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More Ezekiel commentaries
Ezekiel 44:1-31
Laws Governing the Priest
Ezekiel 45:1-25
Properties of the City and the Priest
Ezekiel 46:1-24
The Manner of Worship
Ezekiel 47:1-12
The Healing Waters
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The Healing Waters
Ezekiel 47:1–12
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
In one of Charles Schulz’s famous “Peanuts” cartoons, Lucy is philosophizing and Charlie is listening. Charlie Brown,” she begins, “life is a lot like a deck chair. Some place it to see where they’ve been. And some so they can see where they are at the p … More
As the vision continues, the prophet sees a stream of water which flows from beneath the south side of the threshold or platform on which the temple is built. The stream of water flows in an easterly direction, south of the altar, and passes under the outside wall of the inner court. The flow of water emerges from beneath the wall, just south of the eastern gate of the outer court. The prophet and his guide now take a walk along the river bank for a little more than a mile. As the water flows away from the temple spring, it gets deeper, but without the aid of joining tributaries; the river is a miraculous stream of water. Retracing his steps along the river bank towards the temple, Ezekiel notices for the first time the trees that flourish beside the river.
This river is similar to the one mentioned in Revelation 22:1,2. It symbolizes life from God and the blessings that flow from His throne. It is a gentle, safe, deep river, expanding as it flows. Leaving the temple’s east side, the waters drop through the rough country east of Jerusalem into the great rift valley through which the Jordan flows. This new river flows into the Dead Sea, the large salt lake more than a thousand feet below sea level, whose briny waters can’t support life. But as the fresh waters of the river flow into it, the Dead Sea becomes the Sea of Life: the salt is transformed to freshness. Fish begin to flourish, and the formerly deserted shores of the sea become populated by the fishermen who move there to seek a living from its waters. Providing fruit for food and leaves that have medicinal value. And so we perceive from the prophet’s vision how important it is, in any restoration, to get to the heart of the matter. Only with God’s presence firmly re-established in the center, of the temple, could there be new life and restoration. And what was true for Israel is true for the Church. When God’s presence is firmly established at the center, the blessing of that presence flows out to transform the wilderness with life-giving waters.
Application
It was only after God’s presence was firmly established in the temple that the river of life began to flow. As God’s presence is evident in my life His blessings should produce fruit along the way.
Ezekiel 47:1-12 (English Standard Version)
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle- deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
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