Isaiah 41:18
INSIGHT
-Pool in Hebrew is written as mikvah and can be defined as a small body of standing or stagnant water, a puddle or cistern. In several instances has the word pool been mentioned in the Bible including: – the pool of Hebron (2 Sam 4:12), Samaria (1 Kin 22:38), Gibeon (2 Sam 2:13), Siloah (Neh 3:15; Ecc 2:6; Jn 9:7-11), Bethesda (Jn 5:2), the old pool (Isa 22:9-11), the king’s pool (Neh 2:14), the upper pool at Jerusalem (2 Kin 20:20) etc. Pools were commonly designed in the efforts to supplement natural water supply from the rain or connected to natural springs, rivers and lakes. Water from the pool was commonly used for human consumption, agricultural use and livestock keeping, given the harsh weather conditions in Israel and the neighboring nations. In the temple; pools were also fashioned for purification purposes and others for water storage.
-The Lord promised to sustain the Israelites who had come out of Egypt with ample supply of water. Changing the cause of nature by making the wilderness and the dry land into fountains of water to refresh both their bodies and the souls. In a similar manner; He always supplied all their needs as if rivers of pure water which were made to flow from dry and barren hills, including manna and quails in the wilderness. God has always revealed Himself faithful by providing for our every need despite the difficult situations that we face sometimes and has always made a way where there seems to be no way.
PRAYER
There is none like You, O Lord; You are great and great is Your mighty name. You are great Lord and most worthy of our praises, no one can fathom Your greatness. We give thanks to You Lord for You are good and Your love endures forever. You have granted us peace and serenity Lord in our nation and homes; Your love endures forever. You have blessed us with beautiful families; Your love endures forever. You have bestowed upon us good health; You mercy endures forever. You have established for us rivers and pools of water in dry land for Your mercy endures forever. Make a way Jesus where there seems to be no way. Blessed us indeed and expanded our boundaries; for Your love for us is everlasting. You have protected us from the destructive schemes of the evil one; Your love endures forever. You have given us victory over all difficulties that befall us for Your love endures forever. You have granted us the gift of faith and salvation; Your grace endures forever. Your word refreshes our souls and brings transformation to our lives; Your love is eternal. Cleanse us by Your precious blood Jesus for Your love endures forever. Yours Lord is all greatness, power, glory, victory, majesty, dominion and everything that exists in the heavens and on earth, You are exulted over all things; now and forever. Amen
John 5:5-9
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
INSIGHT
-By the pool of Bethesda next to the sheep gate; many sick people gathered. Among them the blind, lame, paralysed and when the angel sporadically came to stir up the water, whoever stepped in first; they were made well of whatever disease. Many scrambled to get into the pool first and it became their only hope of healing. The sheep gate was commonly used as an entry point for sheep slaughtered in the temple for atonement of the sins of the people. Jesus then became the Sheep of atonement; sacrificed for the sins of the whole world. Through His stripes we have been healed and we are called to only place our faith in Him. Like the sick man who had been in infirmity for thirty eight years; lying by the pool in desolation and hopelessness, many among us have been sick and suffering for a long time. For the cancer patients, medicine seems to have failed and most of them are waiting for their day of death. Others among us have been childless for a long time, some wallow in joblessness have entered into depression and are contemplating suicide, others have shut down their businesses are sold all their properties, others are old and no one to take care of them, some are homeless, hopeless and lack their basic needs, many are single and are getting anxious on matters relationship and many others are facing problems in marriages, and other life challenges. God is calling us to listen to His voice of truth through His word and have faith in Him; for He is our Healer, our only hope in times of adversity.
PRAYER
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world have mercy on us. Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world grant us peace. By Your stripes Jesus we have been healed; we thank You for loving us. Many among us are sick, depressed and have lost hope in life; renew their strength Lord and heal their wounds. Heal all the cancer patients and hear their cry merciful Father. Increase our faith in You Jesus and help us to put all our trust in You. You are our Sure Foundation and Deliver, we need You at every moment of our lives. Hear all our prayers, petitions and supplications, and answer us according to Your merciful love. Wipe away all our tears and take away all our pain Lord. Like You healed the man by the pool of Bethesda Jesus, heal all our physical, psychological, emotional, financial, economic and social wounds for Your grace endures to all generations. Help us Holy Spirit to hear Your voice before our own and do according to Your will. Nothing is hard for You Lord, we trust in You; now and forever. Amen
1 Kings 22:37-38
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken.
INSIGHT
-When Jehoshaphat king of Judah went to visit Ahab king of Israel, they agreed to go to war with Syria in the conquest of Ramoth in Gilead, but had to first inquire of the Lord. When the four hundred prophets in Israel prophesied success in war, Micaiah spoke doom according to Gods’ word. Micaiah then revealed that God had put a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets that they may persuade Ahab to go to war. Since Ahab did not listen to the voice of God through his servant Micaiah, he was struck by an arrow and died. At the pool of Samaria his chariot was washed as the dogs licked his blood according to prophecy made after he took Naboth’s vineyard (2 kin 25-26). Purification by cleansing was a common practice in the biblical times and at the pool in Samaria harlots washed as they were considered unclean. According to the priestly law, ritual cleansing was vital as commanded by God; to prevent defilement of His tabernacle; which was punishable by death (Lev 15:31-33). Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit and therefore should be kept sacred. In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (Eph 1:7).
