Isaiah 41:17

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, &c.] This is to be understood not literally, but spiritually; not of their outward circumstances, though the people of God are for the most part the poor of the world, and in need of the good things of it, hungry and thirsty, and naked; but of their spiritual estate: as in Christ they need nothing; but in themselves, and at different times, and in different frames, want many things; as larger discoveries of the love of God, fresh supplies of grace from Christ, more spiritual light and liveliness, fresh strength and comfort, fresh views of pardon and righteousness, fresh food for faith, and more grace…”

“poor and needy--primarily, the exiles in Babylon. water--figuratively, refreshment, prosperity after their affliction. The language is so constructed as only very partially to apply to the local and temporary event of the restoration from Babylon; but fully to be realized in the waters of life and of the Spirit, under the Gospel (Isa 30:25; Isa 44:3; Joh 7:37-39; Joh 4:14). God wrought no miracles that we read of, in any wilderness, during the return from Babylon. faileth--rather, "is rigid" or parched [HORSLEY].”

“When the poor and needy seek water - Water is often used in the Scriptures as an emblem of the provisions of divine mercy. Bursting fountains in a desert, and flowing streams unexpectedly met with in a dry and thirsty land, are often also employed to denote the comfort and refreshment which the gospel furnishes to sinful and suffering man in his journey through this world. The ‘poor and needy’ here, doubtless refer primarily to the afflicted captives in Babylon. But the expression of the prophet is general, and the description is as applicable to his people at all times in similar circumstances as it was to them. The image here is derived from their anticipated return from Babylon to Judea.…”

“the poor: Isa 61:1, Isa 66:2; Psa 68:9, Psa 68:10, Psa 72:12, Psa 72:13, Psa 102:16, Psa 102:17; Mat 5:3 seek: Isa 55:1; Exo 17:3, Exo 17:6; Psa 42:2, Psa 63:1, Psa 63:2; Amo 8:11-13; Mat 5:6; Joh 4:10-15; Joh 7:37-39; Rev 21:6, Rev 22:17 their tongue: Psa 22:15; Lam 4:4; Luk 16:24 I the Lord: Isa 30:19; Jdg 15:18, Jdg 15:19; Psa 34:6, Psa 50:15, Psa 102:17, Psa 107:5, Psa 107:6; Co2 12:9 I the God: Isa 42:16; Gen 28:15; Psa 94:14; Heb 13:5, Heb 13:6 Isaiah 41:18”

“At the present time, indeed, the state of His people was a helpless one, but its cry for help was not in vain. "The poor and needy, who seek for water and there is none, their tongue faints for thirst. I Jehovah will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I open streams upon hills of the field, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I make the desert into a pond, and dry land into fountains of water. I give in the desert cedars, acacias, and myrtles, and oleasters; I set in the steppe cypresses, plane-trees, and sherbin-trees together, that they may see, and know, and lay to heart and understand all together, that the hand of Jehovah hath accomplished this, and the Holy One…”