Isaiah 48:21

And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. AND THEY THIRSTED NOT (WHEN) HE LED THEM THROUGH THE DESERTS. Ezra, in describing the return, makes no mention of God cleaving the rock for them in the desert (Kimchi). The circumstances, therefore, of the deliverance from Egypt (; ; ; ), and of that from Babylon, are blended together; the language, while more immediately referring to the latter deliverance, yet, as being blended with circumstances of the former, not strictly applicable to the latter, cannot wholly refer to eith...

21._Therefore they thirsted not. _Because the Jews did not see the way opened up for their return, and because great and dangerous wildernesses intervened, the Prophet asserts the power of God, and brings forward examples of it, that they may not be terrified by any difficulty. He therefore bids them consider whether or not God had sufficient power to rescue their fathers from the slavery of Egypt, and to lead them through desolate wildernesses, in which he supplied them with food and water and everything that was necessary for them. (Exodus 16:1.) Here the Jews, according to their custom, contrive absurd fables, and invent miracles which were never performed; and they do this, not through ignorance, but through presumption, by which anything that is plausible, though there be no ground whatever for it, easily gains their support. The design of the Prophet was to recall to their

16-22 The Holy Spirit qualifies for service; and those may speak boldly, whom God and his Spirit send. This is to be applied to Christ. He was sent, and he had the Spirit without measure. Whom God redeems, he teaches; he teaches to profit by affliction, and then makes them partakers of his holiness. Also, by his grace he leads them in the way of duty; and by his providence he leads in the way of deliverance. God did not afflict them willingly. If their sins had not turned them away, their peace should have been always flowing and abundant. Spiritual enjoyments are ever joined with holiness of life and regard to God's will. It will make the misery of the disobedient the more painful, to think how happy they might have been. And here is assurance given of salvation out of captivity. Those whom God designs to bring home to himself, he will take care of, that they want not for their journey...

Verse Isaiah 48:21. _THEY THIRSTED NOT - THROUGH THE DESERTS_] _Kimchi_ has a surprising observation upon this place: "If the prophecy,' says he, "relates to the return from the Babylonish captivity, as it seems to do, it is to be wondered how it comes to pass, that in the Book of Ezra, in which he gives an account of their return, no mention is made that such miracles were wrought for them; as, for instance, that God clave the rock for them in the desert." It is really much to be wondered, that one of the most learned and judicious of the Jewish expositors of the Old Testament, having advanced so far in a large Comment on Isaiah, should appear to be totally ignorant of the prophet's manner of writing; of the parabolic style, which prevails in the writings of all the prophets, and more particularly in the prophecy of Isaiah, which abounds throughout in parabolical images from the...

AND THEY THIRSTED NOT - This is a part of that for which they would be called to celebrate his name. It was not merely that he had redeemed them, but that he had abundantly provided for their needs in the desert, and guided them safe through the pathless wilderness to their own land (see the notes at Isaiah 35:6; Isaiah 41:17). HE CAUSED THE WATERS TO FLOW OUT OF THE ROCK FOR THEM - The allusion here is undoubtedly to the fact that God caused the waters to flow out of the rock that Moses smote in the wilderness Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11. This is not to be regarded a

EXPOSITION The present chapter, which terminates the second section of Isaiah's later prophecies, consists of a long address by God to his people, partly in the way of complaint, partly of combined premise and exhortation. The address is divided into three portions, each commencing with a call on Israel to pay attention: ISAIAH 48:1, "Hear ye this," etc.; Isaiah 48:12, "Hearken unto me," etc.; Isaiah 48:16, "Come_ _ye near unto me, hear ye this," etc. ISAIAH 48:1 THE FIRST ADDR

AND THEY THIRSTED NOT WHEN HE LED THEM THROUGH THE DESERTS,.... As when he led the people of Israel through the wilderness to Canaan's land, though they sometimes thirsted for want of water, yet they were supplied with it, by which their thirst was extinguished, to which the reference here is. So when they came out of Babylon, and passed through the waste and desert places which lay between that and Judea, they were supplied with all necessaries. Thus the apostles of Christ, when they travelled through the Gentile world, comparable to a desert, publishing redemption and salvation by Christ, had every needful supply, both of temporal and spiritual things; they lacked not any thing. In like manner the people of God, while they pass through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly glory, are furnished and refreshed with living water out of the fountain and fulness of grace in Christ, of...

Isaiah 48:1. _Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness._ There always were false professors, and I suppose there always will be till Christ comes. A Judas was among the twelve apostles, and we cannot wonder that we find such in every church, but what a dreadful thing it is to wear the name of God, and yet not really to serve him, to be called Christians, and yet not to be like Christ! It must be a very God-provoking thing to be called by his name, and then insult it by not being true to it. Isaiah 48:2. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD

CHAPTER 48 The Divine Restatement Concerning His People, Their Condition and Future 1. _Their condition and Jehovah's predictions (Isaiah 48:1)_ 2. _Jehovah acts for His Name's sake (Isaiah 48:9)_ 3. _I am He” (Isaiah 48:12)_ 4. _Israel's future blessing (Isaiah 48:17)_ 5. _No peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22) _ This chapter touches once more upon the different phases of Jehovah's messages from Chapter s 40-47. Israel's apostate condition, Jehovah's sovereign grace and mercy towards them, Cyrus ...

THE JOYOUS SONG OF THE RETURNING EXILES. The exiles on their return exhort one another to publish the salvation which Yahweh has brought, how, repeating the wonders of the Exodus, He miraculously provides them with water as they pass through the desert to Jerusalem. ISAIAH 48:20. FROM: out of the midst of, not fearing the Chaldeans, but escaping so as not to be involved in their ruin. Isaiah 48:22. An insertion from Isaiah 57:21....