August 5, 2026 - Ezekiel 47-48

Ezekiel was alive and saw the Babylonians march into Jerusalem in 597 B.C. at which time he was taken into exile with other inhabitants of Judah.  There in Babylon he began his prophetic ministry, and he was aware of the fall of Jerusalem in 586.  The first portion of his ministry (until 586) largely was comprised of prophecies of the downfall of Jerusalem.  Following that fall, his preaching was focused on providing comfort and direction to the exiles in Babylon.  Here at the end of his ministry, Ezekiel is shown visions of the rebuilt temple (see previous chapters).  He reports that the Lord “brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east)” (47:1).  Furthermore, the prophet was told, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.  And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes” (47:8-9).  The waters of this river give life, and this idea extends into the New Testament:  “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2).  And, so, Ezekiel’s ministry ends with a great hope; in fact the ultimate end of the story is one of hope and life.  We’re not surprised.  We remember the promise of Genesis 3:15 and all the other promises given to us.  And, oh, the promise of this river!

Oh, have you not heard of that beautiful stream

that flows through the promised land?

Its waters gleam bright in the heavenly light,

and ripple o’er golden sand.

Its fountains are deep and its waters are pure,

and sweet to the weary soul.

It flows from the throne of Jehovah alone!

O come where its bright waves roll.

This beautiful stream is the river of life!

It flows for all nations free!

A balm for each wound in its water is found;

O sinner, it flows for thee!   --Richard Torrey (c. 1862)