Poetic License
He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths. He brought forth streams from the rock and made waters run down like rivers. Psalm 78:15-16 NASB
Like rivers – One of the benefits and beauties of poetry is that language can be stretched. No one expects poems to be historically accurate. With poetry, an historical event can produce lofty ideas of victory or push us into the depths of the inner man. One can becomes thousands. Thousands can be portrayed as a single person. The poet has license to do what he wishes in order to achieve his goal. Perhaps we should keep this idea in mind when we read the Gospels, but here, in Psalms, it’s front and center. The words might not rhyme like most of our Western poetry, but linguistic elasticity is still in play.
Of course, it’s possible that the rock God split to give water to the Israelites resulted in a river. It’s possible that an artesian suddenly burst forth, cutting a channel through the desert wilderness toward the sea. But that really isn’t the point here, is it? The point is that God’s supply was overabundant. He didn’t provide water like the depths of the sea. It would be undrinkable. But the simile holds. It was a lot! So much that it could have been like a river. God wasn’t skimpy. He gave them more than they needed—and more than they deserved. Asaph uses the same “overabundance” technique with manna and quail. When the people were in need, God gave. . . and gave . . . and gave. The profusion of His giving is set in contrast to the niggardly response of the people. The beginning of sin is the absence of thankfulness.
The story of Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness is the story of ingratitude. From redemption to daily sustenance, what we hear over and over is complaint, not praise. It’s so bad that on occasion the people actually wish to return to slavery! We know the story. We pass moral judgment on Israel’s lack of faith in God. But are we really any different?
“Lord, why have You let these bad things happen to me? Why didn’t You take care of this so I wouldn’t have to go through any trials?”
“How come You don’t fix things, Lord? Look at all this mess.”
“You know, if I really were completely obedient, then Satan would attack me even more. It’s better if I just sort of do what I can and not stick my head up above the radar.”
“Sure, I’ve been blessed in the past. But what about now? Where’s the health and prosperity I was promised?”
Poets use language to prick our conscience, to remind us that those who made terrible mistakes in the past are just mirrors for us. We’re wanderers in a wasteland, unable to offer praises for what we have because we had it so good when we were slaves, right?
Topical Index: poetic license, simile, thankfulness, Psalm 78:15-16
