Ezekiel 47:1-12 – Let's live by the river of God’s abundance.

The tour of the Temple has reached its climax in Ezekiel 47-48. In verses 1-2 of Ezekiel 47, the prophet was brought from the kitchens, where sacrifices and fellowship meals were prepared, back to the door of the house of God.

There he saw water flowing from the threshold of the Temple. It flows across the court and under the main wall, “from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.” The water at first in trickles, streams down east and gathers momentum as it flows until it becomes wider and deeper and form a large river.

The guide that was with Ezekiel measured the flow at intervals of a thousand cubit which is approximately about 1,500 feet. At the first thousand cubit, the water was only ankle deep. Then at the next thousand cubit the water was waist deep. In the final thousand cubit, the water reached a level where he could no longer wade through it. Here he was literally swimming in it.

In verses 8-12, Ezekiel said he was brought back to the bank. From there he remarkably saw a great number of trees growing along the bank, the leaves of which would never wither. As the river flowed toward the Dead Sea, it brought life to the stale and stagnant water there. The once dead and lifeless existence were brought to life and buzzing with meaningful and fulfilling activities. It became a great place for fishing. Besides providing water, the river was also providing food for nourishment and healing to the sick.

This scene here brings us to Revelation 2:1-2 where John saw the vision of “a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

What does these twelve verses tell us of God’s desire for us. He wants us to be nourished, blessed, and healed from the life-giving stream that flows from Calvary. It was there that our dear Saviour died to set us free. God does not want us to just live in ankle or waist deep water but to be swimming in His river of abundance.

Today the water is still flowing from God’s presence. As we bask and ravish in His presence, we will be living by the river that will never run dry. Jesus’ promise in John 7:38 that says “out of our inner being shall flow rivers of living water” is still available and flowing when we connect with Him. Why don’t we come to, drink from, and live by the river of God? We should!