Bethlehem's Well

		*Crying In the Wilderness* *Web Ministry*
Home Reference Articles/Sermons		Bethlehem’s Well This is a thought that was ever in sight of us all but yet I’ve never heard it preached. I researched pages and pages from the internet to see if I could find a record of anyone preaching this but found none. The closest I could come was a song entitled “Sweet Well of Bethlehem”. When I looked at the words of the song, it was evident that the writer had been shown the same revelation as I. My thought also started as a song which I entitled “Bethlehem’s Well”. Though these two songs differ greatly in their wording, the main concept is the same. I’ve heard many men attempt to preach on the well. Some preached the Gospel while others meddled and made a mess. Remember beloved that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe. Let us use 2 Samuel 23:14 through 17 as our text. "14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. " First of all, it would be good to know and understand a few things about wells. The legal definition is as follows: A hole dug in the earth in order to obtain water. The owner of the estate has a right to dig in his own ground, at such a distance as is permitted by law, from his neighbor's land; he is not restricted as to the size or depth, and is not liable to any action for rendering the well of his neighbor useless by so doing. From the dictionary: noun 1. a hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain water, petroleum, natural gas, brine, or sulfur. 2. a spring or natural source of water. 3. an apparent reservoir or a source of human feelings, emotions, energy, etc.: He was a well of gentleness and courtesy. 4. a container, receptacle, or reservoir for a liquid: the well of ink in a fountain pen. 5. any sunken or deep, enclosed space, as a shaft for air or light, stairs, or an elevator, extending vertically through the floors of a building. 6. a hollow compartment, recessed area, or depression for holding a specific item or items, as fish in the bottom of a boat or the retracted wheels of an airplane in flight. 7. any shaft dug or bored into the earth, as for storage space or a mine. Now that we understand what a well is, let us travel back and see the King to be of Israel in a hold and longing for a drink of water from Bethlehem’s well. We know that the Philistine’s had a garrison at Bethlehem during this time and the well was within enemy controlled territory. Along the road leading out of Bethlehem there are three great cisterns excavated in the rock that are commonly known as “David’s Wells”. Tradition identifies these as the well that David longed for in 2 Samuel 23. In 1895 a mosaic pavement of a church from the 5th or 6th century with a Greek inscription was discovered east of these wells. The church rested on a vast necropolis. The inscriptions proved the cemetery to be Christian. We see in 2 Samuel 23 and again in 1 Chronicles 11 that David longed for a drink from the well at Bethlehem. Three of the mighty men that were there with David overheard him and broke through the Philistine’s line and retrieved water from the well. David would not drink of the water but poured it out unto the Lord as those men had hazarded their lives to fetch it. He even said “God forbid that he drink the blood of these men that put their lives in jeopardy.” I began to remember a time when I was on the run hiding from my sin. I too was in a hold hiding from the enemy who sought my life. David’s enemy was Saul while mine was Satan. I grew weary of hiding out and longed for a refreshing. Now we know that naturally speaking when a soul is dry and thirsty, there is nothing as refreshing as a cool drink of water. David had with him in the hold three mighty men who overheard his petition and took action. While it may have looked as though I was alone, there were three mighty men who overheard my desire and took action. I’m sure by now you have surmised that the mighty men represented the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Without the assistance of these mighty men there can be no refreshing. We know that the no man cometh unto the Father but by the Son and no man cometh unto the Son unless the Father draw him. *John 14:6* “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” The third mighty man is the Holy Spirit which is used to draw us unto the Son. You should have also arrived at the conclusion that the well at Bethlehem is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. You may require that I now prove this statement. Let’s see if I can? We’ve all read the scripture concerning the woman at the well. Let’s take an in-depth look at these passages. *John 4:1* “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. “ We see in the scripture that Jesus “must needs go through Samaria.” Let us never forget that He came to seek and to save them that are lost and ever be thankful that He must pass by where we are. While I’m aware that there are strict doctrines against this train of thought that does not sway me. God has by His Holy Word obligated Himself to appear and grant opportunity for salvation to each and every one of us. It is not His will that any should perish so if there was indeed “Irresistible Grace” then none would be lost and we know that Hell enlargeth herself. While passing through that country, our Lord sit down on Jacob’s well near that parcel of ground that Jacob gave his son Joseph for a possession. A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water and found the Lord sitting thereon. Jesus asked her for a drink and she was astonished as the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. In case you are unaware of this enmity that was between the Jews and Samaritans let’s talk a little about it. This name was ascribed to the mixed inhabitants whom Esaahaddon King of Assyria (B.C. 677), brought from Babylon and other places and settled in the cities of Samaria. They were not the original inhabitants whom Sargon had removed into captivity as found in 2 Kings 17:24. These strangers gradually intermingled with the Jews and abandoned their idolatry adopting some of the Jewish religion. Once the Jews returned from their captivity, they refused to allow them to assist in rebuilding the temple and this caused the conflict. The Samaritans erected their on temple on Mount Gerizim which was destroyed by the Jews in 130 B.C. Many of the early Samaritans embraced the Gospel. Of these there remains about one hundred and sixty who reside in Shechem. It is reported they carefully observe the religious customs of