Ezekiel chapter 47

 

Memory verse: Ezekiel 47:8

 

Ezekiel was a contemporary of Daniel, Jeremiah, and Obadiah. He prophesied at the end of the kingdom of Judah, and foretold its judgment, as well as that of many nations such as Ammon, Tyre, Egypt, Ethiopia, Assyria, and Edom. He also prophesied of the restoration of Israel and the rebuilding of the temple (Ezekiel 36-48). In chapter 47, he sees a vision of a flow of water from the temple which becomes a great life giving, healing river. It is much like the description in Revelation 22:1-3. He also prophesied the restoration of the borders of the land of Israel for its people.

 

Day 1 – waters issued out from under the threshold of the house

Verses 1-5

Ezekiel saw water coming out from under the right side of the temple, under the threshold, and flowing toward the east. Doors have special significance in the Bible. They are access points, meeting places, defense points, and places of authority.  The threshold in particular also has significance. It is a place for the glory of God to be manifested:

   1. Exodus 12:22 – Passover bason

   2. 2Chronicles 3:7 – posts (caph) overlaid with gold

   3. Isaiah 6:4 – posts (caph) of the door moved at the voice of him that cried 

   4. Ezekiel 9:3 – glory of the Lord upon the threshold (Eze 10:4 & 18)

   5. Ezekiel 40:6-7 – he…measured the threshold of the gate

   6. Ezekiel 46:2 – worship at the threshold

   7. Ezekiel 47:1 – waters issued out from under the threshold

It is also a place for judgment of God:

   1. Judges 19:27 – concubine died holding threshold

   2. 1Samuel 5:4-5 – head and palms of hands of Dagon cut off on threshold, priests nor

        any that come into the house of Dagon tread on the threshold

   3. 1Kings 14:17 – Jeroboam’s son died when wife came to threshold

   4. Amos 9:1 – smite the lintel of the door, that the posts (caph) may shake

Water also has spiritual significance in the Bible. It is symbolic of washing or cleansing from sin:     

    1. Old Testament washing by water

      a. the flood: Genesis 6-9, lPeter 3:20-21

      b. the Levitical laver: Exodus 30:17-21, Exodus 38:8

      c. parts of sacrifices: Leviticus 1:9 and 13, Leviticus 8:21, Leviticus 9:14

      d. Levites wash: Exodus 40:l2, Leviticus 6:27-28, Leviticus 22:6, Numbers 8:7

      e. water of separation: Numbers 19

      f. people wash: Leviticus 11:25,28,32,40; Leviticus 13:58; Leviticus 14:8-9, Leviticus 15:12-

         13,16,18, 22, and 26 ; Leviticus 16:4, 24, 26, and 28 ; Leviticus 17:l5-16

      g. Historians state there were other ceremonial washings such as prior to wedding

      h. tabernacle was type of salvation: Galatians 3:24, Hebrews 8-10

   2. New Testament water baptism

      a. by immersion

         1. Greek baptize: immerse, plunge or dip

         2. John baptized in Jordan (Mt 3:6, Mt 3:16 - straightway out of the water)

         3. eunuch: here is water, went down into, came up out of water (Acts 8:36-39)

         4. symbolic of burial (Rom 6:4, Col 2:12)

      b. in the name of Jesus Christ

         1. Mt 28:19

            a. the apostles worshipped him (Mt 28:16-17)

            b. all power to Jesus (Mt 28:18)

            c. name - singular (Mt 28:19) - Father, Son, Holy Ghost not names

            d. Father, Son, Holy Ghost titles for Jesus (Is 9:6, Jn 5:43, Jn 14:26)

            e. notice grammar and commas

            f. who was there? Not any of us, just the 11

              1. How did they understand and apply it? (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5,

                  Acts 22:16, Rom 6:4, Gal 3.27, Col 2:12)

            g. one name (Zech 14:9, Acts 4:12)

            h. I have commanded, I am with you (as Holy Ghost - Jn 14:12-30 and 16:5-7

                & 13-28)

            i. other accounts of commission (Mk 16:15-18, Lk 24:45-49, Jn 20:19-23)

            j. scriptures do not contradict, but harmonize

      c. for the remission of sins (Mk 16:16, Lk 3:3, Lk 24:27, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1Pet

          3:21

Water is also a symbol of life. Song of Solomon 4:15, Jeremiah 2:13, Jeremiah 17:13, Zechariah 14:8, John 4:10-11, John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6, and Revelation 22:1 & 17 speak of living water, which literally means moving water. Moving water has its own cleansing ability. Even bodies of water as big as the Pacific Ocean can self-clean because of the tides that keep the water moving. Stagnant water grows bacteria and other pollutants that can make you sick or even kill you. Psalm 1:3 says the righteous “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”.

