LET THE RIVER FLOW
Ezekiel 47:1-12

For a few years now I’ve been thinking about Ezekiel 47 where the prophet is shown a vision of a trickle of water flowing from the sanctuary altar underneath the doors of the temple, and out into the desert. Every five hundred yards the trickle of water becomes deeper and deeper until it is a mighty river and flows so forcefully into the northwest end of the Dead Sea that the salty waters are forced back and for the first time fishermen will fish along the shores of the sea that once was dead.

Of this scene, Ezekiel is told, “everything will live where the river goes” (vs. 9). In fact, all along the river, on both sides, “will grow all kinds of trees for food” (vs. 12). We learn that the leaves of these trees “will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from
the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing” (vs. 12).

Ezekiel also learns that where the river does not flow there will not be life. He is told of “swamps and marshes” that “will not become fresh; they will be left for salt” (vs. 11). Whatever the river touches will flourish with life. Whatever is untouched will continue in deadness and lifelessness.

So, the prayer of my heart these days is LET THE RIVER FLOW. Let its headwaters be the altar in the sanctuary of God, and let it make its way into the desert places around us where trees of God bear fruit year round, and where the leaves of those trees bring forth healing.

As I read and re-read this vision I can’t help but think of some other passages of Scripture. For instance, Psalm 46: 4,“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High.” In John 4:14 Jesus says “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." And, in Revelation 22:1-2 we read, “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

The water of life, the River of God, is flowing and “everything will live where the river goes” (vs. 9). It starts at the altar but it doesn’t stay at the altar. It flows from the sanctuary into the dry and parched places where life is desperately needed.

Open the doors of the sanctuary and let the River flow from the altar of God.