A cistern is an interesting invention to catch and retain water. In many arid places where it only rains for a short season, and then there are extended periods of dry times, farmers and the like have dug wells or built large containers called cisterns to catch and keep the water for those dry times. They then draw the water when needed and hope it will carry them through to the next rains. Solomon uses this analogy to remind everyone that you need to drink from your own well.
Proverbs 5:15
“Drink water from your own cistern And fresh water from your own well.”
Enjoy What You Got
There is so much wisdom in this short passage that can be applied to every area of your life. Solomon first is telling men only to enjoy their wives. The well of another woman is not as fresh as the wife that God has given you. Don’t desire something someone else has because God has given you precisely what you need, a well of freshwater that will renew your soul. When you drink from your own well, it keeps you from a lot of trouble.
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Many people suffer from wanting what others have. They see their neighbor’s possessions, and they want the same thing or better. A husband and wife become at odds and constantly bicker, and soon a coworker or friend becomes enticing. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. You don’t want to drink from your own wells if it seems someone else has it better. The problem is that it never is. What seems ideal is often a mirage covered by a thinly layered facade. What you have created and nurtured is fresh and invigorating.
Drink from Your Own Well
How long has it been since you did some maintenance on your cisterns? Have you invested in your wife by asking for forgiveness and pouring some time alone with her? Is your home in disarray while you have pursued other passions or just been lazy? Maybe it’s time to focus inward and repair some cracks on those cisterns? When you do these, you will find that water in those wells refreshing once again.