Hope Floats

Hope Floats

Key Verse:

[And] by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side [and] on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, [neither] shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, [because] their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: [and] the fruit thereof shall be for meat, [and] the leaf thereof for medicine.11 The Holy Bible: King James Version. Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., p. Eze 47:12.

Background Context:

Ezekiel 40-48 is a vision of the future

The imagery of the “water of life” river and its surroundings have parallels to Revelation 22.

This vision is meant to give hope to God’s people in exile. What they knew has now been decimated and razed.

In today’s lesson, Ezekiel is being led on a tour by a potential angel (he).

The Source of Living Waters (Ezekiel 47:1-2)

1 [Afterward] he brought me again unto the door of the house; [and], behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: [for] the forefront of the house stood toward the east, [and] the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

Temple:

1004. בַּיִת‎ bayiṯ: A noun meaning house, dwelling, family, temple, palace. It is used basically to denote a building in which a family lives (Deut. 20:5) but can also refer to the family or household itself (Gen. 15:2; Josh. 7:14; 24:15). It often is used of a clan such as “house of Aaron” (Ps. 115:10, 12; 118:3). 11 Baker, W. and Carpenter, E.E. (2003) The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

East:

6921. קָדִים‎ qāḏiym: A masculine noun referring to the east, an east wind. It indicates literally a wind from the east that brings evil conditions (Gen. 41:6, 23; Ex. 10:13). With āh on the end, it means eastward, towards the east (Ezek. 11:1; 44:1; 47:1)11 Baker, W. and Carpenter, E.E. (2003) The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

2 [Then] brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, [and] led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; [and], behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

Observation:

Look at position and direction of the temple and the beginning flow of water

Notice that the water is not coming from a King’s palace, Government building, but from the House of God

Note that the city of Jerusalem wasn’t located on a river. It’s main water source was a Spring. Water was scarce

Interpretation:

The temple in the vision is facing the east. This is the direction from which the sun rises.

In the beginning the water is trickling from under the door way. The water flowing from the east symbolize the temple as the holy center of creation and the source of life and fertility.

The water flowing south (downward) means the water was flowing into the Wadi Kidron which is toward the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea.

The water coming from the east and flowing south is actually a prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit of God. (Prophecy by Joel 3:18 and Zechariah 14:8)

Application:

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, [as] the Scripture has said , out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 11 The New King James Version (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson, p. Jn 7:38.

The Deepening Journey (Ezekiel 47:3-6)

3 [And] when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, []he measured a thousand cubits, [and] he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles.

4 [Again] he measured a thousand, [and] brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. [Again] he measured a thousand, [and] brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5 [Afterward] he measured a thousand; and it was a river [that] I could not pass over: [for] the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river [that] could not be passed over.

RIVER:

Record 7 times in today’s lesson

5158. נַחֲלָה‎ naḥalāh, נַחַל‎ naḥal: It refers to a seasonal or semipermanent small river, often termed the River of Egypt (El-Arish?). It served as a boundary of the land of Israel in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. 47:19; 48:28).11 Baker, W. and Carpenter, E.E. (2003) The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

6 [And] he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? [Then] he brought me, [and] caused me to return to the brink of the river.

Observation:

As time continues to grow, the water rises.

They are travelling eastward

Interpretation:

The Tour guide is measuring the depth of the water.

Ankles,

Knees,

Loins (waist)

it was too deep to cross.

Thousand cubits (1, 750 feet or 1/3 mile)

What is the signification of continuing to measure the water?

It shows God’s provision

Notice that as the walk away from the Temple, the water gets deeper.

This could also show us our walk with God. Notice that the guide is with Ezekiel each level until the water gets’ too high to walk.

Application:

“The Spirit won’t lead you somewhere that Grace won’t sustain you"

The Promise of Restoration (Ezekiel 47:7-9, 12)

7 [Now] when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side [and] on the other.

8 [Then] said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, [and] go down into the desert, [and] go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, []the waters shall be healed.

9 [And] it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, [which] moveth, [whithersoever] the rivers shall come, shall live: [and] there shall be a very great multitude of fish, [because] these waters shall come thither: [for] they shall be healed; [and] every thing shall live [whither] the river cometh.

10 [And] it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi [even] unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

11 But the miry places thereof [and] the marishes thereof shall not be healed; []they shall be given to salt.

12 [And] by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side [and] on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, [neither] shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth anew fruit according to his months, [because] their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: [and] the fruit thereof shall be for meat, [and] zthe leaf thereof for medicine.

Observation:

And they return, and on the bank trees are growing on both sides.

Water flowing into the Dead Sea.

Interpretation:

The Dead Sea is six times more saltier than the average ocean. Nothing can live in it’s waters

However when the water from the temple flows into it, it will change the water, it will heal the water.

Now it will sustain life

And on the banks, the trees will bear fruit year round

The land is transformed due to the presence of God