Associated with the Christian land of promise is rest in the bosom of the Father where we always are in the position of being able to receive the fullness of God's Presence. This is the condition in which Jesus lived while He was on the earth and in which He does yet live. There is no other inheritance that can be compared with eternal rest in the pure, untroubled Presence of the Father.

God Himself becomes our life, our song, our strength, our health, our rest, our peace, our wisdom, our resurrection, our hope, our faith, our resolution, our diligence—everything of value to us. God Himself becomes these virtues in us and to us. Our part is to "trust and not be afraid."

If the fruition of the Christian experience is the condition of perfect trust in God who becomes all we need, why, then, does it take so long to arrive at the place of rest and peace? The reason it requires such a long period of time and is so difficult is that Satan, our fleshly nature, and the world spirit dispute every inch of ground. We must fight our way, by the wisdom and strength Christ gives us, into the rest of God.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3)

The "water" mentioned here is the Holy Spirit and the "wells of salvation" are the hearts of the Christian saints.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37,38)

The Christian fulfillment of the Jewish feast of Tabernacles is the setting up of the Throne of God in the heart of the Christian. The Holy Spirit flows from the Throne of God (Revelation 22:1; Ezekiel 47:1). When Christ and God are enthroned in the heart of the Christian, he being by this time under the unhindered rule of God in Christ, the River of Life will flow for the healing of the nations (Ezekiel 47:9).

During the feast of Tabernacles it was the custom for the priest to carry water in a golden pitcher from the Pool of Siloam and to pour it out on the Altar of Burnt Offering. The pouring of the water was the occasion for the greatest exultation and rejoicing on the part of the assembled Israelites.

Jesus gave His promise concerning the rivers of living water while the attention of the listeners was on the feast of Tabernacles: on the pouring of the water from the Pool of Siloam and on the singing of Isaiah, Chapter Twelve. The words of the Lord concerning rivers of living water springing from within the believer were very appropriate and significant.

Jesus at this time was revealing the meaning of the feast of Tabernacles and of the part of the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah being emphasized.

"For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song." Not the Lord gives me strength, gives me a song. He Himself is the strength. He Himself is the song.

To be continued.