their fathers and are the “smallest and oldest sect in the world.” We should now have a better understanding of why the woman was astonished that our Lord asked her for a drink. Jesus’ reply rings so true in this day. For if the lost would only know the gift of God and who it is that is pleading with them, they too could have the living water. As it was then, so it is now. The devil uses logic in an attempt to prevent us from obtaining salvation. The woman said that the well is deep and you have nothing to draw with. How or from where do you have this living water? The devil tells us that there is no way this can be. Either he attempts to trick us by saying you have never seen this Jesus, this well, or this water or maybe he will use the adage that we have not lived good enough to be saved and receive this water. The later part is true as we cannot live good enough but Jesus did and He is the propitiation for our sins. The woman as so many today thought that He had nothing to draw with and was unaware of the most precious cord which is the Holy Spirit. I will not even entertain her comment concerning if our Lord was greater than Jacob. You already know the answer and I’ll say “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” Our Lord explained that if you drink of the water from Jacob’s well, which by the way represented the law, you will thirst again. If you read Hebrews 10:1, You see that the law was not continually able to make the comers thereunto perfect and therefore there was a need for another drink from Jacob’s well. Grace on the other hand, because of the supreme and perfect sacrifice does make one continually perfect and requires no other drink or in other words, you do not have to be saved again. That’s why if you drink of this living water, you will never thirst again! Don’t you see? Here in this picture, we see a well sitting atop a well. Grace sitting on top of the law which is exactly as the scriptures describe it. Jacob’s well, (the law) had to be first as it was our schoolmaster to bring us to Bethlehem’s well which is the Lord Jesus Christ full of grace and truth. So many make an attempt to preach on this scripture and never discover what we’ve just seen. They focus on how many husbands the woman had like that was a big deal to our Lord. In fact, to the contrary it is the devil that wants you to focus there and will make an issue of it. It matters not what you were before you come to Him and it matters not to me. What matters is that you receive this living water. For if you receive it there is now a well of water in you springing up into everlasting life. You will never thirst again and guess what? The things that you used to love you now hate and the things you used to hate, you now love. So many today worship what they know not. Yes, even in our Churches and as much as I hate to say it, even in the Baptist Church. The hour has come and now is that the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God is a spirit and if you worship Him then you must worship Him in spirit and in truth. I might as well go ahead and really stir folks up. Jesus said that salvation was of the Jews. There has never been a truer statement and so far you are all with me. Now, here comes the dissention. If salvation is of the Jews then only the Jews can be saved. Before you attempt to have me drawn and quartered, you ought to consider the following: Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” While you chew on that one, let us finish the well. While David longed for water from the well at Bethlehem he was much like Abraham. Though neither seen this day of grace in which we now live, they embraced this promise. David poured the water out because it was not time that the fountain that was to be opened in his house was to appear and therefore they could not drink of this living water. David had to pour the water out and continue to drink from Jacob’s well until the true well was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. Think of the words that David’s son sang: Song of Solomon *4:12-15* “A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: 15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.“ Solomon here represents Christ’s love toward the Church. Yes she was a spring shut up and a fountain sealed. She was also a fountain of gardens and a well of living waters but it wasn’t time as he himself will prove with this next passage. *Song of Solomon 8:8-10* “We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.” The little sister that the King is referencing is the Grace Church. She is truly a wall unto her children and her breasts as towers able to feed the weary soul. No longer is the spring shut up. You might remember that Abraham dug many wells in his day but they were stopped up when Isaac came along. The Bible teaches us that the Philistine’s stopped up the wells with earth. Do you think for a minute that it is merely a coincidence that the same group who tried to prevent David’s men from getting to the well at Bethlehem is the same bunch who filled Abraham’s wells with earth? If we allow that Philistine devil he will even now fill up the well that our Father has dug with earth. Remember how *Isaiah* said in *12:3* “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” If your well is filled with earthly thoughts and desires then you will be unable to draw out the joy of your salvation. If you’ve never been to Bethlehem’s well let me warn you that you can no longer use the excuse that was used in Moses’ day when the children complained of the bitter waters at Marah. It was there that the Lord showed Moses a tree to cast into the waters and they were made sweet. I pray that he shows you that tree while you are reading this. That tree is the old rugged cross and if you come to Jesus you will find that the waters are no longer bitter and the fountain no longer sealed. Oh how I pray that you long for a drink of water from Bethlehem’s well! The Philistine’s guarded it in David’s day and the enemy now as then will do everything in his power to prevent you from making it to the well. Thank God, thank God, for the Three Mighty Men who are still on the job and still able to break through the enemy lines. When the Israelites left Marah they came to Elim where there were twelve wells of water. Once you reach the old rugged cross, He will lead you to a place were there remains twelve wells of water. When the world has beat you down, you can drink from these wells and receive refreshing while on your journey but remember you’ll never thirst again for the living water.

