Being from Texas, I grew up hearing country-swing and other such “cowboy” music. I must admit, I love it. A tune I enjoy is by The Sons of The Pioneers called “Cool Water”. It’s a simple song that tells the story of a trail riding cowboy’s thirst for a drink of cool, clear water.
I am not, and never was a “cowboy”. But I have experienced thirst, and even heavy thirst. After a long run, hard workout, or just working up a sweat working in the yard, I know how welcome a drink of cool, clear water is. Not pop, juice or even Gatorade quenches my thirst like water.
This is a good picture of the human soul, which longs for refreshment and relief from tiresome day to day living. We want something deep and meaningful that will satisfy our greatest thirst in the desert of life. Read Psalm 42: 1-2 and Psalm 63: 1. They so vividly capture the thirst we have for a relationship with God. David, who wrote many of the Psalms, hid in a place called En Gedi (En Ge-dee) in Israel when he was being hunted by an opposing army. It was a secluded place in the mountains of a desert. It had a beautiful waterfall, and a pool of cool, clear water. It’s where he got the idea to write Psalms using water as an example of his longing for God.
How appropriate. Water is such an important part of our life. Most of the earth is made up of this element. Our bodies are about 95% water. You can even live longer without food, than you can without water!
Jesus knew the importance of the relation of water to our lives. Read John 4: 7 – 15. This living water that Jesus refers to is the grace and mercy of forgiveness that Christ brings to us. It is truly life saving and life giving water, that satisfies our thirst forever. It quenches that thirst we have for deep meaning in life and a relationship with God. Only through Jesus can we hope to find that relief in the desert of life.
Sadly, humans try to satisfy that thirst with non-quenching elements: drugs, sex, success, work, gambling, fame, money, recreation. It is like drinking salt water. Not only will it not quench your thirst, it is harmful for you.
In the sub-culture, we must be careful not to look to music, bands, tats, political views or even fashion to quench our thirst. They don’t.
Read Isaiah 55: 1-2. Come to the source of pure, cool, clear water. Drink only that which truly satisfies your thirst. – Richard M.