Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Most of the book of Ezekiel has been about judgment. The coming judgment and His desperate plea for His children to repent of their ways in order that He could lift the judgment. However, even in judgment the Lord was merciful. the last thirteen chapters of Ezekiel are FULL of prophecies of hope.

This section opens with the Temple and a river and some trees – which are echoed in Zechariah 14 and Revelation 22. God took Ezekiel our of the north gate and they walked around the outside to the east gate where water was running out. The shining man (Jesus) measured one thousand cubits and led Ezekiel through them – the waters were ankle deep. The shining man repeated it and the water was waist deep. They repeated it again and this time the water was up to Ezekiel’s waist. The next time it was so deep Ezekiel could not cross it. It was a raging river. The water flowed from the temple and out into the valley right down to the sea (the Dead Sea) where it healed the waters. Wherever the water went there was life and living things. Fishermen would come and get huge catches of fish from the water. Some of the salt water would be kept, however, in stagnant pools where they could gather salt. All along this river would be trees. They would fruit year round and used for food. Their leaves would be used for healing.

Then the Lord walked Ezekiel through the specific borders of the Land which was to be divided up among the people of Israel and the foreigners living within it (perhaps a prophetic allusion to the church living alongside Israel in the inheritance and heritage of Yahweh). It would be the land for the people, to be passed down from generation to generation. To be inherited equally, not reduced. The Lord specified the exact borders and the exact tribes of the inheritance – including a tithe portion to be given to holy use where the Levites and Zadokites could dwell and give service to the Temple and raise flocks.

And the exits of the city would be twelve gates – three to a side – which would be named after the tribes of Israel. And the name of the city would be Yahweh-Shammah (a name emphasizing love, care, and compassion) which means THE LORD IS THERE or THE LORD LIVES THERE (depending on translation).

What a great ending to this book! Not only a remnant preserved, but a remnant turned to the Lord. A remnant prosperous within its own boundaries. Expansive and theirs in perpetuity. With a national focus on worship of God in the Temple where He dwelled. Nothing would stop God. A triumphant end.

Summary

Key Players: God, Ezekiel

Key Verse(s): Ezekiel 47:1-12, 21-23; 48:30-35