Crying In the Wilderness

Web Ministry

Bethlehem’s Well

This is a thought that was ever in sight of us all but yet I’ve never heard it preached. I researched pages and pages from the internet to see if I could find a record of anyone preaching this but found none. The closest I could come was a song entitled “Sweet Well of Bethlehem”. When I looked at the words of the song, it was evident that the writer had been shown the same revelation as I. My thought also started as a song which I entitled “Bethlehem’s Well”. Though these two songs differ greatly in their wording, the main concept is the same.

I’ve heard many men attempt to preach on the well. Some preached the Gospel while others meddled and made a mess. Remember beloved that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe.

Let us use 2 Samuel 23:14 through 17 as our text. "14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. "

First of all, it would be good to know and understand a few things about wells. The legal definition is as follows: A hole dug in the earth in order to obtain water. The owner of the estate has a right to dig in his own ground, at such a distance as is permitted by law, from his neighbor's land; he is not restricted as to the size or depth, and is not liable to any action for rendering the well of his neighbor useless by so doing.

From the dictionary: noun

1. a hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain water, petroleum, natural gas, brine, or sulfur.

2. a spring or natural source of water.

3. an apparent reservoir or a source of human feelings, emotions, energy, etc.: He was a well of gentleness and courtesy.

4. a container, receptacle, or reservoir for a liquid: the well of ink in a fountain pen.

5. any sunken or deep, enclosed space, as a shaft for air or light, stairs, or an elevator, extending vertically through the floors of a building.

6. a hollow compartment, recessed area, or depression for holding a specific item or items, as fish in the bottom of a boat or the retracted wheels of an airplane in flight.

7. any shaft dug or bored into the earth, as for storage space or a mine.

Now that we understand what a well is, let us travel back and see the King to be of Israel in a hold and longing for a drink of water from Bethlehem’s well. We know that the Philistine’s had a garrison at Bethlehem during this time and the well was within enemy controlled territory.

