I have to admit that the more I looked into this fascinating verse, the more amazing it became. It's worth the time and effort to put all scriptures into their historical context. "On the last day of the feast [of Tabernacles], the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:37-38).

First of all, the Feast of Tabernacles was instituted by God through Moses:

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, was a demonstration of gratitude for a blessed and fruitful year and a remembrance of the salvation of the Israelites in their 40-year trek through the desert.

The "last and greatest day of the feast" was a bit different from the others. This is Hashana Rabbah, or the Great Supplication. On the previous days of the feast, the people were to make one circuit around the temple. On the final day of Hashana Rabbah, they were to make seven circuits, representing the seven word Hebrew prayer which is translated "I wash my hands in purity and circle around Your altar, O Lord." It also represented the seven patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron (the first High Priest), Joseph and David. The third thing it represented was the march around Jericho and  the falling of the walls, indicating all that separates man from God coming down.

Jewish sages have said "He who has not seen the rejoicing at [this festival] has never seen rejoicing in his life" (Sukkah 5:1). There was an addendum to the original celebration, a "water libation" ceremony, where a golden pitcher was filled with water from the Pool of Siloam and carried across the temple court to be poured out on the altar in memory of the water from the rock at Horeb. While the priest poured out the water, the people would wave their lulavot bundle consisting of one ripe green date palm frond, three myrtle branches, and two leafy aravah (willow) branches. The willow branches needed to be held in a wet cloth because they dried out quickly and the bundle had to last until the final day of the ceremony [Ever wonder why all those people were carrying palm branches when Jesus entered Jerusalem?]. They also carried a piece of citrus fruit called etrog. As the priest poured out the water on the altar and the people waved their branches, they also sang the words, "Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity (Psalm 118:25). After the water ceremony was Sinchat Bet Hashoevah, "happiness of the house of the water drawing." Four large menorahs were lit up and priests put on a light show in which they performed torch dances to music played and sung by Levites. Finally, the five branches, dried out from the seven days of ceremonies, were beaten on the ground as a prayer for rain and success in agriculture. The falling of the leaves from the branches represented victory over the enemies of Israel.

According to John 7:37, Jesus stood up and proclaimed His message on this day. This was unusual for a couple of reasons. The first is that when teachers taught or spoke in the temple, they usually sat down. The second is that Jesus seemed to be deliberately drawing attention to Himself even though there was already talk of arresting and even killing Him (7:25, 30, 44). The third amazing occurrence is the words Jesus spoke in the context of the water libation ceremony that had just taken place and which symbolized the water that was provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, the prayer for rain for the successful season of growth, and the subtle fact that the green of the symbolic branches dried up without water. Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." Jesus was telling the people, "Here I am. I am the One who has come to supply your needs, not just in the flesh, but in the spirit. And when you believe in me, you will have success, fruitfulness, salvation, and the Holy Spirit in endless supply, because all will flow from within you." By His words Jesus indicated "the Spirit whom those who believed in Him were later to receive" (7:39).

"On hearing these words, some of the people said, 'Surely this man is the Prophet.' Others said, 'He is the Christ.' Still others asked, 'How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?' Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him" (John 7:40-44).

Thank You Lord for revealing Yourself to us in so many beautiful, marvelous and creative ways. Thank You for being the living water that indwells us and flows from us to bring life to those who believe. Thank You for the intricacies of Your Word that make it forever fresh. Keep us in Your Word daily Lord, and be our sustenance in all things. Amen