Ezekiel 47:1-12
It is by way of Ezekiel that we have received reports of many strange dreams, visions and creatures!
It was Ezekiel, who reported a vision of strange beasts that had the form of a man with four faces and four wings!
It was Ezekiel, who took us along with him as the hand of the Lord was upon him and sat him down in a valley which was full of dry bones!
Now, in this text, Ezekiel shares with us his experience of wading in the water which flowed from the Temple.
47 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.
Here, Ezekiel shares with us an experience in which he was led through water that got deeper and deeper.
But, before we go with Ezekiel into the water, I think it would do us well to see where the water was coming from.
Ezekiel said, “I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple!” This water was seeping from beneath the door of the temple.
Biblically speaking, water is symbolic of life, refreshment, the Spirit of God, and the Word of God.
So then, it is of interest that the water was seeping from beneath the door!
The door of our hearts are shut and Jesus knocks. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
We must accept Jesus Christ as our Savoir before this life ends, before we can even wade in the water Ezekiel refers too.
All life begins and ends with the Father. In heaven Jesus is the temple and all life flows from Him. This is a symbolic image of the relationship we all to obtain.
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.
Another thing of interest is the progression of the depth of the water. The further it went away from the temple, the deeper it got! Now, this is just the exact opposite of what happens with most of our churches today! It seems that with us, the farther the word goes away from the church, the shallower it gets! Oh! The word is deep on Sunday morning! All you can hear is “Brother this” and “Sister that,” “The Lord says this” and “The Lord says that!” But, the farther we get away from the church, the farther we get from Sunday morning, the less we speak and hear God’s word!
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 ankles.
Perhaps this is true because many who claim to be followers of Christ have not had Ezekiel’s experience of progressively wading in the water! Many have only gone part of the way! Perhaps they have only gone into the water to ankle depth. Ezekiel said, “As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.” The ankle is a basic and quite necessary bone in the body. It supports the body’s weight and enables us to stand on our feet. You couldn’t stand up without your ankle!
Being ankle-deep in the water is symbolic of foundational religion: It is basic and elementary! Now, mind you, you need to have a good, basic and solid foundation for your faith! But ankle-deep is too shallow, it’s too superficial! That’s why the Hebrew writer wrote:
Heb. 6:1 KJV: “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, and not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.”
If all you know about is being “born again” your religion is too swallow. You need to wade a little deeper in the water; for being born again is not the end of the journey, it’s just the beginning of the journey! It’s essential, but it’s basic and elementary, it’s too shallow, you need to grow in knowledge and in faith! You need to wade a little deeper in the water!
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.
Well, Ezekiel said that the man measured off another thousand cubits and led him through water that was knee-deep. Some have suggested that knee-deep is symbolic of prayer. And certainly, if you are to go on to maturity as a Christian, it is essential that you have a vibrant prayer-life! You need to spend some time alone with the Lord in prayer!
Jesus said, “Men ought to always pray and not faint.” (Luke 18:1 KJV) Prayer is communion and communication with God. You can’t make it unless you pray! Others have suggested that knee-deep is symbolic of tradition. There are some people whose religion is simply a knee-jerk reaction! It’s something that they do without much thought as to the reason why they do it! They do it because momma and daddy did it, and their parents did it before them!
Now, there’s nothing wrong with tradition as long as tradition doesn’t entrap one in the past and stifle growth and progress! There are too many folks in the church who are just knee deep! They come because they have always came! And when they get here, they are still not here! These people are comfortable in staying right where they are: They are locked into traditions.
Yes, knee deep is farther than ankle deep, but you are still more out of the water than you are in the water! These people are at the church, but not really in the church! Some are in the church, but as of yet, have not allowed the church to be in them! Knee-deep, though better than ankle-deep, is still not enough! You need to wade a little deeper in the water!
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.
Waist-deep is the half-way point; you’re half-way in, but you’re also half-way out! Some people have a half-way religion! They’re just like the Jews of Elijah’s day; halting between two opinions! Half-way or waist-deep religion desires to have a partnership with God.
These are the ones who get up and testify saying, “I’m so glad the Lord is a part of my life!” But God has no desire to be just a part of our lives! Paul said, “For me to live is Christ!” In the Greek text, there is no verb. What Paul actually said was: Life equals Christ! This thing is not a partnership!
We’re not on an equal footing with God! He doesn’t have to consult with us before he does anything!
No! He is not our co-pilot! He doesn’t want to just ride along with us! No! The Christian life is not about a partnership; it’s about discipleship! Jesus said; “Follow Me!” So then, waist deep is still not deep enough! You need to wade a little deeper in the water!
Then, finally, Ezekiel said, “He measure off another thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in!” Ezekiel was led into water that was over his head! And that’s where the Lord wants us to be: Immersed in His Spirit and immersed in His Word! He wants us to wade in the water until it is over our heads! And you know, that’s what true Christianity is; it’s over our heads!
Many people stumble in their Christian walk because they spend too much time trying to figure it out instead of letting God work it out! You can’t figure it out: it’s over your head!
Yes! Ezekiel said that the water was deep enough to swim in; that meant that he could no longer stand on his feet! And I tell you my brothers and sisters; that’s where the Lord wants you and I today! He wants us where we can no longer stand on our feet.
We have to learn how to trust and depend upon Him!
Example: I remember I took a swimming class once and the hardest thing for me to learn was how to relax and stretch out on the water! I kept trying to stand up, and every time I tried to stand up, I would sink! But when I learned to relax and stretch out on the water, I discovered that the water would carry me!
What I’m trying to tell you today is, that if you just learn how to lean and depend on Jesus; He will carry you through!
Yes! Just ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing!
He will carry you through!
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.
Get out where the real action is: Go out in the deep!
You may feel secure near the shore, but mature salvation is out in the deep! You can stand on your feet near the shore; but God wants you to launch out into the deep. You can only catch minnows near the shore, but if you want to catch the big fish; you got to launch out into the deep!
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.
Ezekiel then turns our attention to be planted! To be rooted and grounded in the word; so, that we can go into the world and fish for lost souls.
Ezekiel leads us back to the banks of the river where he noticed a great number of trees on each side of the river: For everywhere the river flowed, it brought revival and new life! Everywhere the river flowed, it made the salt water fresh and the bitter waters sweet!
That’s the way it is with the word of God! Everywhere it flows, it brings vitality and new life! It brings revival and refreshment!
*I’m hoping today that we are all going to swim in the water, make it to the other side, feast on the meat, and become fishers of men!
I’m going to go deeper with God! I’m going to stretch out on His Word! His word is all right!
His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my pathway!
His word is food for my soul and strength to my spirit!
His word picks me up when I am down and turns me around when I am wrong! Oh! I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that I got His word! I’m going to wade in His word! I’m going to stretch out on His word!
I’m going to trust in His word! Yes! I’m going to lean on His word! Yes! I’m leaning on the everlasting arms! Oh! What a fellowship, what a joy Divine, leaning on the everlasting arms! What blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms!
