February 28, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezekiel? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezekiel 47 (NIV)
The River From the Temple
1 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side...........Continue Reading
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Ezekiel 46
Ezekiel was shorn a river that kept getting deeper and deeper. It flowed from the temple. This is where the Lord sits and the water flows from him. The waters will be healed. It causes whatever comes in contact with it will be healed. The fish will be of a great multitude. By the river bank trees will grow fruit for food. A new fruit according to it`s months and the leaf for medicine. Point noticed that the mirky places shall not be healed but given to salt. The rest of this chapter gives the boundary of Israel to other nations ,rivers ,and seas.
This was exciting that the Israelites were to be allotted the land that God had promised.
A song comes to mind after reading Chapter 47: “I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me………” After restoring the priesthood, returning God’s Glory to the Temple and his tour of the temple, Ezekiel is shown the life that flows from God’s Presence. Life is abundant in and around the river even though the area was once a desolate place.
A river flowing from the temple, teaming with life, supporting human need and trees on its banks alive and bearing fruit, what a wonderful picture of the life giving nature and power of our great God. It is interesting that as John shares his revelation of God’s glory at the end of revelation, a river flows from the throne of God as well. Our God is life. In His personal name, I AM he describes Himself as the essence of all being and nothing has being outside of Him offering His life to them. Jesus came that they might have life and that more abundantly! (and that’s all who would come to Him in faith and obedience!). And He provides both physical life and spiritual life…and both are pretty awesome. How foolish is anyone to try to chart life outside of His person, presence, power, plan and provision. He makes it available to all who come to Him and humbly receive it, extended by His love and grace! And what a glimpse we get of that here in Ezekiel 47.
And a part of God’s provision for the Jews was the land He promised them. This is especially important coming from a prophet with the exiles and giving them a vision of them returning to Palestine. And notice even here the land is spoken of as an inheritance…a provision from the hand of God that they are to be stewards of…how important for them to know just what the boundaries of that land should be. God is often pretty good at giving us boundaries of all kinds…amen!
Ezekiel 47
Reminds me of how details matter to God.. Sometimes, it is easy to think that my daily challenges are too trivial for God to care about.. but then again , passages like this remind me of God’s character..
God is the river of life. The picture of growth, sustenance, healing, and life this river that Ezekiel walks through is symbolic of God and His presence. Similar to the visions of the Holy Spirit it is moving and working always not stagnant. Exciting to think of God in these ways always working to heal, restore, and grow His people!
What really struck me about this chapter was the healing property of the waters. No matter where it goes there is life, and healing. I was listening to a teacher about this and he was saying that this sea is the dead sea. The dead sea will be healed and no longer be salt, but have living waters.
Also, the trees that grow along it will be food and the leaves for medicine. It makes me think about the fact that God has given us everything for life and godliness. Do we currently have “leaves” whose properties we have forgotten or forsaken for pharmaceuticals?
“When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. 12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”
I really liked everyone’s comments for chapter 47 and have nothing to add.