1 Corinthians 10:4 - Homilies By J.r. Thomson

"That spiritual Rock."

There is no need, in explaining this passage, to suppose a reference on the part of the writer to the Jewish fable that the rock in question was rolled along with the advancing camp of Israel through the wilderness of wandering, and that upon the chant of the chiefs," Spring up, O well!" the water gushed forth for the supply of the thirsting tribes. There seems to be no need. even to adopt the common supposition that water sprang miraculously from rocks at every station of the wonderful journey. It is enough to accept the plain record that the miraculous event did happen, once at the commencement and once towards the close of the pilgrimage of the chosen people. The apostle's mind was filled with memories of the consecrated nation, and so clear before that mind was the unity of the two dispensations, that it seemed most natural to him, in drawing a parallel between the Israelites and the Corinthian Christians, to assert that the spiritual Rock was Christ—the Source and Author of all blessings in every period of history and in all circumstances of humanity. The assertion may be regarded—

I. HISTORICALLY . As a matter of fact, the Word, the Wisdom of God, was the Angel of the Church in the wilderness. It is the privilege of the Christian to trace his Saviour's presence throughout the whole of human history. He who was the Rock of salvation to the tribes ready to die from thirst, is the same to all mankind in every age. His presence never removes and. his grace never fails. He is Jehovah, the Rock of eternal ages.

II. SPIRITUALLY . Evidently the apostle draws his readers' attention to the supply of ether than physical necessities. To Israel and to the Church of this dispensation of grace the Lord Christ is the all sufficient channel of Divine mercy and blessing.

1. Generally speaking, there is an obvious aptness in the similitude.

2. Specially, and upon the suggestion of the incident referred to, it must be remarked that Christ is the Rock because he is the Source of living waters. This is no doubt the central thought of the passage, and the resemblance is very striking and very full and rich. Thus it is apparent:

III. SACRAMENTALLY . The allusion is unmistakable to the communion of the Lord's Supper. Both the streams in the wilderness and the cup of the Eucharist symbolize the spiritual participation, which is the privilege of those to whom the Word of the Lord. is addressed, in the supply afforded by the Divine and living Rock. The voice of heaven reaches our grateful ear: "Eat, O friends; drink,… O beloved!" The superiority of the new covenant is manifest: the Israelites drank of water; Christ is not only the Stream of water in the desert, he is the Cup of wine at the banqueting table. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?"—T.