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See God’s message of redemption through the metaphor

March 29, 2009
Background Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-12
Devotional Reading: John 4:7-15

The book of Ezekiel began with his visions by the River Chebar* during the Babylonian captivity of the people of Israel. It continued through various descriptions of the faithlessness that brought the people of God into humiliating exile.

In Ezekiel 36-37 he prophecies that the dry bones of Israel will rise, live again and return to Israel. The final chapters, 40-48, present the exiles with visions of the restored community upon their return to Jerusalem and its temple.

His visions present idealized, not literal, depictions of life at the return. His purpose is to inspire them, not to present them with temporal specifications. In chapters 40-46, he depicts the outer and inner courts of the temple, its various chambers and regulations regarding those who minister there, the altar of burnt offerings and the sacred district.

In Chapter 47, Ezekiel shares a vision that can speak to all generations: “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple towards the east …” (47:1, 2).

The river of life

The return will herald a new age, a new creation and the idealized paradise will be evident with its sacred river and trees. The flowing river of paradise is a frequent figure of deity in other writings of the Middle East and the Old Testament (Joel 3:18; Zechariah 13:1 and 14:8, Psalm 46:4. Isaiah 8:6).

I have seen the Brook Kidron that flows from Jerusalem and eventually reaches the Dead Sea. But the Kidron does not begin at the temple, and this is hardly the sacred river described in Ezekiel 47, although it may have inspired the vision. (Note: don’t try to make an ecstatic report into a newspaper story or scientific analysis.)

So the geographical details of the river are not important, but rather, what this river symbolizes. With God back in the temple once again and a transformed community, the devastated area is also transformed into a fruitful, pleasant land and the blessings of the restored Israel flow outward from Jerusalem to the area surrounding it.

Deep river

The river of the new community will flow down the Arabah, the geological depression that determines the route of the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. This river of will turn the bitter waters of the Dead Sea into fresh, clean water.

It is a poetic description: When the exiles returned and even now, the waters of the Dead Sea, while valuable for their mineral content, are undrinkable and cannot be used for irrigation.

Ezekiel also compares the force of the new community to the ever-increasing flow and depth of the river of life. Instead of dissipating as it goes, “Again he measured a thousand (cubits) and led me through the water; and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand ... and it was up to the loins. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river I could not pass through, for the river had risen … And he said to me ‘Son of man, have you seen this?’” (47:3-6).

Like the love and grace of God, the river of life does not run shallow or play out; it only gets deeper and broader. As the Lord gave life to the dry bones in the valley, so the love and power of God can make even the driest human deserts bloom and flower.
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.**
*See Ezekiel 1:1, 3; 3:15, 23; 10:15, 20, 22; 43:3
**”Shall We Gather at the River” words & music by Robert Lowry (1864)
 
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.

3/25/2009