our blessings: Grace upon grace upon grace. He is a God of perfect love and a God of absolute power and might. He is able and He will do wondrous things, far beyond our imagination. 

If you have received Jesus and the fountain of His joy is within you, then today, allow the blessings of your life, through kind words and acts of service, to trickle from you in the simplest manner. Then, by faith, know that God will turn your simple acts of obedience into rivers of life for many. 

Let the river flow! 

Father, may we by faith speak words of blessings and life to others. May we by faith, serve and give to others without expectations of return. Forgive us for hoarding the amazing gift of salvation and grace for ourselves. In word and deed, bring to life Your blessings through us to others. Help us to be diligent and faithful, and we’ll leave the results to You. Amen! 

Old Testament

The Old Testament is filled with prophecies and references that portray the favorable time of God toward the Jewish nation in the future. He will gather them into the land of promise and will restore the temple and bless their land.

This is the context of Psalms 87:7 All My springs of joy are in you. 

The springs are a reference to the fountain that flows forth from the Temple in Jerusalem during the future time of God’s favor and blessings toward the Jews. The prophet Joel writes of this when he says: 

and in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; and a spring will go out from the house of the Lord to water the valley of Shittim. Joel 3:18 

Now, fast forward to the time of Jesus’ ministry upon earth. In Luke 4, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 and say, 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. 

He closes the scroll, sits down (rabbi’s sit down when they teach), and says, 

Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:21 

Initially, the Jews are thrilled with Jesus and hopeful He will rescue them from the oppression of the Romans. But Jesus makes it clear that His favor during His first coming is spiritual and not physical.

And at this time, He is extending His favor toward the Gentiles, (Luke 4.24-27; Acts 13:46-52). Jesus came to extend salvation to all nations. 

The favorable time for the Jewish nation will come in the future and all prophecies will be fulfilled. But for now, until the second coming of Jesus, God is extending His favor to the nations in order to save many. 

I am a blessed recipient of the favor of God extended to the salvation of the nations. I am a Gentile Christian, as are many of you. As such, all of the blessings of the literal future blessings upon Jerusalem and the Jewish nations are spiritual realities that apply to Christians today. That which was and is and will be physical and tangible for the Jews, is now spiritually given to us as Christians. 

• In the past, the Jews were required to make sacrifices. But now, for us, Jesus is our perfect sacrifice, Hebrews 9:15  
• In the past, the Jews were led by a high priest. But now, for us, Jesus is our High Priest, Hebrews 4:14,15  
• The law of God is no longer written on stones, but is written upon our minds and our hearts, Hebrews 8:10 

The Fountain 

As it pertains to our current study of Psalms 87, We as Christians, are the temple of God, (I Corinthians 6:19), and from us (just like the literal temple in Jerusalem in the future, Joel 3:18) a fountain of joy and blessing flows from us.  

Jesus spoke of this fountain within us when He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. 

But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. 

What does it mean that a fountain of joy is within us and flows from us? We’ll answer this question next time. 

Father, we are so grateful that You are a God of salvation and redemption! You are the God who saves. You have saved us and have blessed us with every spiritual blessing. You have given us everything we need. May your blessings overflow in our lives so that we can bless others with acts of service and words of life. We are blessed so that we can bless others. May we receive with joy and gratitude and may we give with joy and sacrifice. All glory and honor be to You now and forever. Amen! 

Common Blessings 

Yes, we had good things in our lives before we were Christians. We had times of joy and times of blessings before we surrendered to Christ. But they fell far short of the blessings we have now as His redeemed and beloved children of God. 

Previously, we were recipients of the common graces that God shines upon everyone in this world.

Everyone, whether they love God or hate God, enjoys the beauty of God’s creation; a beautiful sunset, the view of snow-capped mountains, the majestic scene of a mighty ocean. Everyone, regardless of their faith or lack of faith in God, has the opportunity to enjoy love, family and friendship. These are the common graces of God that He gives to the world.  

Special Blessings 

But there are springs of joy that reside within God’s people which provide us blessings upon blessings that are far beyond the common graces of this world. The apostle Paul speaks of these special graces that are provided by God to His own loving people: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ… Ephesians 1.4 

The apostle Peter wrote of our great blessings in his opening lines of 2 Peter: 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 1:2-3. 

