Ezekiel 47
This is the moment we have been waiting for. Up to this point, much of what we have seen through this vision could have been interpreted literally. Now we are forced to consider whether there needs to be a symbolic understanding of the image that is described here. Normally water flowing from unexpected places in a building is not considered to be good news. Here the water is very good news. This water speaks of the impact of something that brings freshness proceeding from the temple and going out into the world.
The water was trickling out on the south side of the temple. What is most striking in Ezekiel’s examination of the water is the way that it seems to expand as he is brought to measure it. For the first thousand cubits it is easy to walk through, since it only reaches up to his ankles. Like a very broad and expansive seashore on a gentle coast, it seems like a person could walk out a long distance and still not encounter any dramatic shift in the depth of the water. After another thousand cubits it is still only knee deep. When the water is waist deep after another thousand cubits, it is easy to imagine a different feeling for the observer. Normally when water begins to go above our waist we have an increased sense of caution. Here there is no concern expressed, just as the existence of water flowing out from the temple was never said to be a sign of some trouble, which we might have reasonably expected. Instead of running back to dry land, the description makes us want to keep on going, even with increasing speed and anticipation. After another thousand feet the water is almost over our heads, but there is no talk of danger or drowning.
What can be done now? The answer is obvious. This is wonderful river of temple water, and we want to dive into it. We want to swim. This is a river whose streams make glad the city of
The properties of this river are most amazing. There are very many trees on the banks of the river. That would not surprise us. But there is no fresh water river with so much power to clean in it that it makes the waters of the seas and the oceans fresh wherever it flows. This river is full of good living things, and wherever it goes it brings life. What will happen to us if we are in this river? Can it mean anything less than eternal life for us? Any salt that remains seems to be left there on purpose. There are great trees here for food all year long, and leaves that do not wither, leaves that will be used for the healing of the nations.
Of course we should want to be residents of any kingdom that had such a great river. Where is this city? Where is this river that flows from a temple? This is not a temple that man can build. The water that comes from this temple is not like any other river known in this present age. What does it all mean? What has God been showing over these many chapters since He described to us a mighty resurrection of dry bones in Ezekiel 37? He is speaking to us of the resurrection world in the age to come. Flowing from one mighty Source there is more life than we could ever need.
Jesus is that Source, and the streams of living water that flow from the one who believes in Him is the Holy Spirit of God proceeding from the Father and the Son. There is a part of that resurrection life that is coming to us now all over the earth when the good news of the death and resurrection of our Savior is preached and believed. Nonetheless, there is more to come. We do not yet see the fullness of that resurrection city, but we will one day.
There is a land here for a people saved by God’s grace. This place is their inheritance. The borders are not entirely the same as what the Lord had given through Moses and Joshua. Many of the places mentioned are harder to establish. As we saw with some of the new regulations concerning offerings in the temple, there is something here that is not the same as the past. Nonetheless, the people of God in exile were supposed to know that the vision was real. It was physical. When we say that the prophet makes use of symbolism, this is not an effort to spiritualize the blessings of God’s promises into the realm of mere feelings. The land of resurrection will be intensely physical. Isn’t that the point of resurrection? As true as it is that it is better for our bodies on earth to die now so that our souls will be with the Lord in heaven, we can never be satisfied with our final state as disembodied spirits. Christ died for the purpose of a greater resurrection. That new life will be forever physical though we may use symbols to describe it now.
The good news is that you and I have a place in this new world. We have been touched by the
posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM
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