A River Flowing Through Us

In Ezekiel 47 the prophet is ushered to the outer gate facing east and sees a trickle of water flowing from the south side of the Temple. As he watches, the temple tour guide goes out eastward from the temple measuring the water depth that flowed from that source. Every 1000 cubits the water gets deeper and deeper. 

Ezekiel 47:3–6 (ESV) 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

It's an amazing picture that as the water gets further from the Temple it becomes deeper. The vision becomes even more compelling when the man explains the powers of these waters. First, this water has the power to turn the dead sea into a fresh sea. 

Ezekiel 47:8 (ESV) 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.

The Dead Sea is the most salt concentrated body of water on Earth. It's a destination for tourists because of the buoyancy the salt provides the human body. 

Second, this river brings life and flourishing everywhere it goes. 

Ezekiel 47:9 (ESV) 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.

The strange thing about Jerusalem where the Temple dwells is that it has no river beside it. In fact, it's the only great ancient world city that was not founded by a river. Thus when it was conquered, the enemy shut off the water supply to weaken the people. 

Then there is a specific stipulation.

Ezekiel 47:11 (ESV) But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.

Interesting picture that the mixed area does not turn fresh. Perhaps an illustration of lukewarm, half-committed faith. Those who believe but never actually change. There is no effect of this river of life on their lives.

But for the places where the river flows and feeds the banks, there will be amazing production on a monthly basis. 

Ezekiel 47:12 (ESV) 12 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.”

We all experience fruit in season, usually once a year. Think of this image of monthly fruit! You have more than enough. 

Ezekiel has been seeing in this Temple a picture of the reign of Christ through His people. In many ways these passages have been fulfilled. The River of the Holy Spirit has flowed through the Church from Jerusalem in Acts 2 out to the world and become deeper and more powerful the further it has gone. 

Jesus promised this in John 7 based on these words in Ezekiel:

John 7:37–39 (ESV) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Through the Holy Spirit, the Church is the river of life changing the world every where it goes. We need not be intimidated or suffer from inferiority. God's power is working in us and through us to this very day. 

Amen.