“But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.” (Isaiah 33:21)
In studying maps, one will find that many cities are built along rivers. Rivers were a form of security and commerce. But Jerusalem has no river. Isaiah prophesies about Jerusalem’s river. It’s the Lord.
The Lord will be Jerusalem’s river. He is like a broad river. Unlike the Nile which floods and brings destruction, the river of the Lord’s provision is ample and able to hold the waters of destruction. It’s a river of abundance. The Lord is the provision for every need. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalms 23:1) There are promises in the Old Testament and in the New Testament of the Lord’s provision. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) We are not abandoned to provide for ourselves. We have the Lord to Whom we can turn. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread.” (Psalms 37:25)
No warring galley ship comes up the broad river of the Lord. When the enemy attacks, we can say like David shouted to Goliath, “...the battle is the Lord’s...” (1 Samuel 17:47) His victory is ours. Paul wrote to Timothy, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2Timothy 4:7) Every battle we encounter is a fight for our faith. The Word of God must be on our lips. It’s the weapon of our faith. Do not lose hope. God’s Word is True and faithful. It will fulfill what God says. Paul urged Timothy to fight for his faith. Many things come against our faith to dishearten, to dismay and bring doubt. But Paul urges us along with Timothy. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;” (1Timothy 6:11-13)
Paul’s plea comes with instructions. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness...” False teachers had infiltrated the church of Ephesus where Paul had placed Timothy to instruct it. These false teachers were evidently teaching slaves to be disobedient to their masters who were also believers. Paul instructs Timothy and us to flee unwholesome words, pride, “...questions and strife over words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Timothy 6: 2-5)
Lastly, the Lord’s river is a place of commerce, of buying and selling. Isaiah advises all who thirst to purchase wine and milk without price. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” (Isaiah 55:1-3) We find real bread that satisfies and wine and milk that quenches our thirst in the Lord’s river. Are we willing to sell all we have for the treasure of the kingdom of God? (Matthew 13:44) We see the rich young ruler who could not part with his worldly goods. (Matthew 19:16-29; Mark 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-23) He couldn’t part with what perishes to buy the eternal. In the Lord’s river we find what we need for this life and for eternity.
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