There is a last point that I would also suggest, namely, the manifold variety in the results of God's presence.
It shapes itself into many forms, according to our different needs. The glorious Lord shall be a place of broad rivers.' Yes; but notice the next words, and streams.' Now, the word which is there translated streams' means little channels for irrigation and other purposes, by which the water of some great river is led off into the melon patches, and gardens, and plantations, and houses of the inhabitants. So we have not only the picture of the broad river in its unity, but also that of the thousand little rivulets in their multiplicity, and in their direction to each man's plot of ground. It is the same idea that is in the psalm which I have already quoted: There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of our God.' You can divide the river up into very tiny trickles, according to the moment's small wants. If you make but a narrow channel, you will get but a shallow streamlet; and if you make your channel bread and deep, you will get much of Him.
It is of no profit that we live on the river's bank if we let its waters go rolling and flashing past our door, or our gardens, or our lips. Unless you have a sluice, by which you can take them off into your own territory, and keep the shining blessing to be the source of fertility in your own garden, and of coolness and refreshment to your own thirst, your garden will be parched, and your lips will crack. There is a broad river,' and there are also' streams'; which, being brought down to its simplest expression, just comes to this--that we may and must make God our very own property. It is useless to say our God,' the God of Israel,' the God of the Church,' the Great Creator,'' the Universal Father,' and so on, unless we say my God and my Saviour,' my Refuge and my Strength.' How much of the river have you dipped up in your own vessel? How much of it have you taken with which to water your own vineyard and refresh your own souls?
The time comes when Isaiah's prophecy shall be perfectly fulfilled, according to the great words in the closing book of Scripture, about the river of the water of life proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. But, till that time comes, we do not need to wander thirsty in a desert; but all round us we may hear the mighty waters rolling everywhere, and drink deep draughts of delight and supply for all our needs, from the very presence of God Himself.
