Letting God’s word wash you is necessary. Let me explain. One time when I was toddler, I wandered out of the house yard and became stuck in the mud almost up to my waist. Fortunately, my father rescued me, and my mother cleaned me up outside with fresh water. My body became clean as the water washed over me.
Sometimes we are stuck in the mud of our sin, and we need to be cleaned, but with the water of God’s word. Perhaps you feel that way now because the guilt of your sin is sticking to you like mud. David writes in Psalm 51:2Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. [1] God is always prompting us by the Holy Spirit to let His word wash over us because He knows its healing power.
God’s Word Flows Over the Israelites
The Israelites’ sin had caused them to be taken into captivity in Babylon. After seventy years King Cyrus of Persia let them go. Ezra would lead a group of Israelites to return to their homeland that lied in ruins. Many things needed to be rebuilt in Jerusalem, but what they needed most was to be spiritually rebuilt.
Ezra would be God’s tool to do that. As Ezra read God’s word to the people it washed over them like cleansing water. You can only imagine the excitement as the people listened intently to Ezra, taking in every word like a fountain of water to a thirsty person.
Nehemiah 8:1 All the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. 2 So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. 3 He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. [2]
God’s Word Brings Refreshment
Have you ever needed water to refresh yourself? Jesus was tired after a long journey and sat down by a well. When a Samaritan woman came by, He asked her for drink of refreshing water. When we grow weary along the journey of life, we need to refresh our soul with God’s word.
Do you need to be refreshed? Are you weary as you journey through life’s spiritual battle? Take time to open God’s word and let the Lord refresh you as He did when Ezra read the Scriptures to the Israelites.
The Israelites gathered around the water gate in wall around Jerusalem and Jesus in the New Testament calls Himself Living Water. John 4:14 But those who drink the water I (Jesus) give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.[3]
To hear more about letting God’s word wash you, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/rebuilding-unfinished-hope-spiritual-renewal
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.