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Mikveh, the Importance of Living Water

Mikveh, the Importance of Living Water

Last updated on: August 19, 2023 at 8:48 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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Mikveh, the Importance of Living Water 2023-08-19T20:48:15-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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As recovery continues for the residents of the Maui fires, I’ve heard stories of people running from the fire and jumping into the ocean. For most, there is a natural instinct that water is good.

Hawaii

Image by Pixaby

Water and fire are opposite forces like good and evil. Water is a basic necessity for life.

Hydrates
Promotes life
Purifies

Most people understand the physical need for water, but there is a disturbing weight loss trend of dehydrating oneself instead of getting rid of fat. And in the process doing more harm than good.

Water is a universal solvent and is necessary to sustain life. When scientists look for life in the universe, they focus on planets that have water, because water gives hope of new life.

Water is necessary for both spiritual and physical life. Moses explained how both water and God’s Spirit were together at the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:2). For thousands of years water has been invaluable and used in Judaism.

Mikveh

In Judaism an important practice for God’s people is Mikveh. This process requires total immersion in any natural body of water. Once immersed, the individual is raised from the water renewed, cleansed, and pure.

Mikveh

Image by Pixaby

The process is more than just a physical cleaning, the ritual bathing has spiritual symbolism also, and this is why Mikveh is used as a conversion process in Judaism. The symbolism and importance of it is as clear as water is to life—new life!

New Life

The Torah teaches about God sending a great flood to cleanse the world of its corruption (Genesis 6:9-12). After God cleansed the world of its evil, new life emerged from the waters once again.

Water is a universal need for organic creatures. Human bodies are mainly composed of water (60%). It is no wonder nutritionists and dietitians emphasize the need for us to drink water. Below are the benefits of drinking water.

Relieves fatigue
Improves mood
Relieves headaches and migraines
Aids digestion and constipation
Flushes toxins out
Improves brain function
Prevents muscle cramps
Moisturizes skin
Relieves hangovers
Fights bad breath
Strengthens immune system
Promotes weight loss

Once again science has proven what the Bible has said for millennia. In Judaism, the importance of water is symbolic, as Moses led God’s people from bondage in Egypt through the waters of the Red Sea to new life in the Promised Land.

Glass of water

Image by Pixaby

In the city of David, the Gihon springs of “living water” were used by God’s people to drink and bathe in. Jesus, the other “Son of David”, described Himself as the living water. He told His followers that with Him, they would never thirst (John 4:14).

Jesus also told the Pharisee Nicodemus, the only way he was to see heaven was to be born of water and the Spirit. Jesus refers to the Torah and how things were in the beginning, Nicodemus had to be purified.

Purified

Today, Catholicism and most Protestant faiths emphasize the need for water for cleansing and new life. Water will always be necessary for life. The book of Revelation again references a spring of life (Revelation 21: 6-8).

Baptism

Image by Pixaby

Again, we see the spiritual battle between good and evil; this is why we all need to be purified through the spring of life, Jesus. Water has both spiritual and physical benefits.

Cleanses
Restores
Gives life

Impure or contaminated water is unhealthy to consume, it can make us sick or even kill us. Spiritually, our sin corrupts us, sin leads to death. We need to be purified through Jesus, the living water, Mikveh!

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