“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall."—
A well of water in Scripture is the symbol of grace, and our blessed Lord, by the very same well which was given by Jacob of old to Joseph his son, may be viewed as the true Joseph, with his branches indeed running over the wall, namely, his love going forth, beyond the bounds of that people to whom alone he was sent (Matt. 10:5, 6; 15:245These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 10:5‑6)
24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24)), to bless, not only this poor Samaritan woman, but all in like manner whose souls are, like hers, athirst for the water of life.
SWEET was the hour, O Lord, to thee,
At Sychar's lonely well,
When a poor outcast heard thee there
Thy great salvation tell.
Thither she came, but oh! her heart,
All fill'd with earthly care,
Dream'd not of thee, nor thought to find
The Hope of Israel there.
Lord! 'twas thy power unseen that drew
The stray one to that place,
In solitude to learn from thee
The secrets of thy grace.
There Jacob's erring daughter found
Those streams unknown before,
The waterbrooks of life that make
The weary thirst no more.
And, Lord, to us, as vile as she,
Thy gracious lips have told
That mystery of love reveal'd
At Jacob's well of old.
In spirit, Lord, we've sat with thee
Beside the springing well
Of life and peace—and heard thee there
Its healing virtues tell.
Dead to the world, we dream no more
Of earthly pleasures now;
Our deep, divine, unfailing spring
Of grace and glory thou!
No hope of rest in aught beside,
No beauty, Lord, we see;
And, like Samaria's daughter, seek,
And find our all in thee.