Water is a powerful symbol in Scripture, and TODAY is the perfect day to pray for rain!
This portion of today's "BiblesforIsrael.com" blog explains:"
"As the sun sets tonight, Hoshana Rabbah ends and Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) begins. Here in Israel, the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah also begins at sunset.
Rabbinic tradition teaches that on Shemini Atzeret, the world is judged concerning water, fruit and produce, and the amount of rainfall for the coming year is decided.
For that reason, on the eighth day that is set aside by God for a closing assembly, the Jewish people recite special prayers for rain.
In ancient times, a special water drawing ceremony was performed every night during Sukkot called Simchat Beit HaShoeva (Rejoicing at the House of the Water-Drawing).
This ceremony is thought to have originated during the Second Temple period, when the Cohen HaGadol (High Priest) would draw water from the Pool of Siloam. He then poured it out upon the altar as a Water Libation (offering).
The people would follow the cohen (priest) to the Pool of Siloam in a joyous processional of singing, dancing and rejoicing, reciting Hallel (praises) from Psalms 113–118 and 120–134, and chanting Isaiah 12:3:
“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation [yeshua].”
Yeshua (Jesus), who understood and answered our heart’s cry for salvation, addressed these themes of salvation and water on the last day of Sukkot when He proclaimed that all who believe in Him will be refreshed with rivers of living water.
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Yeshua stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’” (John 7:37–38) The water He was speaking of was the eternal Spirit of God (John 7:39).
Yeshua was poured out like water, as described in the Messianic Psalm 22:14. It was only after He poured out His soul to death that God poured out the rain of the Holy Spirit upon the earth (Acts 2:1–4).
Water is a powerful symbol... . This final day of Sukkot is the perfect time to consider Yeshua’s invitation to come to Him when we are weary or full of sorrow, and to be refreshed by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)."
- Excerpted from today's BiblesforIsrael.com blog, bold underline and colors added by RWC for emphasis.
This portion of today's "BiblesforIsrael.com" blog explains:"
"As the sun sets tonight, Hoshana Rabbah ends and Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) begins. Here in Israel, the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah also begins at sunset.
Rabbinic tradition teaches that on Shemini Atzeret, the world is judged concerning water, fruit and produce, and the amount of rainfall for the coming year is decided.
For that reason, on the eighth day that is set aside by God for a closing assembly, the Jewish people recite special prayers for rain.
In ancient times, a special water drawing ceremony was performed every night during Sukkot called Simchat Beit HaShoeva (Rejoicing at the House of the Water-Drawing).
This ceremony is thought to have originated during the Second Temple period, when the Cohen HaGadol (High Priest) would draw water from the Pool of Siloam. He then poured it out upon the altar as a Water Libation (offering).
The people would follow the cohen (priest) to the Pool of Siloam in a joyous processional of singing, dancing and rejoicing, reciting Hallel (praises) from Psalms 113–118 and 120–134, and chanting Isaiah 12:3:
“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation [yeshua].”
Yeshua (Jesus), who understood and answered our heart’s cry for salvation, addressed these themes of salvation and water on the last day of Sukkot when He proclaimed that all who believe in Him will be refreshed with rivers of living water.
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Yeshua stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’” (John 7:37–38) The water He was speaking of was the eternal Spirit of God (John 7:39).
Yeshua was poured out like water, as described in the Messianic Psalm 22:14. It was only after He poured out His soul to death that God poured out the rain of the Holy Spirit upon the earth (Acts 2:1–4).
Water is a powerful symbol... . This final day of Sukkot is the perfect time to consider Yeshua’s invitation to come to Him when we are weary or full of sorrow, and to be refreshed by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)."
- Excerpted from today's BiblesforIsrael.com blog, bold underline and colors added by RWC for emphasis.