47,48
We now come to the part of 40-48 which most people know and which has been preached on. Namely, the water flowing from the temple. Initially the water was just trickling, but gradually builds up through ankle deep, waist high and then deep enough to swim in. The water is live giving. God is a life-giving God, He also created us to be life-giving people. In Genesis 1 mankind was commanded to go forth and multiply. Abraham was promised that all nations would be blessed through him. Jesus said that living waters would flow from whoever believes in Him (John 7:37).
The flowing waters part goes from 47:1-12, we then get stuff about the division of the land and boundaries. The land is divided among the tribes of Israel, and the foreigners who live among them. Ezekiel’s prophecies are very much couched in terms of the tribes of Israel, with the occasional nod to its wider impact. Isaiah, on the other hand, is very strong on the global nature of the gospel. Why is this? It is probably because Ezekiel was written at a time when the destruction of Jerusalem was taking place, and the subsequent exile. So defeat was what they were in the midst of experiencing, it looked as if Israel was finished. Isaiah wrote at a time when the Assyrian invasion was turned back by God, and the Babylonian captivity was many years ahead. There is one further point, the fact that so many of God’s promises are expressed in terms of Israel does strongly imply that Israel has a very real and important part in God’s plans.
“And the name if the city from that time will be, “The Lord is there”. Judah was a sinful nation, and the Lord cannot dwell among such a nation. This needs to be dealt with, but God does not abandon His purposes. The same apples to the whole world. God will not dwell among a sinful people, but His plan is to save many people.
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