When the Samaritan woman communicates her readiness to lay hold of this water that would cause her to never thirst again, Jesus tells her to go and get her husband. This, at face value makes no sense even to us - the readers, because we often read this scripture through the filter of our own bias. We often interpret her response that she had no husband as a lie, but a closer look reveals so much more. Jesus never called her a liar! He in fact says, "You have well said you have no husband.." and what follows is a reiteration and expansion of what was always a spiritual discussion from Jesus' perspective. He was never talking about a natural drink, much less natural water, and now Jesus is not talking about a natural husband! It was all about worship!
As Jesus often communicated parabolically and metaphorically, When he told her to go and get her husband and return to him, Jesus was alluding to the source of her substance, the one who provided her every need. Isaiah communicated it this way in the 5th verse of the 54th chapter, "For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." When Isaiah prophesies about the husband, He is referring to Jesus! Jesus is pointing the woman toward the Messiah - to himself, but notice his indictment toward her: "You have had five husbands and the one that you have now is not your own." It's all about worship!
As we read and study the scriptures it is important for us to ask the right questions, because the quality of the question can often determine the quality and precision of the answer. The question that many of us skipped at the beginning of this discourse is "Why did the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans?" Finding the answer necessitates we look back into time - the history of Israel and as we engage that posture, the Holy Spirit guides us to 2 Kings 17 where we find the Assyrian exile (please read it). There we find God turning Israel over to an enemy, because of stiff-necked disobedience. Five other countries are a part of this mass invasion, and thus five worship systems are mixed into Samaria's worship. Not only do they become mixed breed with pagan nations, but their worship is diluted as those five worship systems are embraced while they attempt to appease the one true God.
Join us in the next leg of this reflection. It's All About Worship!
For His Glory,
Pastor B.
Don't forget to leave a comment below! Also share with a friend!
As Jesus often communicated parabolically and metaphorically, When he told her to go and get her husband and return to him, Jesus was alluding to the source of her substance, the one who provided her every need. Isaiah communicated it this way in the 5th verse of the 54th chapter, "For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." When Isaiah prophesies about the husband, He is referring to Jesus! Jesus is pointing the woman toward the Messiah - to himself, but notice his indictment toward her: "You have had five husbands and the one that you have now is not your own." It's all about worship!
As we read and study the scriptures it is important for us to ask the right questions, because the quality of the question can often determine the quality and precision of the answer. The question that many of us skipped at the beginning of this discourse is "Why did the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans?" Finding the answer necessitates we look back into time - the history of Israel and as we engage that posture, the Holy Spirit guides us to 2 Kings 17 where we find the Assyrian exile (please read it). There we find God turning Israel over to an enemy, because of stiff-necked disobedience. Five other countries are a part of this mass invasion, and thus five worship systems are mixed into Samaria's worship. Not only do they become mixed breed with pagan nations, but their worship is diluted as those five worship systems are embraced while they attempt to appease the one true God.
Join us in the next leg of this reflection. It's All About Worship!
For His Glory,
Pastor B.
Don't forget to leave a comment below! Also share with a friend!
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