Then he 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). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
3 Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. 4 Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. 5 Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8 And he said to me, “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. 9 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. 10 Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
In today's passage we find water, water that becomes a river that becomes a what??? A lake? A lake that will be teeming with wildlife and plants and trees.
This water stems forth from the temple and flows to the east. Becoming deeper and fuller the farther out it goes.
Can you see how the temple is a source of life and hope? People working, thriving, wildlife thriving, trees growing and being a good food source.
All because of the temple, the sanctuary of God.
Can you picture it?
The people bring in the sacrifices.
An aroma pleasing to God wafts from the temple.
And out of the sanctuary flows life-giving water, so abundant that it in turn brings life to all those around it. Birds, fish, wildlife, plants, trees, and the people who harvest it all. Fresh water except for the marshlands.
God's special place brings life to the land.
I dunno about you, but the imagery of this boosters my faith. It shows me a real picture of what God does. How our sacrifices, our living for him brings forth life that we don't always see it? This water that pours out from God's people that sustains so much....
When you see how churches who follow after God can change communities, how a person following after God changes the folks that are around, and sometimes even beyond. We can't always see how we influence and change the world for the better by our faithful actions.
4,000 cubits the man walked...one cubit is 45 centimetres or a foot and half. That's quite the distance you know.... To those right next to the sanctuary it would have looked like an insignificant trickle... but further out... a mighty river! Flowing out of the sanctuary, sustaining so much. It boggles the mind eh? (just a bit). To see this as God's people, changing the world in ways we don't always see... every little bit matters.
This gives me hope! It makes me take heart it does! :)
Let's keep living our lives as a sacrifice of praise to God... it makes a difference.
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As I read this, I saw the rings on the water spreading, taking the power of God farther and farther, along with the healing and strength it talks about. It is a lovely image, seeing God's power spread like the mighty river, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOh I know...just filled my head that image. :)
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