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.
Verse 9
Every thing - whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live - Life and salvation shall continually accompany the preaching of the Gospel; the death of sin being removed, the life of righteousness shall be brought in.
There shall be a very great multitude of fish - On the above plan this must refer to genuine converts to the Christian faith; true believers, who have got life and salvation by the streams of God's grace. The apostles were fishers of men; converts were the fish caught. See below. As the waters flow into the Dead Sea, where no fish, it is said, can live, its waters must be healed, that is, made capable of preserving life; and so its nature be thus far most surprisingly altered.
Verse 10
The fishers shall stand upon it - On the above plan of interpretation these must mean -
1. The apostles of our Lord Jesus.
2. The preachers of the everlasting Gospel. See [Mat 4:19].
From En-gedi - At the southern extremity of the Dead Sea.
Unto En-eglaim - At the northern extremity of the same.
Their fish shall be according to their kinds - Every kind of fish, and the fish all excellent of their kinds. All nations, and kindreds, and people shall be called by the Gospel; it shall not be an excluding system like that of Judaism, for its Author tasted death for every man.
Verse 11
The miry places - "Point out," says Calmet, "the schismatics and heretics who do not live by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, but separate from his Church; and the evil Christians who dishonor that Church, of which they are corrupt members." A description applicable to the Roman Catholic Church, that is both schismatic and heretic from the Church of Jesus Christ, which is built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; for the Church of Rome, leaving this foundation, is now built on the foundation of councils and traditions, and lying miracles; the popes in their succession being its only corner stones.
Verse 12
Shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade - A description that suits the righteous, who are still producing -
1. The fruits of faith.
2. The fruits of the Spirit.
3. The fruits of love to God, obedience to his holy will, and love to all men. Benevolence, mercy, charity, kindness, etc.
The leaf thereof for medicine - See [Rev 22:1-5]. Even the leaves, the holy profession of the righteous, is a spiritual medicine. Righteousness is thus encouraged in the world. The profession points out the salvation, as it shows the nature and sufficiency of that salvation; for a just creed contains all the articles of the Christian faith.
Verse 13
Joseph shall have two portions - That is, In Ephraim and Manasseh, his two sons, who each had a separate inheritance.
Verse 15
The way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad - Probably Hethlon is the same as Cuthlon, a city of Syria, between Antioch and Laodicea, according to Antoninus. Some of these places are not known; but see the same kind of division, [Num 34:7-12].
Verse 16
Hamath - Emesa or Amesa, in Syria. - Calmet.
Berothah - Berytus, now Baruth or Beeroth, which David took from Hadarezer, king of Syria, [2Sam 8:8]; but these things are very uncertain.
Sibraim - Sabarim or Sepharvaim, according to the Syriac, between Hamath and Damascus.
Hazar-hatticon - The middle Hazar; or middle village, as the margin.
Hauran - The city Aurana, and the district Auranitis, are in the north-east limit of the Holy Land.