Along the road leading out of Bethlehem there are three great cisterns excavated in the rock that are commonly known as “David’s Wells”. Tradition identifies these as the well that David longed for in 2 Samuel 23. In 1895 a mosaic pavement of a church from the 5th or 6th century with a Greek inscription was discovered east of these wells. The church rested on a vast necropolis. The inscriptions proved the cemetery to be Christian.

We see in 2 Samuel 23 and again in 1 Chronicles 11 that David longed for a drink from the well at Bethlehem. Three of the mighty men that were there with David overheard him and broke through the Philistine’s line and retrieved water from the well. David would not drink of the water but poured it out unto the Lord as those men had hazarded their lives to fetch it. He even said “God forbid that he drink the blood of these men that put their lives in jeopardy.”

I began to remember a time when I was on the run hiding from my sin. I too was in a hold hiding from the enemy who sought my life. David’s enemy was Saul while mine was Satan. I grew weary of hiding out and longed for a refreshing. Now we know that naturally speaking when a soul is dry and thirsty, there is nothing as refreshing as a cool drink of water. David had with him in the hold three mighty men who overheard his petition and took action. While it may have looked as though I was alone, there were three mighty men who overheard my desire and took action.

I’m sure by now you have surmised that the mighty men represented the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Without the assistance of these mighty men there can be no refreshing. We know that the no man cometh unto the Father but by the Son and no man cometh unto the Son unless the Father draw him. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” The third mighty man is the Holy Spirit which is used to draw us unto the Son.

You should have also arrived at the conclusion that the well at Bethlehem is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. You may require that I now prove this statement. Let’s see if I can?

We’ve all read the scripture concerning the woman at the well. Let’s take an in-depth look at these passages. John 4:1 “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. “

We see in the scripture that Jesus “must needs go through Samaria.” Let us never forget that He came to seek and to save them that are lost and ever be thankful that He must pass by where we are. While I’m aware that there are strict doctrines against this train of thought that does not sway me. God has by His Holy Word obligated Himself to appear and grant opportunity for salvation to each and every one of us. It is not His will that any should perish so if there was indeed “Irresistible Grace” then none would be lost and we know that Hell enlargeth herself.

While passing through that country, our Lord sit down on Jacob’s well near that parcel of ground that Jacob gave his son Joseph for a possession. A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water and found the Lord sitting thereon. Jesus asked her for a drink and she was astonished as the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. In case you are unaware of this enmity that was between the Jews and Samaritans let’s talk a little about it. This name was ascribed to the mixed inhabitants whom Esaahaddon King of Assyria (B.C. 677), brought from Babylon and other places and settled in the cities of Samaria. They were not the original inhabitants whom Sargon had removed into captivity as found in 2 Kings 17:24. These strangers gradually intermingled with the Jews and abandoned their idolatry adopting some of the Jewish religion.

Once the Jews returned from their captivity, they refused to allow them to assist in rebuilding the temple and this caused the conflict. The Samaritans erected their on temple on Mount Gerizim which was destroyed by the Jews in 130 B.C. Many of the early Samaritans embraced the Gospel. Of these there remains about one hundred and sixty who reside in Shechem. It is reported they carefully observe the religious customs of their fathers and are the “smallest and oldest sect in the world.”

We should now have a better understanding of why the woman was astonished that our Lord asked her for a drink. Jesus’ reply rings so true in this day. For if the lost would only know the gift of God and who it is that is pleading with them, they too could have the living water. As it was then, so it is now. The devil uses logic in an attempt to prevent us from obtaining salvation. The woman said that the well is deep and you have nothing to draw with. How or from where do you have this living water? The devil tells us that there is no way this can be. Either he attempts to trick us by saying you have never seen this Jesus, this well, or this water or maybe he will use the adage that we have not lived good enough to be saved and receive this water. The later part is true as we cannot live good enough but Jesus did and He is the propitiation for our sins. The woman as so many today thought that He had nothing to draw with and was unaware of the most precious cord which is the Holy Spirit.

