Tag: river from the temple
The River from the Temple!
Scripture reading for August 31st: Ezekiel 44-48
Ezekiel’s description of the vision given by the man with the measuring line continues to the end of his writing. Today’s portion describes the role of the priests and the operation of the rebuilt temple. God is a God of order and He leaves detailed instructions with Ezekiel for the people who will one day go back to Israel and bring the restoration. However, part of this vision goes beyond a rebuilt temple.
Ezekiel is shown a flow of water coming from the temple that brings amazing things to pass wherever it flows. (Ezekiel 47:1-12) This flow originates under the threshold of the east gate of the temple. The water flowed out away from the temple; the man with the measuring line went a thousand cubits and the water was ankle-deep. After another thousand cubits, the water was knee-deep. Going another thousand cubits, the water was waist-deep. After the fourth thousand cubits, the water was so vast and deep that people could swim in it.
Along the bank of this river were a number of trees. These trees would always be green and fruitful, bearing fruit every month. They would serve as food and their leaves would bring healing. In fact, everywhere that this river from the sanctuary went, abundant life would flourish. Fish would teem in it’s waters and swarms of living creatures would be found near it. Fishermen would come to catch the fish. This was a special river that produced abundant life!
Jesus Christ spoke of a river flowing from the new temple that He would build. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37b-39) The Holy Spirit brings us a river of God’s life that produces life within us. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to produce God’s life in us. Wherever we go, we are to share that life. We are to be fishers of men by sharing the love and life of God! Allow that river to flow in you today!
A river to swim in!
Scripture reading for August 31st: Ezekiel 44-48
This amazing book of Scripture is coming to an end at last! A commentary note in my Daily Walk Bible stated that the rabbis that wrote the Talmud, the primary Jewish commentary on the Old Testament Scriptures, stated that Elijah would have to come back and interpret Ezekiel’s writings to give full understanding. Some of the visions and measurements as well as descriptions of offerings are difficult for American Christians living in the 21st century to understand, too. We know that God has His reasons for having them recorded and we should continue to pray for deeper understanding through the Holy Spirit.
As we close out Ezekiel, we come to the vision recorded in chapter 47. Ezekiel was taken by the man with the measuring line to the entrance of the temple facing east. There he saw a stream of water coming down from the south side from south of the altar. He then took Ezekiel out the north gate to the outside of the east gate and measured off a thousand cubits (450 meters or 1500 feet). Ezekiel found the water there to be ankle-deep. Another thousand cubits and the water was knee-deep and another thousand the water was waist-deep. A final thousand cubits and the water was so deep that he could not cross it by walking. Along the banks of the river, a great number of trees were growing. (Ezekiel 47:3-7)
Ezekiel was told by the man that the water entered the Dead Sea and there those waters became fresh. The waters were full of swarms of living creatures and large numbers of fish. Fishermen stood on the banks and cast their nets harvesting the fish. Fruit trees grew along the banks and they were always green and yielded fresh fruit each month. This fruit would be for food and the leaves of these trees would bring healing.(Ezekiel 47:8-12)
Following this vision, there are detailed instructions about how to divide the land among the twelve tribes. Finally, the city of Jerusalem has 12 gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel. The final verse states that the name of that city will be “The Lord is There”. (Ezekiel 48:30-35)
This vision points us to the Apostle John’s vision in the book of Revelation. John saw an angel with a measuring rod of gold who was measuring the city, it’s gates, and walls. (Revelation 21:15-21) The walls were made of precious stones and the gates were made of single pearls. The street of the city was pure gold! God’s presence filled the city with light and there was no need of sun or moon because of this glorious light! There was a river flowing from the throne of God down the middle of the street with trees bearing fruit each month. (Revelation 22:1-5) The leaves of these trees were for the healing of the nations! Best of all, God Himself and the Lamb would be with His people and they would behold His face! His glory would light their lives and world for ever and ever!
As we close this book, take time to reflect on the river of God and the life it brings. Do you have this river flowing in you? The Holy Spirit brings God’s river into us and will enable us to swim in it forever and ever! Come to Jesus Christ and drink freely of this water of life! You will be eternally satisfied! (Revelation 22:17)