The Underground River of Ancient Shechem - Bp Ogles

“Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground

that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being

wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There

cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water:” (John 4:5-7)

It was water of Jacob’s Well forwhich the woman came, and it was the Water of Life with which she left that Well.

Situated approximately thirty miles north of Jerusalem in the hill country of Ephraim is the

ancient walled city of Shechem of the Old Testament; Sychar in the New Testament, and

today known as Nablus. It is the burial site of Joseph. Beneath the foundations of Shechem

there runs an Underground River which carries its nourishing waters to the distant

pasturelands beyond the city, and it is this water course from which the water for Jacob’s Well is supplied.

The waters of the river run totally unnoticed beneath the busy commercial streets and shops

of flourishing Shechem during its active workday of barter and trade. But once the oxcarts

and trampling feet of merchants and patrons have been stilled by the curtain of night, one

can very plainly hear the gurgling ripples of the stream deep below the foundation of the

city as it hurries along to its indefinite destination. How like the still and silent draw of the

deep waters of the Holy Spirit are the waters of this Underground River, and it was these

waters that quenched the great thirst and convicted the woman of Samaria as she spoke

with the Fountainhead of those Waters of Life.

Quite often in our busy lives of social, commercial and professional activity, we are unable

to hear the soft, sweet voice of God calling to us over the tumult of life. It is at those busy

times that we need Him most - and are sadly unable to hear. What must we do to enter

again into the sanctuary of the Almighty? Simple! “Be still, and know that I am God:”

(Psalms 46:10) Sometimes we simply need to close our minds, hearts and ears to the rush

of daily life, stop what we are doing on the computer, and commune with the Majesty from

on high. He never shouts, screams or intrudes without our invitation; because He is a

perfect Gentleman (Jesus es el Senor - Jesus is a Gentleman, as our good Spanish brothers

love to aver). “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of

God.” (Job 37:14)182

Do you remember the call of God to young Samuel? He called three times in the night.

Samuel heard clearly each call, but aging and restless Eli did not hear. (1 Sam 3:4-15) And

poor dejected Elijah, having given up all hope, God commanded to “...Go out and stand

upon the mount before the Lord...” (1 Kings 19:11a) Elijah witnessed a great and strong

wind which rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks; “

...but the LORD was not in

the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake; And

after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small

voice.” (1 Kings 19:11b-12)

God does not speak to us in the heated shouts and elevated voices of everyday life. He

speaks not through the twisted and tortured notes of heavy metal (Christian?) music. Not in

the peals of drum and discordant voice. He comes softly! He resorts (as he always has) not

to the sin-filled and busy main street, but to the garden. The Holy Spirit is forever that

silent, bountiful stream of Living Water that courses ever near us, but which we often

neglect to hear or heed.

Our present generation wants action! Entertainment - even in worship! But they are a sad

lot who seek God in vaunted words, music and deeds of modern society which, it seems,

many of our churches attempt to emulate. Worship in many of America's churches is

centered on man and his word - not the Word of God or praise to Him. What does God

think of such churches? “...An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and

there shall no sign be given to it,...” (Matthew 12:39)

So if you want to hear the voice of God, be near Him who first loved you; seek Him in the

quiet sanctuary of His Garden. Seek Him in your closet of prayer, not in the boisterous

'noise' of some modern worship services. The sound of His voice is like the Underground

River of Living Water of ancient Shechem. To hear Him, our feet must stop, our voices

must be stilled, if we are to hear his. Thoughts of the market place, the bazaar, the social

gatherings, must be put aside. We empty our hearts of worldly lusts and turn them to the

Source of all Mercy and Grace. Reader, do you empty your hearts of the world before you

turn to this Source?