God established three major feasts for the children of Israel; namely, the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacle. When the Bible talks about the great day of the feast, it refers to the Feast of Tabernacle. It was usually an eight-day affair commonly marked with great pomp. Specifically, on the 8th day, the priests would go to the pool of Siloam to draw water. Their return was accompanied by the blowing of the trumpet and great rejoicing. Perhaps that was their interpretation of Isaiah 12:3 – “Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.”

We are not left in the dark about the meaning of the rivers, it is the Holy Spirit indwelling the believers. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of real joy.

It is instructive that Jesus chose that great day as the context for the words of our lead scripture. In essence, Jesus told the crowd that they didn’t have to make their joy seasonal, waiting for the feast of Tabernacle. Neither did they have to go to any pool or river to find such ecstasy. Rather, for those who believe, rivers of living water would flow from the depths of their hearts. That reminds us of Psalm 46:4 – “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” (NKJV). We are not left in the dark about the meaning of the rivers, it is the Holy Spirit indwelling the believers. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of real joy.