xii. 3. _Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation._
Salvation is the great theme of the Bible, and thus it meets man's
great need. Think, I. Of THE WELLS, the sources of salvation. Clearly
these are not found in man himself. Salvation originated in the
eternal love of God for man; it flows to sinners through the work of
Jesus; it is by the influence of the Holy Spirit that the sinner is
made willing to partake of it. These truly are _wells_ of salvation;
not rills that may dry up; not even rivers, which may fail because
the streams from the mountains have failed; but wells, fountains
over-flowing, inexhaustible as the nature of God. II. Of THE WATER. A
beautiful symbol of a great reality. Excepting the air we breathe,
there is no element so widely diffused, nor so essential to life, as
water. Imagine a great city, a whole district, a ship's crew without
water.[1] 1. Water _revives._ How the traveller dying from thirst
begins to revive the instant water touches his lips; so the salvation
of the gospel imparts new life to the soul; an invigoration,
moreover, that shall not pass away (John iv. 14). 2. Water
_cleanses._ So does the salvation of the gospel (Rev. i. 5; Heb.
ix. 14; Ezek. xxxvi. 25; Zech. xiii. 1). 3. Water _fertilises._ The
water of salvation enriches and fertilises the spiritual soil, so
that the blossoms of hope in the early spring-time of piety, and the
matured fruits of holiness in the autumn of life, adorn the garden of
the Lord (Isa. lviii. 11; Jer. xxxi. 12; Ps. i. 3; Num. xxiv. 6).
III. Of THE JOY. 1. This can only be experienced by such as draw
water out of the wells of salvation. Necessarily it _is_ a matter of
experience. There are many things that must be felt to be known, and
this is one of them. 2. This joy may be expected in the very act of
drawing the water of salvation. If you were to overtake a traveller
in a sandy desert dying from thirst, he would begin to enjoy the very
moment he became conscious of the touch of the precious fluid. So
with the Christian (Rom. xv. 13). And as he may and ought to be
constantly drawing from the wells of salvation, his life should
always be a happy life (H. E. I. 3037-3051; P. D. 2085).
Our text may be regarded--1. As giving full permission to do that of
which it speaks. However unworthy we may be, we may come to the wells
of salvation, and draw as much as we need (Rev. xxii. 17; H. E. I.,
2331, 2361, 2362, 4086). 2. Nay, as a command. When a sovereign
prepares a banquet, and issues his invitations, those invitations
have the force of commands. God has graciously provided salvation for
your souls in Christ: will you turn away and despise His love?--_John
Rawlinson._
Salvation--let us not think of it meanly. It has past, present,
future aspects. Too often we content ourselves with the _past_ view
of it, and that in a selfish way. Twenty or thirty years ago, we
"believed" and were "saved," _i.e.,_ got out of harm's way. What is
God's grace _doing_ for us? Is it making us purer, nobler? And what
are our _aspirations_ and _prospects?_ Are we imitators of the great
Apostle? (Phil. iii. 13, 14).
This comprehensive and glorious salvation, what is its source? Whence
is it to be drawn? From GOD. "Behold, _God_ is my salvation. . . .
Therefore," &c. The third verse must never be separated in thought
from the second, "With Thee is the fountain of life"--with God as
revealed to us in Christ. This is the claim of Christ Himself (John
vii. 37, 38).[2] He stands over against all the ignorance, the guilt,
the pollution, and the deathfulness of man, as the infinite Fulness
(1 Cor. i. 30; Col. i. 19; John i. 16; H. E. I., 934-941). As the
wells of salvation are in Him; and from Him His people draw the
priceless "water" with joy. This is a duty, but it is performed by
them as freely and spontaneously as on a summer morning the birds
fill the air with music. They do so--1. _Because the wells of
salvation are free to all, and easily accessible by all._ Were it not
so, we might fear that we or our friends were excluded therefrom. But
God's salvation, like all His best gifts--air, light, water--is free
to all alike (H. E. I., 942, 943, 2331, 2361, 2362). And it is easily
accessible; not harder terms are imposed upon us than it is possible
and right for us to comply with. (All this is summed up in chap.
