Psalms 78:15,16

He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.

Streams from the rock

I. Consider thy rock as a representation of Christ.

1. What does a rock remind us of?

(1) Solidity and firmness. Christ is “the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever.”

(2) Power of defence. Christ is “mighty to save.” “Able to save to the uttermost.”

(3) Power of support. “Upon this rock I will build My Church.”

(4) Power of refreshment. This is desirable; but bow is it with regard to Christians as to their relation to Christ? “By believing they enter into rest”; they feel “a peace that passeth all understanding”; in all their afflictions, tribulations, and trials, whether personal or relative, they find here “the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”

2. We pass from the image to its condition; we mean with regard to its being smitten. And how did the Lord Jesus become the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him? Not only by the dignity of His nature, though this was necessary; not only by the innocence of His life, though this was necessary; and not only by the perfection of His righteousness, but by suffering and by death: “He was wounded for our transgressions,” etc.

3. It was not only smitten, but smitten by Moses--a type of the law. “The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” “He redeemed us from the curse of the law,” etc.

4. The last article of conformity is the result, for from this rock, as Smitten by Moses, streams flowed. “He brought streams also out of the rock.”

II. To survey some of the fine streams which flowed from it.

1. The promises. These are “exceeding great and precious”--“exceeding great,” because of their contents; exceeding “precious” to the Christian, because of the estimation they are held in by him. All these “are Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus.”

2. Pardoning mercy. His blood “cleanseth from all sin.”

3. Sanctifying grace. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.”

4. Spiritual consolation. “It is I, be not afraid.”

5. Future blessedness. “Fulness of joy.” “Eye hath not seen,” etc.

III. The quality of these streams.

1. They were marvellous and unlikely. Who ever saw a stream of water rising out of a flinty rock? How much more supernatural is the stream of redemption!

2. They were gratuitous. “He did not deal with them according to their sine, nor reward them after their iniquity,” but furnished them with those supplies they needed. And how was it with us? for they were an exact counterpart of us. It was “not by works of righteousness that we have done” that He saved us, “but by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”; thus showing the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us by Christ Jesus.”

3. They were copious (verse16). So in regard to the waters of life, there is enough and to spare; enough for you, enough for others, enough for all. “Ho, every one that thirsteth; come ye to the waters.”

4. They were constant, at least enough so to furnish an exact representation of the waters of salvation, for you have heard how far the reality has the pre-eminence. This rock in its streams followed them partially, and only for a while; and the people moved on in another direction, leaving these streams, and then they thirsted again. But it is true, perfectly true, without any exception, that this rock, or the streams thereof, follow Christians in all their travels in the wilderness, and it will never leave them, nor forsake them. When they look forward, therefore, they may say with holy confidence, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”; and the meanest of them feels assured that he shall dwell for ever in God’s house above. (W. Jay.)