But there the glorious Lord [will be] unto us a place
of
broad rivers [and] streams
Egypt had its Nile, and Babylon its Euphrates, but Jerusalem had
no such river for its convenience, commerce, and defence; but God
promises to be that to his Jerusalem, his church and people, as
will answer to, and be "instead" F7 of, a river that has the
broadest streams; which is expressive of the abundance of his
grace, and the freeness of it, for the supply of his church, as
well as of the pleasant situation and safety of it; see (
Psalms
46:1-4 ) ( Ezekiel
47:1-4 ) where the Lord appears "glorious"; where he displays
the glorious perfections of his nature, his power, faithfulness,
truth, holiness, love, grace, and mercy; where his glorious
Gospel is preached; where he grants his gracious and glorious
presence; and where saints come to see his glory, do see it, and
speak of it; see ( 2 Samuel
6:20 ) ( Psalms 63:1 Psalms 63:2 ) (
29:9 ) :
wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant
ships
pass thereby:
this advantage literal Jerusalem had, that, though it had no
river for its pleasure, profit, and protection, yet no enemy
could come up to it in that way; and the Lord, though he is
indeed instead of a broad river to his people for their supply
and safety, yet such an one as will not admit any enemy, great or
small, signified by the "galley with oars", and the "gallant
ship", to come near them; and in the New Jerusalem church state,
when there will be new heavens and a new earth, there will be no
sea, ( Revelation
21:1 ) and so no place for ships and galleys. The design of
these metaphors is to show that the church of Christ at this time
will be safe from all enemies whatsoever, as they must needs be,
when the Lord is not only a place of broad rivers, but a wall of
fire round about them, and the glory in the midst of them, (
Zechariah
2:5 ) .