lv. 1.) 2. _Because "the wells of salvation" are inexhaustible._
Picture the fainting and despairing condition of a traveller who, in
a time of scorching heat, comes to a well, and finds it empty. No
such fate awaits the true seeker after God. Other sources of help
will deceive and fail us (Jer. ii. 13). 3. _Because of the deep
satisfaction which is derived therefrom_ (John iv. 14; H. E. I.,
968-971, 1658, 1659, 2738-2837, 4627-4630, 4790). 4. _Because the
fulness that thus becomes ours is a source of blessing to others_
(Gen. xii. 2; xxxix. 5; Prov. xviii. 4; Isa. lviii. 11; Ezek.
xlvii. 12; Zech. xiv. 8; H. E. I., 1740-1743).[3]
Come to the Well-spring of life. It is open to you all. Whosoever
will may come. Jesus stands ready to satisfy your deepest
longings.--_William Manning._
This chapter should be read in connection with the preceding, which
determines its application to the times of Messiah. The peaceful
state of the Church in Hezekiah's time is made the emblem of the
peaceful era of the Gospel; as the Israelites who had been carried
away in various invasions thus returned to their own country, so the
nations should be gathered to the standard of Christ (Isa. xi. 10-16).
+I. The sources of consolation which God has opened up to the Church
in the revelation of His Son.+ In a dry and thirsty land like
this--in a world where there are so many sorrows arising from sin,
and so many difficulties in our way to heaven--we need sources of
supply, fountains of consolation. And in the Word of God we have
them; "_wells_ of salvation," not running streams, not brooks, full
in spring and dry in summer, but wells! 1. Christ is the great
fountain (John vii. 37, 38). When He was lifted up upon the cross,
the fountain of grace that is in Him was opened, and healing streams
shall never cease to flow from it, till the last weary pilgrim has
reached the abodes of blessedness. Do we thirst for the pardon of
sin? (Matt. xii. 31). For the favour and friendship of God? (Matt.
v. 6). For solid and spiritual happiness? (Isa lv. 1; Rev. xxii. 17).
2. The religion of Christ is a system of consolation and joy; it is
the only one that deserves the name; all others work as with
unmeaning ceremonies or unfounded expectations. All the parts of
Christ's religion, properly understood and personally enjoyed,
promote solid comfort and true joy. Its doctrine (Rom. v. 11). Its
promises (Ps. xcvii. 11). Its precepts (Ps. cxix. 54). Its prospects
(Rom. v. 2; H. E. I., 4161-4163). 3. God is "the God of comfort."
Christ is "the consolation of Israel." The Holy Spirit is "the
Comforter." How ample are the sources of comfort and joy mentioned in
this chapter! (1.) The removal of a sense of Divine displeasure (ver.
1). (2.) Hope of interest in God's special favour as our covenant God
(ver. 2).
+II. What is necessary to our personal appropriation of these
comforts and joys.+[4] Many persons, who appear to be disciples of
Christ, are without the satisfaction which the text promises. They
may be safe, but they are not happy (H. E. I., 306-314). The fault is
not in the Gospel: the promise is express, the provision is free, the
invitation is open. If the Christian would know the joy of which the
text speaks, 1. _He must learn to set a higher value upon spiritual
blessings._ It is the order of divine procedure to awaken a high
sense of the value of His gifts before He communicates them. Many
seem indifferent whether they enjoy the higher blessings of religion
or no. The saints in former times were more earnest (Ps. xlii. 1).
2. _He must cultivate those graces of religion which are immediately
connected with its enjoyments:_ humility of mind, a teachable spirit,
a more spiritual order of affections (Ps. xxv. 9, 14; Col. iii. 2;
Phil. iv. 5-7). 3. _Especially he must cultivate a prayerful spirit
and expectant dependence upon divine illumination._ Prayer is the key
that opens the treasury of heaven (Ps. xxxiv. 5; cxix. 18). Neglect
of the Spirit's influences is a frequent cause of degeneracy and
distress. 4. _He must avoid whatever would hinder the life and power
of religion:_ the secret love of sin, undue attachment to the world,
prevalence of unholy tempers. It is a matter of perfect impossibility
that the comforts of religion can be enjoyed where sin and
inconsistency prevail. Is there no sin indulged, no self-dependence,
no conformity to the world, no neglect of private duties? (Jer.
ii. 17, 18). Heaven is a realm of perfect happiness, because it is
the realm of perfect holiness. 5. _He must diligently use all the
appointed means of grace._
+III. Particular seasons when the prophetic promise is fulfilled.+
Private meditation, public ordinance, trouble, death, entrance into
heaven.--_Samuel Thodey._