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Opening Prayer
Pray to receive God’s Spirit afresh so that streams of living water may flow into you and out to others.
Read EZEKIEL 47:1-12
[1] The man brought me back to the entrance of 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 flowing from the south side. [3] As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. [4] He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. [5] He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in-a river that no one could cross. [6] He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. [7] When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. [8] He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. [9] Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. [10] Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds-like the fish of the Great Sea. [11] But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. [12] Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What will this river do for the people and land?There’s an old chorus that goes “I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.” In this vision, Ezekiel is shown a new river—a river of life—that begins as a small stream under the foundations of the temple (1) but quickly becomes a river too deep to wade across. It flows down from Jerusalem and enters the Dead Sea at En Gedi, where the volume of water is so great it turns the salt water into fresh. Death is replaced by life and fish can live there. Wherever this river flows it brings life!
Could this actually happen? When Jesus returns, could an earthquake release underground springs of water in Jerusalem so that we see a literal fulfillment of this vision (Zech. 14:4-8)? If not, we will have to wait a bit longer until God makes the New Jerusalem, for John also sees the river of the water of life, fruit trees that deliver a crop every month, and leaves for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:1,2).
At the right time, the symbolic becomes real. What a prospect! Watch and wait eagerly and expectantly! Jesus, our river of life, is flowing and bringing life to all!
Apply
What have you learned from this study of Ezekiel that God can use to grow and enrich your life?
Closing prayer
Thank You, Father, that You are a God of hope and encouragement, for now and the future!
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