Let The River Flow

Title: Let the River Flow

Theme: To show the levels of commitment to our relationship with God.

Text: Ezekiel 47:1 – 12

Introduction

Ezekiel is considered to be part of the writings of the major prophets. Along with Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel he contributed much to speaking to Israel as a prophet of God.

This meant that God would convey a message to Ezekiel and then the prophet would in turn give it to the Israelites. Ezekiel is known for his visions: sovereign God on the throne, God’s glory departing the temple, valley of dry bones and the temple.

• He was also called “the strangest of the prophets” because of the frequent use of imagery and symbolism

There are twelve acted parables in Ezekiel:

1) Bound with ropes and struck dumb (3:25)

2) Laid siege works against brick (4:1-3)

3) Lying on brick for 390 days and 40 days (4:4-8)

4) Bread baked on dung (4:9-17)

5) Hair divided into three (5:1-12)

6) Stomping, clapping hands and crying out (6:11)

7) Exiles’ baggage and digging through wall (12:1-16)

8) Eating bread quaking (12:17-20)

9) Groaning in mourning (21:6)

10) Signpost for Nebuchadnezzar (21:20)

11) Death of his wife, and not mourning for her (24:15-27)

12) Two sticks: grace and union (37:15-28)

This morning I want to focus on one such vision. Here in Ezekiel 47 God give him an imagery of the temple. Let us begin with verse 1:

Ezekiel 47:1-12 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. (2) He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. (3) And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. (4) Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. (5) Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. (6) He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. (7) 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."

Observations

I. He was “brought back” back to the temple (the temple always represented the presence of God. God would often meet them in the temple).

Today we are the temple. Although we meet together often as we do here today, yet according to 1 Corinthians 3:16 our bodies are the temple.

1 Corthians_3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

II. Water was flowing out of the main door (flowing out)

Although he had been here before there was something different about this temple.

The blessings of the Lord always flows from His temple.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly (heart) will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

III. The measuring rod (God has a standard)