After seeing the water flowing out of the temple, Ezekiel was then brought in the vision to the outermost gate of the temple, which faced east. There he saw the water flowing out of the gate. An angel measured about 1500 feet out from the gate, and brought Ezekiel through the water. It came up to his ankles. Another 1500 feet further the water was up to his thighs. 1500 feet further the waters were over his head, and could not be passed over. In less than a mile the flow of water grew that much. Our relationship with God is to build in its flow and momentum. The kingdom of God is to continually be growing (Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 2:34 & 44, Daniel 7:13-14 & 27). Though it started with a small group of Galileans, it spread to the whole earth and continues to grow today with every soul that obeys Acts 2:38 (Matthew 13:31-32).The water is also a symbol of the Holy Ghost which was first poured out in Jerusalem, and then spread out to the whole world as the gospel spread (Luke 24:47-49, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4).  

 

Day 2 – they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh

Verses 6-11

The angel brought Ezekiel back to the bank of the river where he saw many trees on both sides of the river. The angel said the waters would flow eastward through the desert to the Dead Sea which would be healed. The Dead Sea is the saltiest water on earth. Nothing can live there. It is called the Sea of Salt in Hebrew. It is the lowest land elevation on earth. The water is so dense you can float in it. The only source of water to it is the Jordan River, which people upstream rely on as a support for life. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located here before they were destroyed. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the destruction (Genesis 19:26). Jesus said “Remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32)” when speaking about the end of the world. Sodomy is named after the city of Sodom. People avoid calling it that anymore, because the world is trying to redefine morality, as it has since the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5). God does not change His values (Malachi 3:6). If something was an abomination to God, it always is. God has always hated sodomy, and He continues to (Genesis 9:20-27, Genesis 13:13, Genesis 18:17-19:29, Leviticus 18:1-5, Leviticus 20:13, Deuteronomy 23:17, Deuteronomy 29:23, Deuteronomy 32:32, Judges19-21 particularly 19:22-28, 1Kings 14:22-24, 1Kings 15:11-12, 1Kings 22:43-46, 2Kings 22:1-23:27 particularly 23:7, Ezekiel 16:44-59, Romans 1:18-32 particularly vs. 26-27 and vs. 31-32, 1Corinthians 6:9-11, and 1Timothy 1:9-10). Sodom was mentioned repeatedly in the Bible as an example of the judgment of God (Isaiah 1:9 with Romans 9:29, Isaiah 1:10-20, Isaiah 3:9, Isaiah 13:19, Jeremiah 23:14, Jeremiah 49:17-18, Jeremiah 50:40, Lamentations 4:6, Amos 4:11, Habakkuk 2:15-16, Zephaniah 2:9, Matthew 10:15, Matthew 11:23-24, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:12, Luke 17:29, 2Peter 2:2, and Jude 5-19). People try to twist the scriptures to their own destruction (Psalm 56:5, Galatians 1:6-12, 2Peter 3:16), but the scriptures speak very clearly on what God says on this subject. Several times when Israel experienced spiritual revival, they dealt with this issue, and stopped it (1Kings 15:12, 1Kings 22:46, 2Kings 23:7). This is not to promote hatred or mistreatment of people in this behavior. God wants to and can save such (1Corinthins 6:9-11). However, condoning it is also not the solution. It is a moral behavioral choice like any other, although it can be very difficult to overcome. The Dead Sea has been a barren place since Sodom was judged, but this prophecy says that it will be healed. Even today, people go from all over the world to the Dead Sea for the healing properties of its water. It is reported to help with the symptoms of psoriasis, rhino sinusitis, and osteoarthritis. Wherever the waters in the vision flowed, they brought life. Even the sea life will be restored. However the stagnant backwaters will still not be healed. The water must be moving. Our spiritual life must not stagnate. We must stir up that which God has put in us (2Timothy 1:6, 2Peter 3:1).  

 

Day 3 – the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine

Verses 12-14

Ezekiel describes the tree of life the same way John does in Revelation 22:1-2. The tree of life was in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). There were many trees in the garden, but only two were specifically mentioned and named – the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. All of the trees were pleasant to the eyes, and good for food. However, these two trees each had a specific attribute that the other trees were not described as having. The tree of life would cause a man to live forever (Genesis 3:22), and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would have the opposite effect. It would cause death (Genesis 2:17). It has been asked why God put this tree in the garden. It was to create a choice. It is the same choice every man must make. We must choose between following the word of God and living forever, and following our own way and perishing forever (Deuteronomy 30:11-20). Man was created in the image of God with a soul (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:7). He makes moral choices. That is the single greatest difference between him and the rest of creation. His choices have eternal consequences. That is one of many reasons Calvinism is a false doctrine. It denies this. There are over 100 scriptures in the New Testament alone that show saved people can subsequently be lost. There are over 100 scriptures that directly connect promises of God with the word if. That means we must choose to meet the conditions to receive the promise. These include salvation. God did not make man a robot. He created us to love us, and for us to love Him. Love can only be so when it is chosen. That is why He placed the two trees on the garden. Also, He made provision for man’s failure from the beginning (Romans 16:25-26, Ephesians 1:4-5, Revelation 13:8). He was not setting man up to fail. Man does a great job of that all by himself. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden as well, and Adam was never told not to eat it. It was right there the whole time. He and his wife made the wrong choice. When Jesus died on the cross, He not only provided for remission of our individual past sins. He also provided for the restoration of everything lost in the garden of Eden, including the tree of life (Revelation 2:7, Revelation 22:2 & 14). The curse on the creation will also be lifted (Isaiah 11:6-10, Acts 3:21, Romans 8:19-23). The tree of life will never lose its leaves, and never stop producing fruit. It will make a new fruit each month. The fruit will be for food, and the leaves will have healing properties. Israel will be restored as a nation (Romans 11), which actually has already happened.

