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Ezekiel 47 (ESV)
1 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. 2 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.
3 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. 7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 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.”
REFLECTION:
The river mentioned in this passage is very similar to the river mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Both rivers are related to the rivers in the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 2:10). This river symbolizes the life from God and the blessings flowing from the throne of God. This is a deep and peaceful river, and it flows wider and wider, symbolizing that people are getting more and more blessings from God. “Arabah” (v8) refers to the depression where the Dead Sea is located. The water from the river flows into the salt sea to make the water fresh, and the salt sea is the Dead Sea. The water of the Dead Sea is salt water, and there are no living things in it. This is another picture of the life-giving water flowing from the temple. No matter how lifeless we are, God has the power to change us. Even when we are totally corrupt and hopeless, God has the power to heal and change us. May we surrender ourselves to God completely, and ask for God’s life and blessings to flow into our hearts like living water, so that we can have endless abundance and bear abundant fruits of life.
PRAYER:
Come before God, open your heart to God, pour out your desire for God; ask for God’s grace to flow into your heart like the water of the river of life, to nourish your life, make your spirit rich, be full of joy and strength, bear abundant fruits of life on time, be a beautiful testimony for God before others, and to glorify God.
