The book of Ezekiel takes us on a journey, both chronologically, spiritually. It gives us from the open heaven in chapter 1, to here where the river comes and flows transforming everything around it.
This imagery sums up the divine motivation for this whole series. Which will have a pause whilst we celebrate the Paschal season.
The river represented here is the source of all restoration and transformation. It is not confined to the Old Covenant by merit of where this river springs from, beneath the altar in the Temple. It speaks to the new because we can certainly pinpoint the altar in 2 contexts. One being Jesus’ work on Calvary, the other our altar of living sacrifice of Romans 12.
We must lift our eyes to know that whatever restoration God cares to walk us into we must know that it springs from a sacrifice. Every revival and every move of God in history has a long term sacrifice where the pursuit of God and His Kingdom are paramount to our daily lives.
The very fact that the angel leads Ezekiel into the various depths of the river tells us that RESTORATION does not come at once. A flood can be destructive and we really need to walk through transitions in the depth of prayer, our understanding of the Word, and depths of unity between the saints.
The imagery of the dead sea becoming alive is demonstrating the miraculous at work. We must expect God to bring alive again that which is dead presently. Again Ezekiel 37 comes to mind when we think about this.
This same picture is repeated in Revelation 22. The river flows down the city of God. That eternal city. It produces trees that bear fruit monthly so the seasons of seedling and harvest run simultaneously. It’s marvellous because it means that whilst Ezekiel 47 had an historical fulfilment it also has a fulfilment for us too.
There is a river that will burst from any true perception of God’s altar, the greatest work of redemption wrought there. In Revelation 1 Jesus reveals He has seized the keys of death and Hades. God has ordained in every generation a bursting forth of that which springs to become a mighty river that grows as it flows.
With all that we have experienced recently we certainly need to realise that for our former covenant breaking the place to be is at the altar. The river starts there and flows from there.
We need to comprehend the eternal application in which the King, who is Jesus has judged from His Throne and has set His saints in their eternal estate, living with the River of God flowing down through their eternal habitation. There are trees with leaves that bring healing and health to the nations.
May we place the altar the place we start to seek and pursue the restoration we need, and as we do so, God will make our habitation there and we shall enjoy perfect communion with Him, perfect community for the other saints, healing and health and fruits for each day.
There is no need for the sun, for the Son shall be our light, warming our hearts.
The question is, will we try to find His altar? Will we tarry there? Will we believe that momentary pain for our waywardness is sowing for eternal restoration and installation of Jesus’ eternal Kingdom? May we decide to seek it out and fix our eyes on Him “Author and Perfecter of our faith”.
Maranatha!
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