Bible Study Notes for Sunday March 29, 2009

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Issue Number 5

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Envisioning New Life Bible Background • EZEKIEL 47:1-12 Printed Text • EZEKIEL 47:1-12 Devotional Reading • John 4:7-15 LESSON OBJECTIVE

ANALYZE the references to water in Ezekiel's vision; REFLECT on God's ability to refresh and to heal; and CELEBRATE the influence of God on all creation (humankind and nature).

WORDS TO

KNOW

A. House (Ezekiel 47:1) bayith (Heb.)— Temple.

B. Miry Places (v. 11) bitstsah (Heb.)— Swamps or marshes.

UNIFYING

PRINCIPLE

Spiritual Fruitfulness and Healing. Humankind depends on the water that covers the vast areas of the earth's landscape. What impact do these bodies of water have on humanity and all creation? In a vision, Ezekiel saw a sacred river that flowed freely from God's throne, sustaining life, bringing spiritual fruitfulness and healing.

Maecenas pulvinar sagittis enim.

The Prophet Ezekiel who is one of the major prophets of the Old Testament

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Solomon’s Temple

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The Temple in Jerusalem

KING JAMES VERSION Ezekiel 47:1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION Ezekiel 47:1 In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side.

2 The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.

3 Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across.

The water was up to my ankles.

4 He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist.

5 Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through.

6 He asked me, "Have you been watching, son of man?" Then he led me back along the riverbank.

3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the

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People Places and Time of the Lesson Today A BRIEF LOOK INTO THE “SITZ IM LIEBUM�

Ezekiel's vision of the river is the third major vision in the book of Ezekiel. In this vision, Ezekiel observes a life-giving river. The river is bordered by trees that produce fruit.

This fruit is nourishing food, and the leaves can be used for healing.

Because the temple was the place around which the life of Israel revolved, it is significant that this river

Prophet Ezekiel with Angels

originated from under the temple.

The altar of God, where God met with consecrated people, was the centerpiece of the temple. The waters came from the side of the altar, therefore signifying that God is the source and fountainhead of the "river" that brings life and healing to all who receive it.

Sources: Buttrick, George Arthur, ed. The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 6. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1956.

Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible. http:// eword.gospelcom.net/comments/ezekiel/mh/ ezekiel47.htm. Accessed February 20, 2008.

Bust of Ezekiel

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the book of Ezekiel

BACKGROUND

God's sovereignty is a major theme of Ezekiel. But the Sovereign God is also a God who wants to be known by His people.

In Ezekiel, alone, there are 65 occurrences of the clause (or variations): "Then they will know that I am the Lord." Chapters 1-24 reveal God in the fall of Jerusalem and the ensuing national destruction. Chapters 25-32 teach God's revelation of Himself through His judgments upon the nations, and chapters 33-48 emphasize God's character through the restoration and

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Ezekiel

renewal of Israel—both literally and spiritually.

It is in the context of this last section that Ezekiel receives a multipart vision of the new temple of God that is to come. In today's lesson, we will examine the last part of Ezekiel's "temple tour" where Ezekiel was standing just inside the gate of the temple and saw the river flowing from under the temple.

Source: The niv Study Bible, 10th Anniversary Edition. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1995.

It is in the context of this last section that Ezekiel receives a multipart vision of the new temple of God that is to come.

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In Depth Look at the Lesson 1. The Rise of the River (Ezekiel 47:1-6) Ezekiel's third vision begins with him standing in the inner court of the new temple in Jerusalem. He saw water coming out from under the temple, flowing from the side of the altar. In Revelation 22:1 (niv), we also see "the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb." It is significant that this river proceeds from where God dwells. He is the Source. This river flows directly from the very presence of Almighty God, Himself. Therefore, the river is able to give life and sustenance.

The flow of God's Spirit, through Jesus, then, brings energizing life and healing to those who will accept it.

As the river flowed from the temple and over the mountains, instead of eventually waning to a trickle, it gained in depth and strength. Ezekiel, in his vision, waded into the river. It was ankle-deep (v. 3). A little further downstream, the river was knee-deep (v. 4). One final check revealed that the river was so deep that "no one could cross" (v. 5, niv).

And so it is with our spiritual life.

When we first begin our relationship with God, we wade out ankledeep. We learn the first things about God. As we begin to mature, we search out the deeper things of God that require some "knee-deep" wading into the river. And then there are some things that we will

never fully understand, and we must be content to say with the apostle Paul, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33, niv).

2. The Result of the River (vv.

7-12) T he water s that proceed from God h a v e a h e a l i n g, restorative effect.

Even the lowest, saltiest body of water in the world, the Dead Sea, will be made fresh by the healing river of God (v. 8). In the very end, when God finally establishes His kingdom in fullness, life will truly exist in abundance. In place of this "dead" water, where no life can be sustained, there will be "swarms of living creatures" (v. 9, niv). This signifies great provision for humankind—fishermen will stand along the shore, from one end of the country to the other, to fill their nets with the abundance of fish (v.

10). Fruit trees of all kinds will bear bountiful crops—a different kind of fruit every month, because "the water from the sanctuary flows to them.

Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing" (v. 12, niv).

The water of the sanctuary... oh, that it would flow over us! Today, God desires to give us a foretaste of the fullness of life to come. We constantly

need the healing, reviving presence of God in our lives. How we need His grace, His healing, His forgiveness in our lives to wash away the stagnant, dead waters of our lives. Only when we bask in His presence and soak up the living water of His words will we become bountifully fruitful servants of God. Sources: Buttrick, George Arthur, ed. The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 6. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1956.

Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible. http:// eword.gospelcom.net/comments/ezekiel/mh/ ezekiel47.htm. Accessed February 20, 2008. .

Search the Scriptures 1. Where did Ezekiel's vision of the river begin (Ezekiel 47:1)?

2. Who was "the man" (vv. 1-8)?

3. What was growing on both sides of the river (v. 12)?

Discuss the Meaning 1. Why is it significant that the wellspring of the river was at the temple? How can we liken this river to our lives?

2. What happened when the river flowed into the Dead Sea? What happens when God's Spirit is allowed to flow unhindered in our lives?

3. Describe the trees that grew along the banks of God's river. What kind of spiritual principles can we learn from these trees?

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