For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. — Isaiah 44:3

A few years ago, my friend gave me a beautiful plant. I usually kept it in my kitchen where I could keep an eye on it. When it began to droop a bit, I would remember to water it. Unfortunately, when I was on vacation, I would forget all about my plant. On several occasions I came home to find it sagging in an alarming manner. I would water it lavishly to try to revive it, and it would perk up again.

When there is a drought, living things suffer. Lack of water causes the earth to become dry and hard, and plants wither and die. A person or animal cannot survive long without water, either. There are many stories of bleached bones of oxen and graves of people along the westward pioneer trail in the United States. There was a stretch after the Rocky Mountains where many people with parched throats and dehydrated bodies would see water ahead, only to find it was a mirage. In those times of desperate thirst, water became more valuable than gold.

It is the same way in our spiritual lives. God’s grace, Word, and Spirit are like water to a thirsty soul. If we do not continually refresh ourselves by communion with God, reading His Word and connecting with His Spirit, we will soon begin to wither and die. We are encouraged to thirst after righteousness.

God looked down on Israel and saw that their ground was dry and parched. It was lifeless and barren. However, even in such a sad condition, there was hope. God promised to send rain and to renew the watercourses. He promised that the plants would spring up with new life and the trees would flourish.

When we are saved, we partake of living water. When we are sanctified our souls are saturated with love and life. We have partaken of a measure of God’s Spirit, but there is still a thirst. There is a desire to be filled and completely immersed in God’s Spirit. When that wonderful experience occurs, what a refreshing takes place! There is a deep contentment and peace. We are like a flourishing, fruitful tree. What a hope for each thirsty soul!

No matter what our spiritual condition, either flourishing, bone dry, or somewhere in between, as we thirst for God’s living water and seek for it, we will find healing and abundant life for our souls.

BACKGROUND

Although the nation of Israel was largely apostate at this time, Isaiah prophesied of a future day when God’s Holy Spirit would be poured upon His people. He foretold of water being poured on the thirsty and floods upon dry ground. This prophecy applied to both physical nature and a spiritual outpouring. Not only would the physical desert places become lush with watercourses and vegetation, but also the dry and thirsty souls would be made to flourish by an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit.

In verse 2, Jesurun, meaning “the upright one,” is a poetic name for Israel and was also used in the Book of Deuteronomy, (Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5, 26). Because of the outpouring of God’s blessing throughout the land, people would be proud to be called by God’s name. Many of those were likely foreigners who had become citizens of Israel, and were happy to subscribe to God’s law.

Today’s text refers several times to the fact that God is the only God, and that it was He who created man (verses 2, 6, 8, 21, and 24). Yet, though God created man, Israel had persisted in creating idols and worshiping the work of their own hands. Isaiah pointed out the foolishness of their actions. Men would cut down a tree and use part as firewood for warmth, part for the oven to cook meat and bake bread, and then take the remaining wood to fashion an idol to worship.

The chapter goes on to state that only God’s counsel is true. Men who oppose God’s truth will be frustrated and made to look foolish. Any knowledge man attains must be measured by God’s standard of truth.

In the end of the chapter, the Lord, who made Heaven and earth, and formed man in the womb, gave a promise to His people. Though Jerusalem and the Temple had not yet been destroyed, Isaiah spoke of their rebuilding by the edict of a king named Cyrus. Cyrus’ reign occurred about 150 years later, from 559 to 530 B.C. It was King Cyrus at this later time who fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by making a decree which allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the city and the temple. (See Ezra 1-2)

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

(Hannah’s Bible Outlines - Used by permission per WORDsearch)
IV.   The message of consolation: The Holy One of Israel comforting, redeeming and enriching
       A.    The promise of deliverance (comfort)
              4.   The consolation of Israel
                    a.   The assurance of God
                         (5)   The return of Israel’s blessings (44:1-5)
                    b.   The contrast of idols to God (44:6-20)
                         (1)   The deity of the Lord (44:6-8)
                         (2)   The frailty of idols (44:9-20)
                    c.   The proclamations of God
                         (1)   The redemption of Israel (44:21-23)
                         (2)   The restoration of Israel by Cyrus (44:24 — 45:7)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. What types of trees are mentioned in chapter 44?
   
   
2. Why do you think God shut their eyes and hearts that they could not see or understand?
   
   
3. What are some of the blessings of God that we can thirst for?

CONCLUSION

As we set our hearts on the Lord and seek His face, we will develop a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and for more of Him. We will then be ready for the blessing!