Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, water collected in brooks holds significant spiritual and practical importance. Brooks, often referred to as small streams or rivulets, are mentioned throughout the Bible as sources of sustenance, refreshment, and divine provision. They are emblematic of God's care and the natural order He established.Biblical References and Symbolism Brooks are frequently depicted as places of refuge and sustenance. In the Old Testament, they are often associated with God's provision for His people. For instance, in 1 Kings 17:3-4, God commands the prophet Elijah to hide by the Brook Cherith, promising him sustenance: "Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. You are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there" . This passage illustrates God's miraculous provision through natural means, using the brook as a source of life-giving water. The Psalms frequently use brooks as metaphors for spiritual longing and divine refreshment. Psalm 42:1 poignantly expresses this yearning: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God" . Here, the imagery of a deer seeking water from a brook underscores the deep spiritual thirst for God's presence and the soul's dependence on Him for sustenance. Practical and Spiritual Significance In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, brooks were vital for survival, providing water for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. Their presence often determined the location of settlements and influenced the daily lives of the people. The practical necessity of brooks is mirrored in their spiritual significance, as they symbolize the sustenance and refreshment that come from God. Brooks also serve as reminders of God's faithfulness and the abundance found in His creation. In Deuteronomy 8:7, the Promised Land is described as "a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills" . This description highlights the fertility and blessing of the land, with brooks playing a crucial role in its productivity and the well-being of its inhabitants. Brooks in Prophetic and Wisdom Literature The prophetic and wisdom literature of the Bible often uses brooks to convey messages of judgment and hope. In Isaiah 30:25, during a prophecy of restoration, it is written: "And on every high mountain and every raised hill, there will be streams of water in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall" . This imagery of brooks flowing abundantly signifies a future time of peace and divine blessing following judgment. In the wisdom literature, brooks are used to illustrate the transient nature of life and the need for reliance on God. Job 6:15-17 compares unreliable friends to seasonal brooks that vanish in the heat: "My brothers are as faithless as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow, darkened because of the ice and the snow that hides itself. But when they thaw, they vanish; when warmed, they disappear from their place" . This metaphor underscores the importance of steadfastness and the constancy found in God alone. Conclusion Water collected in brooks, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol of God's provision, the spiritual thirst for His presence, and the natural order He sustains. Through the imagery of brooks, Scripture communicates themes of sustenance, divine care, and the hope of restoration, reflecting the deep interconnection between the physical and spiritual realms. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Samuel 17:20And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Kings 18:5 Library The Water of Life; Shakers, or the United Society of Believers. The Second Difference Between Meditation and Contemplation. Love's Logic Introductory Rondelet, {7} the Huguenot Naturalist {8} The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic ... Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest The Interpretation of the Articles. The First Theban Empire Resources Did Jesus change the water into wine or grape juice? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the meaning of Jesus walking on water? | GotQuestions.org Do the news reports of rivers turning blood red have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.org Water: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Water in Times of Scarcity, Sold at an Enormous Price Water of Bitterness or of Jealousy Water of Separation or of Uncleanness Water of the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit Water was Used by Jews for Culinary Purposes Water was Used by Jews for Legal Purification Water was Used by Jews for Washing the Person Water was Used by Jews: As Their Principal Beverage Water: (Covering the Sea) of the General Diffusion of The Water: (Deep) of Counsel in the Heart Water: (Deep) of Severe Affliction Water: (Deep) of the Words of the Wise Water: (Difficulty of Stopping) of Strife and Contention Water: (Its Instability) of a Wavering Disposition Water: (Its Weakness) of Faintness and Cowardice Water: (Many) of a Variety of Afflictions Water: (Many) of Different Nations and People Water: (Noise of Many) of the Word of Christ Water: (Poured Out) Faintness by Terror Water: (Poured Out) the Wrath of God Water: (Pouring, out of Buckets) a Numerous Progeny Water: (Rapidly Flowing Away) the Career of the Wicked Water: (Spilled on the Ground) Death Water: (Still) the Ordinances of the Gospel Water: Artificial Mode of Conveying, Into Large Cities Water: Collected in The Clouds Water: Covered the Whole Earth Water: Drops from the Clouds in Rain Water: Frequently Brackish and Unfit for Use Water: God Originally: Collected Into One Place Water: God Originally: Created Fowls and Fishes From Water: God Originally: Created the Firmament to Divide Water: Kept for Purification in Large Waterpots Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Jaw-Bone of an Ass Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Rock Water: Miracles Connected With: Consumed by Fire from Heaven Water: Miracles Connected With: Divided and Made to Stand on Heap Water: Miracles Connected With: Healing Powers Communicated To Water: Miracles Connected With: Iron Made to Swim In Water: Miracles Connected With: Our Lord Walking On Water: Miracles Connected With: Trenches Filled With Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Blood Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Wine Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Jehoshaphat's Army Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Samson Water: Miraculously Supplied: To the Israelites Water: Necessary to the Comfort and Happiness of Man Water: Necessary to Vegetation Water: One of the Elements of the World Water: Rises in Vapour to the Clouds Water: some Plants Particularly Require Water: The Want of, Considered a Great Calamity Water: The World and Its Inhabitants Once Destroyed By Water: The World not to be Again Destroyed By Water: Wearing the Hardest Substances Related Terms Water-springs (12 Occurrences) |
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