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Ezekiel 47-48
Today we complete our journey in the Prophetic Stream as we read from the Tree of Life Version.
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Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis
Today we finish the Prophetic Stream. Ezekiel has been describing the rebuilt Temple since chapter 40. This occupies the remainder of his book that we finish today. It is probably overdue to mention that some view this Temple as what will be during the Millennium; the 12 tribes occupying Israel again, and animal sacrifices have resumed as in Solomon’s day. Others view Ezekiel’s Temple as figurative of the whole Christian Era wherein the glory of God is ever expanding, sprreading, flowing outward to cover the earth. Again, this Temple does follow Solomon’s pattern in some ways. As we end this portion of scripture today, the city of Jerusalem is 7.5 miles square. The pattern is a model of sorts to the one described in Rev. 21 that we will read in a couple days. What does this all mean? When and where is this? Just know that it’s Good News of good things God is doing. It cannot be stated for certain what exactly God is going to do. Let’s enjoy and worship our God more and not demand that all analyses be final before we can enjoy Him. Jesus said we would see the Kingdom if we become as little children – it doesn’t say we need to become as engineers in order to see Him. And be certain of this: our perspectives will never alter what He has had planned since the foundation of the world.
47 – Nothing enhances a property like a water feature! and here water flows more and farther and deeper the more it flows. Note that it is flowing east from the Temple’s threshold. The movement of God was always to go west in Genesis, so this tends to mean that the cycle of God is coming to completion. And notice that this water purifies and brings life even to the Dead Sea once it reaches it. This is marvelous. God operates this way and will continue to do so as news of Him spreads over the earth like water. In Joel 3 and Zechariah 14 and Revelation 22 we hear of God doing great things with water in the end of days. Best thing to do is prepare for the wonders ahead by anticipating them and preparing for them. The remainder of the chapter (and the book) is how the land of Israel shall be outlined and apportioned among the tribes. Keep in mind, this is being written in 570 B.C. and the 12 tribes is the entire reference point for the Hebrew mind. It hearkens back to Jacob’s 12 sons. So to describe the coming events in any different way would be sheer puzzlement. All this factors in to what God is going to do because we know that it has not happened in full as of yet.
48 – The measuring and apportioning continues as each of the tribes is listed and the lot of land is measured off. The mindset they are speaking to is intended to have us feeling provided for with space enough and food enough. The nightmare of displaced peoples is that they have no place to go and nothing to eat. The totaly opposite of that is true here in Ezekiel’s description; the do have a place and they have plenty. And the city, a total of 7+1/2 square miles, is the home of God now. It is even named “God lives Here.” God says this to end the Major Prophets so that when we read this we feel relieved, “oh good. God is here!”
