Verses 14-15. “In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.” The allegory and parable between the physical Israel in the wilderness and the spiritual Israel on her journey to heaven still shines forth. The two incidents that David here relates as he opens his mouth “in parables”, are the self-same incidents that Paul uses to call the Corinthian church to steadfastness; “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud … and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ …. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
Verses 15-16. “... the rocks ...” They are typical of Christ 1Corinthians 10 verse 4; who is frequently referred to as a Rock for height strength, and duration: shade, shelter, and protection. He is called the “Rock of Israel;” the “Rock of offence to both the houses of Israel;” the Rock of salvation;” the “Rock of Refuge;” the “Rock of strength;” the “Rock that is higher than” any of the saints, and on which the Church is built. He is the “shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”
Verse 17. “And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.” He does not say that they only sinned, but that they sinned against God. Against what God? Against that God who had delivered them by great and unheard of wonders out of Egypt; who had led them as free men across the Red Sea with dry feet; who had continued to lead them and protect them with pillars of cloud and fire by day and night; and had given them to drink abundantly of water drawn from the arid rock. Against this God they had added sin to sin. Simply to sin is human, and happens to the saints even after they have received grace; but to sin against God argues an untold degree of ingratitude. All sins indeed, of whatever class they may be, are done against God because they are opposed to His will. But those that are committed peculiarly against God, are certainly greater than others. Those sins wrought against His name, goodness, providence, power, truth and worship.
Verse 18. “And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.” They tempted God; that is, they tried His patience over and over again; they made, as it were, another experiment upon it. And from the expression of “tempting him in their heart,” it would seem as if they had made it a thing of mental calculation how far they could go, and whether or not He would still bear with them.
Verse 18. “And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.”
“The Israelites had meat, but must
Have added meat to meet their lust;
The Lord supplies our every need,
But we desire to feast our greed.”
Verse 23. “Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven.” God, who has the key of the clouds, opened “the doors” of heaven. That is more than opening “the windows,” and that is a great blessing.
Verse 25. “Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.” The delicacies of kings were outdone, for the dainties of angels were supplied. Bread of the mighty ones fell on feeble man. It was not for the priests, or the princes, that the manna fell; but for all the nation – for every man, woman, and child in the camp: and there was sufficient for them all, for “He sent them meat to the full.” God's banquets are never stinted; he gives the best diet, and plenty of it. Gospel provisions deserve every praise that we can heap upon them; they are free, full, and pre-eminent; they are of God's preparing, sending, and bestowing. He is well fed whom God feeds; heaven's meat is nourishing and plentiful. If we have ever fed upon Jesus we have tasted better than angels' food, for -
Redeeming grace and dying love.”