PRAYER
Jesus You are good and Your righteousness endures forever. We all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory Jesus, purify us with Your precious blood. Forgive us all our sins and those of the whole world. Direct us Holy Spirit in Your will and help us to listen to Your voice and only follow Your wisdom. Transform us and all the members of the society we may all know You more and come to salvation. Create in us clean hearts and renew Your steadfast Spirit within us. Renew our minds and help us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. You are our God of grace, our hope of salvation, we seek Your face now and forever. Amen
John 9:5-7
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
INSIGHT
-Jesus revealed His Deity as the light of world and by opening the eyes of the blind man, He cemented the truth about bringing salvation to the world for the glory of His name. The pool of Siloam was significant in the Old Testament for the priest would fetch water from it and poor it at the base of the altar during the feast of Tabernacles; to commemorate Gods’ provision of water from a rock when the Israelites were in the wilderness. The pool is translated as Sent laying emphasis that Jesus was sent by the Father for the sake of the world. Jesus also made mention that He did not come to call the righteous but for sinners to receive repentance (Lk 5:32). The man was born blind; which had not been occasioned by the sins of his parents like we find today babies born with HIV/AIDS, but it was so that the works of the Father may be revealed in Him (Jn 9:3-4). The Jews and Pharisees did not believe in Christ and Jesus noted that they lived in darkness. The water was also symbolic for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the sufficiency of Christ for the salvation of the world. Like the man was born blind, sometimes we face tribulations in the hope that we will overcome; so that such testimonies bring glory to God.
PRAYER
Shine Your light in our hearts Jesus so that we may see You in every aspect of our lives. We are insufficient and blind without You Jesus; look upon us and all those who do not know You mercifully; that we may always have the light of Your salvation. Heal all those who are physically challenged Father and help us in our diverse shortcomings so that we may forever give glory to Your name. Heal our physical and spiritual wounds, and help us in all areas of weakness; for when we are weak; then we are strong for You dwell in our hearts Holy Spirit. We praise You Jesus and glorify Your holy name; now and forever. Amen
Ecclesiastes 2:4-7
I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
INSIGHT
-King Solomon only asked for wisdom and God granted him wisdom, riches, honour and long life (1 Kin 3:10-14). He built massive pools of water as the ones shown on the image located in the Southwest of Bethlehem; used to water the trees. He also made gigantic underground cisterns of water to support the temples, his house, servants, livestock, plantations and the entire nation of Israel. Gods’ covenant with him came to pass in his life; for the benefit of his household and the citizens. In such efforts are several major proposed dams to be constructed in our nation; but corruption has killed the president’s vision and hopes of the people. We pray that God may grant us and our leaders great wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that we may always follow His will.
SUMMARY
A pool is a cistern that collects water and draws a lot of significance in the Bible. Pools were symbolic for cleansing in the Jewish culture and God commanded the Israelites to cleanse themselves lest they defile His tabernacle and perish. King Ahab defiled the voice of God and went to war against Syria. He perished in war and his chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where harlots bathed. Jesus healed a blind man and told him to go wash at the pool of Siloam which was significant in history as the priests drew water and poured it at the base of the tabernacle; in commemoration of God’s provision from a rock in the wilderness. Jesus also healed a man by the pool of Bethesda who had suffered infirmity for thirty eight years. As the man waited for the angel to stir up the water for him to be made well, Jesus broke that barrier and made it easy for us to receive healing through His grace. All of us who thirst for Jesus are therefore called to always believe in Him and out of our hearts will flow rivers of living water so that we may never thirst (John 7:37-39). We are invited to follow His will through the gospel as the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with His fruit and gifts. God has promised to open rivers on the bare heights, springs in the midst of the valleys, pools of water in the wilderness and fountains of water in the dry land; for His love for us is everlasting.
PRAYER
Everlasting King and Almighty Father; we come before You this morning thanking You for the far that have brought us. You have journeyed with us for the better part of this year with Your divine grace. We have not lacked any good thing Jesus we give You all the glory and honor. Remember us and our leaders Lord that You may grant us the gift of wisdom, knowledge and understanding to walk according to Your purpose. Guide our president Lord in the fight against corruption with all other government agencies; that You may prosper their hands in all good things that benefit all. Bless this our land and nation Lord; may justice be our shield and defender; may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty and may plenty be found within our boarders. Many are our hearts desires, prayers and petitions Father but we know You have answered us from old according to Your will. You have opened double doors for us and broadened our tunnels we give You thanks and praise. All glory, honor, power, riches, wisdom, wealth, knowledge and praise belong to You Jesus, now and forever. Amen