Elmhurst CRC

Daily Dose of Easter - Ezekiel 47: 1-9

May 23, 2023 Rebekah Wilson Season 1 Episode 345
Elmhurst CRC
Daily Dose of Easter - Ezekiel 47: 1-9
Show Notes Transcript

Rebekah Wilson, Alpha Team

Rebekah Wilson  0:07 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s daily dose of the Word of God. Today is Tuesday, May 23rd and this is Rebekah Wilson. This week we’re journeying with Jesus from the tomb and preparing for Sunday’s message on Pentecost. I’ll be reading from Ezekiel chapter 47 verses 1-9.

Rebekah Wilson 0:37 

Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing eastward from beneath the Temple threshold. This stream then passed to the right of the altar on its south side. The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the stream flowing out through the south side of the east gateway. Measuring as he went, he led me along the stream for 1,750 feet and told me to go across. At that point the water was up to my ankles. He measured off another 1, 750 feet and told me to go across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1, 750, it was up to my waist. Then he measured another 1, 750 feet, and the river was too deep to cross without swimming. He told me to keep in mind what I had seen; then he led me back along the riverbank. Suddenly, to my surprise, many trees were now growing on both sides of the river! Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the Jordan Valley, where it enters the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will heal the salty waters of the Dead Sea and make them fresh and pure. Everything that touches the water of this river will live. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will be healed. Wherever this water flows, everything will live.”

Rebekah Wilson  2:16 

Ezekiel is a beautiful, prophetic book full of imagery and symbolism. In chapter 48, Ezekiel has just finished describing the restoration of God’s people, the rebuilding of his temple, and the defeat of evil powers and principalities. Now Ezekiel’s “guide” shows him a strange trickle of water, coming out of the temple of the Lord. It begins as a small brook and ends like the Mississippi river, dumping into the Dead Sea. But with God’s restoration, it no longer is the Dead Sea. The text makes it sound more like the Living Sea! It’s teaming with fish and produces abundant vegetation on the banks of this river.

Rebekah Wilson  3:03 

Only God’s Spirit can make dead things come alive. Only God’s almighty power can make dry bones rise up and start dancing! And only God’s creative nature can bring healing and restoration to things previously thought to be broken. How does knowing that God can heal and restore all things bring you hope? What area of your life needs an IV infusion of God’s living water and hope? Where is the Dead Sea in your life and how might the Lord be wanting to trickle and then douse it with His healing waters?

Rebekah Wilson  3:42  

Let’s pray. Abba Father, We praise you for your amazing plan to restore all things! We long for injustices to be made right and for broken things to be fixed and healed. We confess that we often lose our hope and become dismayed and despairing at the state of this world. Please open our eyes to the hope that is woven all throughout history. We thank you that you are all powerful and sovereign. Help us to trust in your ability to heal and mend and be restored. Amen