Isaiah 8:6 - Homiletics

Waters of Shiloah.

The waters of Shiloah issued from the rock where God had set his Name and fixed the symbol of his presence. They were a copious supply, ever welling forth from an inscrutable source for the refreshment and delectation of Israel. Their overplus irrigated numerous gardens in the valley at the base of the temple bill, and made the desert "blossom like the rose." Shiloah is the same as "Shiloh" ( Genesis 49:10 ), and " Shiloh " means "sent," or "he who is sent." Hence we may view as "waters of Shiloah"—

I. THE TEACHING OF THE TEMPLE AND ITS RITES , which God sent to Israel by the hard of his servant Moses for their refreshment and delight—a stream of living water to those who accepted the truths which the temple rites embodied or symbolized; a " river " which "made glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High ( Psalms 46:4 ).

II. THE TEACHING OF THE PROPHETS , whom God continually sent , " rising up betimes and sending " ( 2 Chronicles 36:15 ), of which Isaiah said primarily, "Lo, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters" ( Isaiah 55:1 )—these waters representing the truth of God which he was commissioned to preach. This teaching welled forth from the true "Rock;" for it was "the Spirit of Christ" which inspired the prophets, and made them ever approximate more and more toward the standard of evangelical teaching which was to be set up later. The prophets' doctrine was for the refreshment and comfort of the Jews primarily; but its influence was felt beyond the limits of Judaism. In many a pagan wilderness the superfluous waters flowing, from this source created gardens, where blossoms bloomed, which, without the "living water" of revealed truth, could never have come into being.

III. THE TEACHING OF THE EVER - BLESSED SON , the true "Shiloh"—sent by the almighty and most merciful Father to redeem the world and reconcile it to him. He is "the Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness" ( Zechariah 13:1 ); "the Well-spring of wisdom" ( Proverbs 18:4 ); the inexhaustible and inscrutable Source, to whom all may come freely and drink ( John 7:37 ). His doctrine doth "drop as the rain," and his speech doth "distil as the dew" ( Deuteronomy 32:2 ); he gives to all men to "take the water of life freely" ( Revelation 22:17 ). From depths unsearchable in the nature of him who is "the Rock of our salvation" flow forth rivers of living water, cleansing, purifying, refreshing, satisfying the soul. He washes us once, in a material way, in baptism; he washes us ten thousand times spiritually, as often as he cleanses us from sin; he gives us to drink of a water that is henceforth to us "a well of water springing up into everlasting life" ( John 4:14 ). True "waters of Shiloh" are these. All may "take of them freely." The fountain is absolutely inexhaustible. Nor are its benefits confined to those only for whose sake especially it was given—baptized members of the Church; they flow on to others also. Great are the uncovenanted mercies of God. The child Christ was proclaimed to be "a Light to lighten the Gentiles ," no less than "the Glory of his people Israel" ( Luke 2:32 ). And so it is. The stream of Christian teaching flows on from the Church into the world, if not with sufficient force to create a garden, at any rate so as to bring forth amid the arid wastes many a green plant, many a blooming flower. The washing of atonement is extended, we confidently believe, to thousands who are not formally within the covenant. And the flow of the water will never cease. Even in heaven there will be "a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb" ( Revelation 22:1 ), of which the saints of God will drink eternally ( Revelation 22:17 ).