…everything shall live wherever the river flows. Ezekiel 47:9
Jesus told us in John 10:10, “The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” What then is the key to experiencing this abundant life that Jesus came to bring us? I think it has to do with recognizing that God is our source and that everything we need flows out our relationship with him. In Ezekiel 47:1-12 there is an interesting passage of scripture about a flow of water which comes from the temple of God that the prophet saw in a vision:
He brought me back to the door of the temple; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the temple eastward; (for the forefront of the temple was toward the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the temple, on the south of the altar. Ezekiel 47:1
The prophet Ezekiel goes on to relate how he and his guide follow the flow of water downstream and found that it kept increasing in depth:
When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the loins. Afterward he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. He said to me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river. Ezekiel 47:3-6
So the flow of the water, which is a source of life, comes from the temple. And what is the significance of the temple? Remember how in the New Testament our bodies are referred to as temples of the Holy Spirit:
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” …But he spoke of the temple of his body. John 2:19-21
Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 1Corinthians 3:16
Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1Corinthians 6:19-20
A number of expositors of scripture, such as Andrew Murray in his article, Lessons From the Jewish Temple, have pointed out how the three parts of man (body, soul and spirit) are analogous to the three parts of the Jewish temple: the outer court, the holy place and the holy of holy where the presence of God dwelt. And what kind of activities took place at the temple? There were offerings, sacrifices for sin, worship, instruction and regulations to be followed.
What other references can we connect to this passage in Ezekiel? There were two occasions that we should note when Jesus mentioned water:
Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified. John 7:37-39
It is possible then, as we learn to function as God’s temple that a life giving flow from God will emanate from our lives as we maintain a right relationship with God through the Lord Jesus by:
- being continually cleansed from sin (1 John 1:9)
- give him offerings and sacrifices of praises (Hebrews 13:15 )
- following the commands to love to God and others (Matthew 22:37-40)
- forgiving those who have wronged us (Mark 11:25-26)
- making his lordship the first priority in our lives (Matthew 6:33)
Yes, I think it so. Let us endeavor therefore to stay connected with and under the influence of the Lord Jesus. Then we will see needs met and burdens lifted, not only in our lives but also in the lives of those around us.