Revelation/Vision from Beyond: River of Life-Giving Water

Revelation!  We look once again at the rich images of the end of this apocalyptic Vision.  Remember (from last week)  the word "apocalypse" comes from the Greek word "apokalypsis" which means "to reveal."  When we read apocalyptic literature no matter how strange it is, while we don't read it literally we do read it with the expectation that it will reveal something to us of God. 

As a preparation for reading the passage let's consider some other water images from scripture:

From the Psalms (1:3) [Those who resist evil and meditate on God's Word] are like trees planted by streams of water ...

From Ezekiel (47:1a) "Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple ..."  Note: In Revelation 21:22 God IS the temple!

From John (4:7-10, 14)  A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink ... If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water ... whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” 

Again from John (7:37-38)  On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “All who are thirsty should come to me!  All who believe in me should drink!  As the scriptures said concerning me, rivers of living water will flow out from within him.” 

The Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country (at Mo-Ranch)

Water is a powerful symbol in the spiritual life.  Richard Foster wrote a book some years ago called "Streams of Living Water."  In it, Foster illuminates various traditional ways of living out the Christian spiritual life ... contemplative/prayer-filled, holiness/virtuous life, charismatic/spirit-empowered, social-justice/compassionate life, evangelical/word-centered, incarnational/sacramental life ... using the image of these traditional streams coming together into a mighty river!  Jesus, of course, embodied them all to the fullest.  

However it is administered, through the waters of baptism one is initiated into the community of Jesus followers and we, ourselves, come to know ourselves as the beloved of God! 

Water ... Spend a few moments swimming in the spiritual waters of your relationship with Jesus, the giver of living water, as you read and pray and listen and celebrate God’s Presence through the Word.   Breathe and settle into a place of openness within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables but I’ve used 10 and that is ok)

          Breathe in ... Jesus, Jesus (pause)

               Breath out ... quench my thirst (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray:

Source of Life-Giving Water, as I read and pray your Word, fill me with life-giving water.  Let the images wash over me and cleanse my heart.    Amen. 

Read Revelation 21:10 and 21-22:5  from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation slowly.   Immerse yourself in the vivid images as you engage in Lectio Divina, or Praying with Scripture.  Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into streams of living water as you read and pray and listen to God sing in your soul.

 

The Angel then carried me away in the Spirit to the top of a very high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.  I saw no temple in the city, for God Almighty and the Lamb were themselves the Temple.  There was no sun or moon: God's glory was its light, and the Lamb was its lamp.  The nations will walk by the city's light, and the rulers of the earth will bring their treasures.  The city's gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there.  The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.  But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does loathsome things or tells lies.  Only those whose names are written in the book of the Lamb will enter.  Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, clear as crystal, which issued from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowed through the middle of the streets. On each side of the river grew the trees of life, which produce fruit twelve times a year, once each month;  their leaves serve as medicine to heal the nations. There will no longer be any curse. The throne of the Almighty and of the Lamb will be there, and God's subjects will serve faithfully.  They will see the Most High face to face, and bear God's name on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for our God will give them light, and they will reign forever.

Read this beautiful passage again slowly and Reflect on just a word or phrase … or the image that draws your attention.   Sit with your selection and listen to the whispers of God Almighty and Jesus the Lamb ... Listen!  Turn your word or phrase or image over and over in your mind.  Let God the Most High speak into your heart.

Where is God speaking a word of healing into your life through this passage?

Read the passage again slowly and Respond to God.   Turn your attention to your word or phrase or image.  Know that it is ok if you are being drawn in a different direction on this reading! As you contemplate your word or phrase or image, how are you being called to drink freely from the spring of the water of life?   How are you being called to serve God and others in the world?  In word … prayer … action … or some other way?  

If you were to meet God face to face, what would you say?  If you were to bear God's Name on your forehead, what would that Name be?


Read the passage again and Rest.  Allow God, who IS the Temple of Life-Giving Water, to draw you deeper into the Streams of Life-Giving Water and into the abundance of love that God has for you and for all people.  Let the words fade away ...when you are ready to move on

Pray:  O God you are the Water of Life!  You are God Almighty!  Help me see you Presence in each person I meet and in your world.  Help me welcome the life-giving properties of love into my heart.  Help me take your beauty and your life-giving love into the world.    Amen.  

If music is a pathway to God for you, you might listen to this song by Matt Maher:  Come to the Water.  You can view the water in nature images while the song plays or simply close your eyes (like I did) and contemplate the words.  The song is quite beautiful ...

Isaiah the Prophet says "Fear Not!"

This is the first Sunday after the Epiphany and our second of 3 weeks with Isaiah.  While light was the spiritual metaphor we encountered last week, this week we embrace water and fire as metaphors for the struggles of life through which God walks with us.    "Fear Not!"  Why not?  No matter the stormy waters, no matter the consuming fire, God is always with us, working for good in all things!

We go back in the story-line and find the exiles still in Babylon … waiting, captives to a foreign people.  They are in danger of losing hope when Isaiah encourages them.  You can read more about Isaiah on this page:  Vision of Restoration

 

As you prepare your heart to read and pray the scriptures, remember the Israelite captives, remember refugees all over the world, remember those you know who are struggling with life right now, remember the struggles of your life ... times when you felt as though you were drowning or moving through fire!  Just sit  for a few moments in the silence with your "remembering" right now and breathe a gentle breath prayer (use this one or create one for yourself)  

Breathe in … Merciful God (pause) 
Breath out … you are my refuge (pause)  

When you are ready to move into the text, use verse 1 of Psalm 57 as a prayer:

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    until the destroying storms pass by.  Psalm 57:1

Now, read Isaiah 43:1-7 with the "ear of your heart" using Lectio Divina, during which you will breathe and listen deeply to each phrase of the poetry as you read the text slowly, savoring it in all of its beauty.

Reading 1.    Read the text slowly. Focus your attention on the sense of the passage as you hear it.   Perhaps there is a word or phrase full of meaning for you on your own journey right now.  Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready ...

Movement 1 (Read) and repeat your word or phrase several times.  Let the word or phrase that has chosen you sink into your soul.   What word or phrase is most full of meaning for you where you are in your life right now?

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  Isaiah 43:1b-3a

Reading 2.    Read the text slowly again ... As you read, listen for the still small voice of the text whispering to you, “Here I am, where are you?”  Where is God calling your attention?  Sit with the “word” God has for you … it can be from the text itself OR it can be a different word or phrase that has arisen from the text.  Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready ...

Movement 2 (Reflect) How does your word or phrase speak to your life right now? 

Reading 3.    Read the text slowly again.  How do you offer your prayers and the struggles of your life to God today?  Respond to God with prayers of intercession and petition, prayers for others and prayers for yourself are all good ... sing praises, whisper confessions, laugh gratitude, breathe in discernment, breathe out commitment ... whatever emerges from within you as you pray.   Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready …

Movement 3 (Respond) How do you offer your prayers and your life to God today?

Reading 4.    Rest in the gentle silence of God's presence.  Breathe in the grace of God.  As you move on, breathe out the Grace of God upon the world!

Movement 4 (Rest) Breathe … Breathe … Breathe … Amen

As you move forward from your time of reflecting on Isaiah's word, verse 7 of Psalm 57.

My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.  Psalm 57:7

If music is a pathway to God for you, check out "Be Not Afraid" by John Michael Talbot with a set of interesting scrolling images, some almost bordering on disturbing ... and yet perhaps that is appropriate for this reading from Isaiah.  If art is a pathway to God for you, you might meditate on the stained glass above and how that interprets the scripture passage for you.