Morning and Evening
Morning, November 24
The glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams. – Isa 33:21
Broad rivers and streams produce fertility, and abundance in the land. Places near broad rivers are remarkable for the variety of their plants and their plentiful harvests. God is all this to His Church. Having God—she has abundance. What can she ask for—that He will not give her? What need can she mention—which He will not supply? “In this mountain the Lord Almighty shall make unto all people a feast of fat things.” Do you need the bread of life? It drops like manna from the sky. Do you need refreshing streams? The rock follows you, and that Rock is Christ. If you suffer any lack—it is your own fault; if you are straitened, you are not straitened in Him but in your own affections.
Broad rivers and streams also point to commerce. Our glorious Lord is to us a place of heavenly merchandise. Through our Redeemer we have commerce with the past: the wealth of Calvary, the treasures of the covenant, the riches of the ancient days of election, the stores of eternity—all come to us down the broad stream of our gracious Lord. We have commerce, too, with the future. What galleys, laden to the water’s edge, come to us from the heavenly glory! Through our glorious Lord we have commerce with angels; communion with the bright spirits washed in blood, who sing before the throne; nay, better still, we have fellowship with the Infinite One.
Broad rivers and streams are specially intended to set forth the idea of security. Rivers were of old a defense. Oh! beloved, what a defense is God to His Church! The devil cannot cross this broad river of God. How he wishes he could turn the current but fear not, for God abides immutably the same. Satan may worry, but he cannot destroy us; no galley with oars shall invade our river, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
