Water, Water Everywhere!

Samuel Taylor Coleridge authored a poem titled, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” In this poem there is a phrase, “water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.” This is describing a situation where someone is surrounded by water, but cannot access clean, potable water. Here is a breakdown of the phrase and its context:

“Water, water everywhere, and all the boards did shrink; Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.”

The Ancient Mariner and his crew are trapped on a becalmed ship in the ocean,

surrounded by saltwater, which is undrinkable. They are dying of thirst despite being in the middle of the sea. The line highlights the cruel irony of the situation. They have water all around them, yet none they can consume. This line is often used to illustrate irony or a situation where one is surrounded b y a resource they cannot utilize.

Our country has been inundated with so many thousand year floods in recent weeks, and in the past year. What are some of the biblical stories that come to your mind when you think about the theological importance of water, rivers and the sea?

In the Bible, water is a potent symbol with diverse meanings, representing both destruction and cleansing, blessing and spiritual need. It is a foundational element of creation, a source of life, and a symbol of God's power and presence. Water is also linked to spiritual concepts such as purification, rebirth, and the Holy Spirit.

Here's a more detailed look at the significance of water in the Bible:

1. Life and Creation:

Water is essential for life and is present from the very beginning, with the Spirit of God

hovering over the waters in Genesis. God separates the waters to create land, demonstrating His power over the chaotic, formless state of the primordial waters.

Wells, rain, and rivers are depicted as symbols of God’s creative power and provision.

2. Cleansing and Purification:

Water is used in rituals for purification and cleansing, both in the Old Testament

(e.g., ceremonial washings) and the New Testament (e.g., baptism). Baptism, a central sacrament in Christianity, symbolizes the washing away of sins and the new birth in Christ.

Water is associated with spiritual cleansing and renewal, signifying a fresh start and a connection to God.

3. Blessing and Provision:

Water is seen as a source of blessing, providing sustenance for life and contributing

to a bountiful harvest. The “living water” that Jesus offers symbolizes spiritual nourishment and salvation. The Bible uses water imagery to represent God’s provision and His ability to refresh and sustain His people.

4. Spiritual Symbolism:

Water is linked to the Holy Spirit, representing His power, presence, and cleansing

work in believers’ lives.

Jesus’ baptism in water and his subsequent control over water (e.g., calming the

storm, walking on water) demonstrate His divine nature and power over chaos.

Water can also symbolize the chaos of life, the storms that test faith, and the need

for God’s intervention.

5. Dual Nature of Water:

Water is both life-giving and destructive, reflecting its essential role in both physical

and spiritual contexts. The Bible acknowledges water’s power to nourish and sustain, but also its capacity to cause destruction through floods and storms. This dual nature is reflected in the symbolism of baptism, where believers are submerged in water (symbolizing death and the washing away of sins) and then emerge (symbolizing new life).

In essence, water in the Bible is not just a physical element but a rich symbol that

points to God’s creative power, His provision for life, His cleansing and redemptive

work, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

As we “MOVE TO THE RHYTHM OF CHRIST,” let us move intentionally to accomplish

what I challenged the Western NC Mission Work team to do. We listened to a musical

chant based on Isaiah 58:11: “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.” — Isaiah 58:11 NRSV

The musical Celtic Chant was composed and recorded at author John Philip Newell’s re-

quest. The lyrics are repeated with harp, violin and singing for seven minutes: “You shall

be like a garden, like a deep spring, whose water never fail.”

Can we be that garden to others around us as we allow God’s presence and power to not

only bless us, but bless others through us?

“Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink,” some say. What might they say when

you are around or when we are around?

“On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried

out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As

the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.”’”

— John 7:37-38 NRSV

Dr. Fitzgerald