A fountain of water is a refreshing thing. This is especially true as where I am at right now is over 100 degrees. Nothing sounds better than diving into a fountain and removing sweat and dirt that seem to go together.

The LORD said that he was sending a fountain to Israel that would wash and clean them from their sins. That times of refreshing would come.

During this time there would be widespread thirst for righteousness. People would be ashamed of their idolatry and false prophecy, the very thing that plagued Israel.

So much so that when someone’s grown child would prophecy falsely, his own parents would hand him over for punishment. And when someone would say to another who had formerly been a false prophet, that person would deny it and say they had been a farmer from youth.

Then there is the famous Scripture that when the shepherd is struck the sheep will scatter. Two thirds will be destroyed. One third will survive but they will be refined through fire. But the result is they will call on the name of the LORD and he will be their God and they will be his people.

We know ultimately that this happened in Jesus as it is quoted in the New Testament (Mt 26:31).

31Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

Here he was talking to Peter and about the disciples being scattered. That certainly happened.

Jesus was arrested and crucified and the disciples fled in every direction. Even Peter denied Jesus.

But what does it mean that 2/3rd will die? And 1/3 will live and be purified?

Was it fulfilled during the Macabbean revolt where tens of thousands were murdered? Though Christ wasn’t there yet. Does that mean this happened during the time of Jesus after he was crucified? We do know that for the first couple of centuries, there was absolutely horrific persecution. Perhaps this could mean it happened at this time.Others say it will be the Great Tribulation.

Honestly I don’t know. It would seem like this is about the New Testament times as Jesus quoted this Scripture to refer to him. The following persecution was horrific. Honestly like other prophecies, it could be multi-layered meaning it would be fulfilled in several time eras.

The point is this. God is going to wash and redeem his people. The Shepherd would be struck and horrible persecution would follow. The people of God will be refined. But they will be bound in their covenant relationship.

In many ways this is hope-filled considering how evil Israel had become. God was willing to not just heal them but cleanse and restore them. It didn’t mean there wouldn’t be problems. Quite the opposite. Terrible persecution would make them. But God would be with them. And they would be with God. And at the end of the day, if we have Him, it’s what matters most.