Why are rivers mentioned so often in the Bible?

[pajaro]

John 7"38 says, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Since I see the Bible as being written in parable language (Psalm 78:1-2), I believe every place a river is mentioned in the Bible it is really parable language for the word of God (the gospel and the associated Holy Spirit) going forth. For those who believe the gospel the river brings life. However, there are some instances in which the river is a picture of the opposite side of the gospel for some. For instance, the River Jordan means 'judgement'. The river Euphrates is mentioned in Genesis as the gospel goes forth from the people of God (the garden that God planted), but it dries up in the congregations as the tribulation period arrives to make way for the true believers in Rev 16:12. What do you think rivers in the Bible mean, or are they simply physical rivers on a map, nothing more?

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings,

Thank you for this interesting question.
Today many can not fully appreciate a river - in modern western culture.

A good place to start this study would be to look and learn what a river is and how rivers are seen, meaning, if we were living entirely in dependence of rivers and rain then how would we think about and what would we think about concerning rivers?
Apart from the water aspect there is also things like boundaries and borders of lands which in themselves can provide opportunities or restrictions, marking out sure boundaries or in the case of needing to flee an enemy a river could prove to be a hindrance.
Rivers would have food in them and of course provide water for crops and food preparation as well as water for man and beast to drink.

Bless you ....><>

 

[Curtis]

Rivers usually flow down from mountains, and into to the sea. Then through evaporation the water is brought back to the mountains through rain. A constant refreshing and renewing process. The holy Spirit is depicted as a spring, and flowing river that flows out of a believer, yet it is constantly being refreshed, and renewed so that action is never ending.