Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary-5 Verses 3-5. He measured a thousand cubits, - the waters were to the ANKLES; a thousand more, - the waters were to the KNEES; a thousand more, - they became a RIVER that could not be forded. The waters were risen, and they were waters to SWIM in.
I. This may be applied to the gradual discoveries of the plan of salvation, - 1. In the patriarchal ages. 2. In the giving of the law. 3. In the ministry of John the Baptist. And, 4. In the full manifestation of Christ by the communication of the Holy Ghost.
II. This vision may be applied also to the growth of a believer in the grace and knowledge of God. There is-1. The seed of the kingdom. 2. The blade from that seed. 3. The ear out of that blade. And, 4. The full corn in that ear.
III. It may be applied to the discoveries a penitent believer receives of the mercy of God in his salvation. He is-1. A little child, born of God, born from above, and begins to taste the bread of life, and live on the heavenly food. 2. He grows up and increases in stature and strength, and becomes a young man. 3. He becomes matured in the Divine life, and has his spiritual senses exercised so as to become a father in Christ. In other words, the grace of God appears to come drop by drop; it is given as it can be used; it is a seed of light, and multiplies itself. The penitent at first can scarcely believe the infinite goodness of his Maker; he however ventures to follow on with the conducting angel, the minister of the Gospel, in his descriptions of the plenitude of that salvation, provided in that living Temple in which alone the well-spring of life is to be found. 4. In thus following on to know the Lord he finds a continual increase of light and life, till at last he is carried by the streams of grace to the ocean of eternal mercy; then "Plunged in the Godhead's deepest sea, And lost in his immensity." IV. These waters may be considered as a type of the progress which Christianity shall make in the world. 1. There were only a few poor fishermen. 2. Afterwards many Jews. 3. Then the Gentiles of Asia Minor and Greece. 4. The continent and isles of Europe. And, 5. Now spreading through Africa, Asia, and America, at present these waters are no longer a river, but an immense sea; and the Gospel fishers are daily bringing multitudes of souls to Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
These waters signify the gospel of Christ, which went forth from Jerusalem, and spread into the countries about; also the gifts an powers of the Holy Ghost which accompanied it, by virtue of which i spread far, and produced blessed effects. Christ is the Temple; and he is the Door; from him the living waters flow, out of his pierced side They are increasing waters. Observe the progress of the gospel in the world, and the process of the work of grace in the heart; attend the motions of the blessed Spirit under Divine guidance. If we search int the things of God, we find some things plain and easy to be understood as the waters that were but to the ankles; others more difficult, whic require a deeper search, as the waters to the knees, or the loins; an some quite beyond our reach, which we cannot penetrate; but must, a St. Paul did, adore the depth, Rom. 11. It is wisdom to begin with tha which is most easy, before we proceed to that which is dark and hard to be understood. The promises of the sacred word, and the privileges of believers, as shed abroad in their souls by the quickening Spirit abound where the gospel is preached; they nourish and delight the soul of men; they never fade nor wither, nor are exhausted. Even the leave serve as medicines to the soul: the warnings and reproofs of the word though less pleasant than Divine consolations, tend to heal the diseases of the soul. All who believe in Christ, and are united to his by his sanctifying Spirit, will share the privileges of Israelites There is room in the church, and in heaven, for all who seek the blessings of that new covenant of which Christ is Mediator __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וימד 4058 אלף 505 נחל 5158 אשׁר 834 לא 3808 אוכל 3201 לעבר 5674 כי 3588 גאו 1342 המים 4325 מי 4325 שׂחו 7813 נחל 5158 אשׁר 834 לא 3808 יעבר׃ 5674