 

Day 4 – this shall be the border of the land

Verses 15-20

There are several descriptions of the borders of Israel in the Bible (Genesis 15:18-21, Numbers 34:1-15, Joshua 13-19, 2Samuel 8:3, 1Kings 4:21). God promised that if Israel kept His commandments, He would enlarge their borders (Deuteronomy 12:20). Borders are very important to nations. The purpose of borders is not to restrict, but to define. Without borders there is no identity. Property ownership was a very important part of the Old Testament. Israel’s borders were important. The borders of each tribe were important. The daughters of Zelophehad made this clear (Numbers 27, Numbers 36, Joshua 17:3-4). The borders of each family’s property was important. Naboth made this clear (1Kings 21, 2Kings 9:21-26). Even the borders of the surrounding nations were important (Deuteronomy 2:5, 9 & 19). This is also true spiritually. There are spiritual borders that separate the people of God from the world (1Corinthians 6:9-20, 2Corinthians 6:14-7:1). They are both internal and external – matters of the heart and the outward man. They are not to restrict us. They are to provide us with our identity in God. We must value and fight for our borders like David’s men did (2Samuel 23:11-12, 1Chronicles 11:12-14).

 

Day 5 – ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you           

Verses 21-23

Israel was to divide the promised land among the twelve tribes by casting lots. The lot was used in the Bible to avoid arguing about who got what, and to get a definitive answer to a situation (Numbers 26:55-56, Numbers 33:54, 1Samuel 14:1, Proverbs 18:18, Jonah 1:7, Acts 1:26). They even cast lots to see who would get the garment Jesus wore because it was one piece (Psalm 22:18, Matthew 27:35). There were provisions made in the law of Moses for Gentiles:

   1. Exodus 12:19 & 48-49, Numbers  9:14 (one law) – can keep Passover

   2. Exodus 20:10, Exodus 23:12, Deuteronomy 5:14 - sabbath

   3. Exodus 22:21, Exodus 23:9, Leviticus 19:33, Jeremiah 7:6, Jeremiah 22:3, Ezekiel 22:7 &

       29, Zechariah 7:10 – not vex him

   4. Leviticus 17:12 & 15 – not eat blood

   5. Leviticus 18:26 – keep commandments (sexual sins)

   6. Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 23:22, Deuteronomy 24:19-21 – leave gleanings

   7. Leviticus 19:26 – day of atonement

   8. Leviticus 19:34 – as one born among you

   9. Leviticus 22:10-13 – cannot eat priest’s offering

   10. Leviticus 24:16 & 22 – blasphemer to be stoned, one law

   11. Leviticus 25:6 – 7th year rest

   12. Leviticus 25:35 – relief for poor

   13. Leviticus 25:45 – possible servant

   14. Leviticus 25:47 – possible master

   15. Numbers 15:14-16 – offering, one law

   16. Numbers 15:26 & 29-30 – ignorance forgiven, one law

   17. Numbers 18:4 & 7, Ezekiel 44:9 – not come nigh tabernacle

   18. Numbers 19:10 – ashes of red heifer, one law

   19. Numbers 35:15, Josh 20:9 – cities of refuge, one law

   20. Deuteronomy 1:16, Deuteronomy 24:17, Deuteronomy 27:19, Mal 3:5 – righteous

         judgment

   21. Deuteronomy 10:19 – love

   22. Deuteronomy 14:21 – can eat that which dieth of itself

   23. Deuteronomy 14:29, Deuteronomy 26:12-13 – 3 year tithe for

   24. Deuteronomy 16:11 & 14 – Pentecost (feast of weeks)

   25. Deuteronomy 17:15 – can’t be king

   26. Deuteronomy 25:5 – not to marry widow

   27. Deuteronomy 26:11 – rejoice in firstfruits

   28. Deuteronomy 28:43 – shall get up above thee very high (when Israel judged)

   29. Deuteronomy 29:11 – stood among Israel that day for covenant

   30. Deuteronomy 31:12 – to appear every 7 years in feast of tabernacles to learn the law

Here they are afforded the right to have land inheritance among the Israelites. When someone gets saved, they immediately become a child of God with all of the blessings that it affords any child of God (Matthew 20:1-16). There are individual rewards for good service (1Corinthians 3:11-15, Revelation 22:12), but all get to partake of the covenant equally.