Therefore with joy shall ye draw water
These words are either an exhortation to others, as the
Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "draw ye"; and so
likewise an encouragement to them by her example, or a prophecy
that they should do this; that is, apply to Christ for grace, and
receive it from him: for by "water" is meant grace, which is
compared to it, because it is softening, purifying, fructifying,
cooling, and refreshing, and extinguishes thirst; and this is to
be "drawn", it is to be come at, though the well in which it is
be deep, and not in the reach of everyone; the bucket is faith
that it is drawn with, and this is the gift of God; and it is in
the exercise of this grace, which requires diligence, strength,
and labour, that saints receive from Christ, and grace for grace;
and this is exercised in the use of means, by prayer, reading of
the Scriptures, and attendance on the word and ordinances, by
which faith draws hard, and receives much, and, when it does, it
is attended "with joy": salvation itself is received with joy,
and so is the Saviour; as also a justifying righteousness, and
pardoning grace, and likewise every supply of grace; which joy is
of a spiritual kind, is in a way of believing, what a stranger
intermeddles not with, and is unspeakable and full of glory:
out of the wells of salvation,
or "fountains"; as all the three Persons are; Jehovah the Father,
as he is called "the fountain of living water", ( Jeremiah
2:13 ) so he is the fountain of salvation; it springs from
him, from his everlasting love, his eternal purposes, his
infinite wisdom, his sure and unalterable covenant, his free
grace in the mission of his Son; and he himself is the God of
grace, from whence it all comes, and every supply of it. The
Spirit and his grace are called a "well of living water", (
John 4:14 ) and
he also is a well of salvation; it is he that convinces men of
their need of it, that brings near this salvation to them, and
shows them their interest in it, and bears witness to it, and is
the earnest and pledge of it; and he is the author of all that
grace which makes them meet for it, and from whom are all the
supplies of it by the way. But more especially Christ is meant,
who is the "fountain of gardens, and well of living water", (
Song of Solomon
4:15 ) in whom salvation is, and in no other: the words may
be rendered, "the wells" or "fountains of the Saviour"
F18, yea, of Jesus; and which are no
other than the fulness of grace in him: the phrase denotes the
abundance of grace in Christ, much of which is given out in
conversion; an abundance of it is received with the free gift of
righteousness for justification; and a large measure of it in the
pardon of sins, and in all the after supplies, through the
wilderness of this world, till the saints come to glory; and
which is vouchsafed to a great number, to all the elect angels
and elect men, to all the churches, and the members thereof, in
all ages; and this always has been and ever will be communicating
to them. The Targum is,
``and ye shall receive a new doctrine from the chosen, the righteous;''or of the righteous; which is true of the doctrine of the Gospel, received by the hands of chosen men, the apostles of Christ. The Jews