Everything means Everything 

Both Paul and Peter use a descriptive word that is worth thinking about. Paul says, [we are] blessed us with every spiritual blessing. 

Peter says, His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. 

God has given us everything we need.  

• He’s given us everything we need to be saved, forgiven and secure for eternity in heaven. Ephesians 1:1-2:10  
• He’s given us everything we need to grow in Him and honor Him with our lives. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. Romans 5:1-5 
• He’s given us everything we need to face the temptations of sin and Satan. Ephesians 6:10-18 
• He’s given us everything we need to face trials and the difficulties of life. James 1:2-4. I Peter 4:12-19 

God has given us everything [we need] pertaining to life and godliness.

When Jesus said, it is finished, (John 19:30), He was affirming that He had given everything so that we could have everything. When Jesus said, it is finished, He was proclaiming that His work has been finished, complete and His mission was accomplished.

We are the blessed recipients of His finished work.  

Jesus speaks in Revelation 21:6 saying, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

As blessed recipients of the work of Christ, Jude 1 says we are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ. 

Father, we are so grateful for the abundance we have received as Your beloved; Your blessed ones. Forgive us for not acknowledging and realizing at all times the fullness of what You have done and what You have given us. Knowing that You have given us everything we need; in return, we want to humbly honor You with our lives. Give us the strength and perseverance to live daily in submission to Your guidance and Your perfect will. Amen. 

God speaks to us in a metaphor as He says ‘All my springs of joy are in you.’ 

What Does it Mean? 

Let’s unpack the meaning of this metaphor that describes the wonder of God’s blessings in your life. It’s important to realize the context in order to fully understand.

This Psalm is a prophetic description of the times of blessing for the city of Jerusalem. Someday in the future, the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people will once again be at the center of God’s blessings. 

With that context, let’s unpack this metaphor of the spring of joy within us.

First, What are the ‘springs of joy’?

In the future times of Jerusalem’s blessings, the prophets Joel and Ezekiel describe an abundant fountain that will flow from the temple in Jerusalem and richly water the surrounding areas, (Joel 3:18; Ezekiel 47:1-12). 

The prophets portray that everywhere this water flows, abundant life and blessings abound. 

Secondly, the springs of joy within us are like this fountain flowing from the temple of God in Jerusalem.

So, God’s springs of joy are a picture of His abundant blessings within us. God’s blessings don’t simply surround us, they reside within us. The springs of joy [are] in you. In Christ, we are the temple of God, I Corinthians 9:19. In Christ, we also are a picture of the temple of God that the prophets described.

The fountain of His joy is within us who have been saved.  

Thirdly, the fountain flows from the temple and waters and blesses outwardly. 

Ezekiel describes the fountain as flowing outside of the temple, first as a trickle, and then growing and expanding into a mighty river of blessing and life. Just like Jesus multiplied a small amount of fish and bread into a meal for thousands, the overflow of our blessings to others, grows into a mighty river. From the temple in Jerusalem during the times of favor, the fountain flows and richly nourishes the land.

The metaphor for us, His blessed ones, is that the fountain of blessings within us flow forth and bless others. 

Blessed to Bless Others 

To sum it up: 

• The literal fountain in the temple of God during His times of favor is a metaphor of the springs of joy and blessings given to each of us who are saved. 
• These blessings are not just around us, but are springs of joy [are] in you. 
• The fountain of Jerusalem will flow forth and nourish the surrounding areas. The metaphor for us is that the springs of joy within us will flow outward and bless many. 

We often say, ‘God blesses us so that we can bless others.’ This is very true and this Psalm takes us deep into that principle. It teaches us that God gives us a fountain of blessings that abides within us. The prophets expand on this theme and teach us that the overflow of our fountain (blessings) blesses others. This is quite amazing to consider: We are both the recipients of God’s abundant blessings as well as a source of His blessings. As a source of God’s blessings, we are also dispensers of God overwhelming blessings to others as well. 

There’s much more to consider. More on the blessings of God next time. 

Father, fountains of fresh and pure water are such a wonderful metaphor of your blessings within our lives. Water purifies; water cleanses; water refreshes; water heals; water is life. Your blessings are to us the very essence of our lives. We have received much; help us to give much. We are blessed so that we may bless others. Help us every morning to soak in the wonder of Your blessings during our time with You. Then, may we go forth during our day and allow the overflow of our blessings to bless others. All for Your glory! Amen!