A Well-Watered Garden – Jeremiah 31:12

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Jeremiah 31:12 (NIV)

“They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.”

Jeremiah 31:12 (MSG)

“The people will climb up Zion’s slopes shouting with joy, their faces beaming because of God’s bounty—Grain and wine and oil, flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. Their lives will be like a well-watered garden, never again left to dry up.”

*************************************

“They will come and sing aloud and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and will be radiant [with joy] over the goodness of the Lord—For the grain, for the new wine, for the oil, and for the young of the flock and the herd. And their life will be like a watered garden, and they shall never sorrow or languish again.” -AMPLIFIED

“Being delivered from enemies stronger than themselves, God’s people will rejoice mightily when they finally take up residence in Zion.  The presence of wheat means that the people’s physical needs will be met; the presence of wine that there will be cause for rejoicing; oil to symbolize light and the presence of the Spirit of God; and the young of the flock to imply that the weakest and most vulnerable will flourish under God’s protection.” ~Melissa Beaty

The Lord will be Israel’s Rescuer and Redeemer, He has stated this:

“…for the Lord has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he.” -Jeremiah 31:11 (CSB)

And when His people are redeemed, they will come home in gladness, and the Lord will care for their every need, both physical and spiritual. The people will be like a well-watered garden. God’s Message:

“The redeemed will return home and shout for joy from the top of Mount Zion; they will shine with the sheer goodness of the Eternal—The harvests of grain, wine, and oil; the healthy flocks and herds. Their lives will be like a lush, well-watered garden. From that day on, they will never know sorrow.” -(VOICE)

When the people of Israel are rescued and redeemed, returning to their home, their response will be just the opposite of what it was when they were carried away into captivity. They went in sorrow and grief, heartbroken and with regrets. But when they return, they will come with dancing, celebration, and joyful singing to the hills of their homeland, Zion.

They will come streaming home, their faces shining and radiant because of the goodness of God. At that time, they will finally grasp how deep the love of God is for them. They will begin to fathom that He was the Bedrock of the lives all the time, just as Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

“Father, out of Your honorable and glorious riches, strengthen Your people. Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded so that together with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. God, may Your fullness flood through their entire beings.” -Ephesians 3:16-19 (VOICE)

The Lord will personally provide for them, out of the goodness of His heart, everything they need. There will be flourishing crops, good grain, fresh oil, new wine, healthy sheep, and cattle. And the people themselves will be like a well-watered garden.

What does a well-watered garden look like anyhow? A well-watered garden contains plants that are flourishing and strong, there will be bright flowers and good fruit. The weeds will have been pulled, and the garden itself is well maintained. And most importantly, The Gardener enjoys walking through this garden.

“And they should be a beautiful, flourishing, growing people, like a watered garden that looks cheerly, and in which things grow and thrive (for soul doth not seem here to be taken for men’s spiritual and immortal part, but for the whole man).” ~Matthew Poole

The Psalmist wrote this song for the exiles as they returned to their homeland:

“Remember when the Eternal brought back the exiles to Zion?
    It was as if we were dreaming—
Our mouths were filled with laughter;
    our tongues were spilling over into song.
The word went out across the prairies and deserts,
    across the hills, over the oceans wide, from nation to nation:
“The Eternal has done remarkable things for them.”
We shook our heads. All of us were stunned—the Eternal has done remarkable things for us.
    We were beyond happy, beyond joyful. And now, Eternal One, some are held captive and poor.
    Release them, and restore our fortunes
    as the dry riverbeds of the South spring to life when the rains come at last.
Those who walk the fields to sow, casting their seed in tears,
    will one day tread those same long rows, amazed by what’s appeared.
Those who weep as they walk
    and plant with sighs
Will return singing with joy,
    when they bring home the harvest.” -Psalm 126 (VOICE)

“They shall come home and sing songs of joy upon the hills of Zion and shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord—the good crops, the wheat, the wine, and the oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life shall be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows shall be gone.” -(TLB)

“These are all temporal mercies, and it is a great blessing to see God’s goodness in them. If God blesses common mercies, they are blessings indeed; but without his blessing they may become idols, and so may become curses. What a delightful simile! It is of little use for the body to be fed unless the soul also is well nourished: “Their soul shall be as a watered garden;”” ~Charles Spurgeon

Scripture speaks much about gardens and trees, crops, and harvests. Here is just a sampling of what is given to us:

We are told to be like a tree planted by the water, bearing much fruit:

“You are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry. Your fruit ripens in its time; your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun. No matter what you do, you prosper.” -Psalm 1:3 (VOICE)

We are reminded that God will personally tend the garden:

Eternal One: “I, the Eternal One, tend and keep this vineyard; I water and guard it day and night, Protecting it against any that might wish to harm it.” -Isaiah 27:3 (VOICE)

When we feel we are in a dry spell, God tells us He will nourish us and give us strength:

“The Eternal One will never leave you; He will lead you in the way that you should go. When you feel dried up and worthless, God will nourish you and give you strength. And you will grow like a garden lovingly tended; you will be like a spring whose water never runs out.” -Isaiah 58:11 (VOICE)

In fact, Jesus reminds us that He is the Living Water that will quench our thirsty roots, and He is the Well that will never run dry:

“Drink this water, and your thirst is quenched only for a moment. You must return to this well again and again. I offer water that will become a wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never be thirsty again.” -John 4:13-14 (VOICE)

We are reminded that only the Lord can truly quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger:

“He has quenched their thirst, and He has satisfied their hunger with what is good.” -Psalm 107:9 (VOICE)

And a well-watered garden will bear fruit:

“If you abide in Me and My voice abides in you, anything you ask will come to pass for you. Your abundant growth and your faithfulness as My followers will bring glory to the Father.” -John 15:7-9 (VOICE)

That well-watered garden will produce good, healthy fruit:

“The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this.” -Galatians 5:22-23 (VOICE)

“The growth of plants is often used as a metaphor for spiritual growth and transformation. Just as plants need proper care and nourishment to thrive, believers require spiritual nourishment through prayer, Scripture, and community to mature in their faith.” ~Jamie Wilson

My friend, how is the garden of your life growing? Are you allowing the Lord to tend your garden? Are you planted by the waters? Have you been watered by the Living Water? Are you growing good fruit? I hope you can answer yes to all of those questions. If not, take time today to seek out the Master Gardener and allow Him to tend to the garden of your heart. Remember, we need to consciously be working at growing.

“We need water to live. That is true for the flowers in my garden and my life as a Christian. I water the flowers in the evening when it’s cool and allow the water to run deep into the soil. It gives time for the moisture to be taken up into the plant before the heat of the day arrives. I find that I need to spend time with God every day to prepare me for the challenges of life that can hit me like the noonday heat. As I pursue God in prayer, reading his word and spending time with other believers who encourage, support and spur me on, I am being watered in my faith. It strengthens me, builds me up and results in growth.” ~Ruth Clemence

My Prayer:

Adonai Elohim, my Great Lord, you are the Master Gardener. In fact, you began everything, in the Beginning, in a garden, and in the end, again, there will be a garden. You liken me to a garden. And you have instructed me to be planted by the waters, the Living Water. As you tend to the garden of my heart, Lord, I ask that you help me to be accepting of the pruning and tender-loving care that you are giving to me. Pull the weeds out, and help me to flourish under your gentle care, that I may grow fruit that is good and pleasing to you. Lord, you are always welcome in the garden of my heart.