I will not even entertain her comment concerning if our Lord was greater than Jacob. You already know the answer and I’ll say “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”

Our Lord explained that if you drink of the water from Jacob’s well, which by the way represented the law, you will thirst again. If you read Hebrews 10:1, You see that the law was not continually able to make the comers thereunto perfect and therefore there was a need for another drink from Jacob’s well. Grace on the other hand, because of the supreme and perfect sacrifice does make one continually perfect and requires no other drink or in other words, you do not have to be saved again. That’s why if you drink of this living water, you will never thirst again!

Don’t you see? Here in this picture, we see a well sitting atop a well. Grace sitting on top of the law which is exactly as the scriptures describe it. Jacob’s well, (the law) had to be first as it was our schoolmaster to bring us to Bethlehem’s well which is the Lord Jesus Christ full of grace and truth.

So many make an attempt to preach on this scripture and never discover what we’ve just seen. They focus on how many husbands the woman had like that was a big deal to our Lord. In fact, to the contrary it is the devil that wants you to focus there and will make an issue of it. It matters not what you were before you come to Him and it matters not to me. What matters is that you receive this living water. For if you receive it there is now a well of water in you springing up into everlasting life. You will never thirst again and guess what? The things that you used to love you now hate and the things you used to hate, you now love.

So many today worship what they know not. Yes, even in our Churches and as much as I hate to say it, even in the Baptist Church. The hour has come and now is that the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God is a spirit and if you worship Him then you must worship Him in spirit and in truth. I might as well go ahead and really stir folks up. Jesus said that salvation was of the Jews. There has never been a truer statement and so far you are all with me. Now, here comes the dissention. If salvation is of the Jews then only the Jews can be saved. Before you attempt to have me drawn and quartered, you ought to consider the following: Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

While you chew on that one, let us finish the well. While David longed for water from the well at Bethlehem he was much like Abraham. Though neither seen this day of grace in which we now live, they embraced this promise. David poured the water out because it was not time that the fountain that was to be opened in his house was to appear and therefore they could not drink of this living water. David had to pour the water out and continue to drink from Jacob’s well until the true well was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. Think of the words that David’s son sang: Song of Solomon 4:12-15 “A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: 15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.“ Solomon here represents Christ’s love toward the Church. Yes she was a spring shut up and a fountain sealed. She was also a fountain of gardens and a well of living waters but it wasn’t time as he himself will prove with this next passage. Song of Solomon 8:8-10 “We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.” The little sister that the King is referencing is the Grace Church. She is truly a wall unto her children and her breasts as towers able to feed the weary soul. No longer is the spring shut up.

You might remember that Abraham dug many wells in his day but they were stopped up when Isaac came along. The Bible teaches us that the Philistine’s stopped up the wells with earth. Do you think for a minute that it is merely a coincidence that the same group who tried to prevent David’s men from getting to the well at Bethlehem is the same bunch who filled Abraham’s wells with earth? If we allow that Philistine devil he will even now fill up the well that our Father has dug with earth. Remember how Isaiah said in 12:3 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” If your well is filled with earthly thoughts and desires then you will be unable to draw out the joy of your salvation.

If you’ve never been to Bethlehem’s well let me warn you that you can no longer use the excuse that was used in Moses’ day when the children complained of the bitter waters at Marah. It was there that the Lord showed Moses a tree to cast into the waters and they were made sweet. I pray that he shows you that tree while you are reading this. That tree is the old rugged cross and if you come to Jesus you will find that the waters are no longer bitter and the fountain no longer sealed. Oh how I pray that you long for a drink of water from Bethlehem’s well! The Philistine’s guarded it in David’s day and the enemy now as then will do everything in his power to prevent you from making it to the well. Thank God, thank God, for the Three Mighty Men who are still on the job and still able to break through the enemy lines. When the Israelites left Marah they came to Elim where there were twelve wells of water. Once you reach the old rugged cross, He will lead you to a place were there remains twelve wells of water. When the world has beat you down, you can drink from these wells and receive refreshing while on your journey but remember you’ll never thirst again for the living water.