Broken Cisterns
Jeremiah 2:1-13
25. BROKEN CISTERNS
TEXTS: “Thus says the Lord, ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, (v. 2).… ‘What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?’ (v. 5).… ‘Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods?’ (v. 11).… ‘For my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns, that can hold no water’ ” (v. 13) (Jer. 2:1–13).
INTRODUCTION: These verses describe every man’s sin: forsaking God and pursuing Satan.
I. The Fountain of living waters—Jesus Christ.
A. No drought can lessen the abundant flow of “living water.”
B. No amount of drinking from the Fountain diminishes it; there is no “water rationing.”
II. Man’s isolation from the Fountain.
A. He has forsaken God—the eternal Fountain of living water.
B. He has dug for himself broken cisterns that can hold no water. The broken cisterns consist of any objective, any pursuit, anything that occupies men and excludes God.
III. Man’s invitation to the Fountain.
A. The Lord calls all men to the Fountain (Isa. 55:1).
B. Jesus calls all men to the Fountain (John 7:37–39).
C. The Church calls all men to the Fountain (Rev. 22:17).
CONCLUSION: “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isa. 12:3 ASV).