This document discusses the metaphor of "living water" from the Bible and its meaning. It provides several quotes from the Bible about living water and explains that in biblical times, rabbis and common people believed living water referred to the study of God's word or Torah. The document then provides several analogies comparing aspects of water and its properties to the study and qualities of the Torah, such as how studying the Torah a little at a time can become a flowing stream of knowledge like a growing river. It concludes by pointing to passages in Revelation that describe living water in heaven.

1. H2O – Living Water
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture
has said, rivers of living water will flow
from within them.” John 7:38

2.  Fragment 41; Quoted by Plato in Cratylus 402a
 VARIANT TRANSLATIONS --
 You cannot step twice into the same river; for other waters are
continually flowing in.
 You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever
flowing on to you.
 You cannot step twice into the same stream. For as you are stepping in,
other waters are ever flowing on to you.
 You cannot step twice into the same river.
 You cannot step into the same river twice.
 It is impossible to step into the same river twice.
 No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river
and he's not the same man.
You could not step twice into the same
river
--Heraclitis

3.  Name?
 Geographic location?
 Physical properties (the water in it)?
 The route that it follows?
 Or
 The Two banks on either side
What defines a river?

4. River Banks
Truth
Justice
grace
Spirit
Mercy
Holiness

5.  John 7:37-41
 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus
stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him
come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of
living water. 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those
who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not
yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
 40 Some of the people therefore, when they heard these
words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.”
41 Others were saying, “This is the Christ.”
The Water Libation Ceremony

6. It is often said . . .

7.  Rabbis and the common people believed that when
the prophets referred to rivers of “living water”
 Mayim Chayim
 It was referring to the study of the God’s Word, God’s
Teaching, God’s Torah
The meaning in Bible Times

8. Study of God’s Teaching (Study of God’s Torah)
Messiah, (who would teach all things)
Jesus
John 7:38 – whoever believes in me, as Scripture has
said (the way the Scriptures talked about me)
Rivers of living water will flow from within.
John 7:39 (holy spirit)
Living Waters

9.  Just as rain water comes down in drops and forms
rivers, so with the Torah; one studies a bit today and
some more tomorrow, until in time it becomes like a
flowing stream.
 Exodus 17:7
 Numbers 20:13
From Raindrops to a Raging River

10.  Just as water has no taste unless one is thirsty, so too,
Torah is best appreciated through great effort and
yearning.
 John 4:9-11 Woman at the well
It takes work to get
water from a well!

11.  Just as water leaves a high place and flows to a low
one, so too, Torah leaves one whose spirit is proud
and remains with one whose spirit is humble.
 Isaiah 55:1
All water flows downstream.

12.  Water is a great equalizer – no matter what your
station or class – all can drink water. So, too – a
scholar should not be ashamed to say to a simpler
fellow, “Teach me a chapter, a verse or a letter.”
No one too great, no one too small

13.  Just as water is the source of life for the world, as it
says, A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, so
the Torah is a source of life for the world.
 Song of Songs 4:15
Bottled at the source . . .

14.  Just as water restores the soul, so does the Torah.
 Psalm 119:81-88
As the deer pants for the water . . .

15.  Just as water is cleansing, the words of Torah are
purifying.
 Eph. 5:26
Mikveh

16.  Revelation 7:16-17
 Revelation 21:6
 Revelation 22:1
 Revelation 22:17
On the Great Day . . .