ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

The land of Israel is more than a backdrop for biblical events. Its rivers, hills, animals, and even its changing seasons fill the language of Scripture. The land itself shaped the metaphors, poetry, and images used by the prophets, psalmists, and storytellers of the Bible. To stand in certain places today is to hear, see, and feel the very scenes they described. The Dan Spring is one such place.

Located at the base of Mount Hermon, the Dan Spring is the largest of the three main sources that come together to form the Jordan River. Flowing with remarkable force, it produces an estimated 240 million cubic meters of water each year. In the winter and spring, as rains fall and snow melts from Mount Hermon, the sound of the rushing water becomes a deep, steady roar.

It is not difficult to understand why the psalmists drew spiritual imagery from this place. In Psalm 29, the writer describes the voice of the Lord over mighty waters, breaking cedars, and shaking the wilderness. References to Lebanon, Sirion, and Kadesh place this picture in the northern region surrounding the Dan Spring. To the psalmist, the roar of these waters reflected the power and majesty of God’s voice.

Psalm 42 offers another glimpse into the spiritual symbolism of these waters. Here, the psalmist compares his longing for God to a deer thirsting for fresh streams. Standing in the humid heat near the Dan Spring, he hears the thunder of its rushing flow and likens his feelings of being overwhelmed to waves and billows crashing over him. The geography is more than a backdrop. It is part of the message itself. The sound, the setting, and the experience all speak to the soul’s deep need for God.

Visiting the land of Israel is more than seeing historic sites. It is stepping into the physical world of the Bible and allowing the land to deepen our understanding of God’s Word. At the Dan Spring, creation itself declares the glory of God, reminding us that the geography of the Bible is one of its most vivid teachers.

If the psalmists could listen to rushing waters and hear the voice of God, what in your own surroundings can remind you of His power and presence? What everyday sights and sounds could you use as a prompt for worship?

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians round the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.