Healing Waters

March 29, 2009

Lesson: Ezekiel 47:1-8

Key Verse: Ezekiel 47:8

Introduction

Christ Jesus spoke to Martha promising that life was in him, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Jesus then asked Martha, “Believest thou this?” Are you convinced, do you believe, convinced that Christ Jesus, the Son of God is “the resurrection and the life?” To believe in the resurrection of the body is to believe in the resurrection of the soul from death unto life. Paul, moved by the Spirit of God, wrote this, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sin” (Eph. 2:1). Paul reminds the saints at Ephesus that they had once been as the dead walking as children of disobedience,” fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath” (2:2-3). Then, revealing the glory and wonder of being saved by grace through faith, he wrote, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he love us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ” (2:4-5). The Lord quickens, brings us to life in Christ. “Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul. As death locks up the senses, seals up all the powers and faculties, so does a state of sin, as to any thing that is good. Grace unlocks and opens all, and enlarges the soul. Observe, A regenerate sinner becomes a living soul: he lives a life of sanctification, being born of God; and he lives in the sense of the law, being delivered from the guilt of sin by pardoning and justifying grace” (M. Henry).

Everything that liveth …shall live! (Eze. 47:9). That which was dead shall truly be made alive. Zechariah prophesied of that day of the Lord when “living waters shall go out from Jerusalem” (Zech. 14:8). Referring then to Revelation 22:1 where John was shown by the risen Christ “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,” Matthew Henry wrote “That seems to represent the glory and joy which are grace perfected. This seems to represent the grace and joy which are glory begun. Most interpreters agree that these waters signify the gospel of Christ, which went forth from Jerusalem, and spread itself into the countries about, and the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost which accompanied it, and by virtue of which it spread far and produced strange and blessed effects.”

From the Door of the Temple – Ezekiel 47:1-5

The Lord, in a vision, brought Ezekiel his prophet “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.” Out of the temple of the Lord, out of Jerusalem, out of the Church of Christ Jesus, flows the Gospel of grace. Christ Jesus spoke of this life. “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a sell of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Ezekiel continues, “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.” The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of God shall proceed from the gates of the Church to speak the way of truth, righteousness, and justice in every nation. The Lord speaks through his prophet, “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:3). Christ the King, for the advancement of his Kingdom on earth, commands his subjects, according to his divine authority, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:18-20).

We are then privileged to see the ever present Son of God: “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 ankles. 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. 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.” The Gospel, the Word of God, would be preached faithfully, first to few, and then to many, that today we see the Gospel being preached in all the nations of the world. From where two or three are gathered together to large gatherings of families, the Lord God is being worshiped and served. Christ Jesus, after his resurrection, spoke to his disciples that he was spoken of by the prophets of his death and resurrection; and now they were witnessing its fulfillment: “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. …Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24-47).

Discussion: How is the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ and his Gospel represented to Ezekiel?

Rivers Out of the Desert – Ezekiel 47:6-8

Ezekiel, being called the Son of man, heard these words of the Lord, “hast thou seen this?” Ezekiel then records: “Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the brink of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.” Ezekiel witnessed the beauty of the trees being fed by the waters of grace. Isaiah gives this comfort to those who mourn in their affliction: “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified” (Isa. 61:3). Redeemed by the precious blood of Christ we are planted as Trees of Righteousness, being blessed of God to his glory. We are therefore those “who delight in the law of the Lord; and in his law” we “meditate day and night.” And we “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” (Ps. 1:2-3).

The Son of God spoke to Ezekiel, “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.” This healing “intimates the wonderful and blessed change that the gospel would make, where soever it came in its power, a great change, in respect both of character and condition, as the turning of the Dead Sea into a fountain of gardens. When children of wrath became children of love, and those that were dead in trespasses an sins were made alive, then this was fulfilled” (M. Henry) The Gospel of Jesus Christ has great healing powers for the New Jerusalem, and for the nations, of which Christ is the Prince of kings: “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him” (Rev. 22:2-3).

Discussion: What does it mean for the Christian to be like a tree planted by the waters?