Gentle reader,

We have our next cup of coffee with The “not for profit” Prophet -Ezekiel Ezekiel, whose name, Yehézq'el signifies "strong is God", or "whom God makes strong" (Ezek. I, 3; iii,  , was the son of Buzi, and was one of the priests who, in the year 598 B.C., had been deported together with Joachim as prisoners from Jerusalem (2 Kings 24:12-16; cf. Ezekiel 33:21, 40:1). With the other exiles he settled in Tell-Abib near the Chobar (Ezek. i,1; iii, 15) in Babylonia, and seems to have spent the rest of his life there.In the fifth year after the captivity of Joachim, and according to some, the thirtieth year of his life, Ezekiel received his call as a prophet (Ezek. I, 2, 4 etc) in the vision which he describes in the beginning of his prophecy (Ezek. i,4; iii, 15). From Ezek. xxix, 17 it appears that he prophesied during at least twenty-two years.

Here we will look at one small part of prophecy in Ezekiel. 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. (Eze 47:1)

The rivers of Blessing

Whatever these waters (Ezek47-1-12 may refer to, either in the historical past or in the prophetic future, one thing is certain: in a latent sense they are a remarkable parable of spiritual possibilities in a believers life. Again and again in the Holy Scriptures water is used as an emblem of God’s most Holy Spirit the third person in the tri-unity of God; so these waters (note waters plural not singular water) may well speak to us of His gracious outflowing towards the Lord’s people.

Notice first the SOURCE of these waters from under the threshold of the house. Unlike many other ancient capitals, Jerusalem had no known river; but here, in a vision , a supernatural river is seen proceeding from the house of God. And does not the Holy Spirit now flow down to us as “rivers of living water” from the heavenly sanctuary, even from And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev. 22:1).

In John, Our Lord says, In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (Joh 7:37-38 ) As the Scriptures hath said out of HIM (the Christ) shall flow rivers of living water” Then verse 39 adds, (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (Joh 7:39)

Notice next, the COURSE of the waters. They issued “issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: Why was that? Verse 8 tells us “Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea {the Salt Sea or the Dead Sea] : which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.”(Eze 47: 1 ) So these waters were directed toward two places of barrenness and bitterness i.e. “Wilderness of Judea” and the Salt Sea. Both places were of deadness; but the barren was to become fruitful and the bitter to be “healed” by these crystal waters from the sanctuary. Even so, those heavenly and spiritual waters which our glorified Lord has released through the sluice -gate of Pentecost are seeking to channel their course through consecrated believers, so as to communicate new life and verdure amid surrounding spiritual death and sterility.

And now notice the FORCE of the waters, first they were a mere “trickle” (see verse 2 in R.V. margin). Then a “thousand cubits” further (1,500 feet) further “they were to the ankles” (3) Next, another thousand cubits and “they were to the knees” (4) Next, another thousand and “they were to the loins” (5) Still one more thousand, and they were “waters to swim in” (6) All in just over a mile the “trickle” had become a “river” at least six or seven feet deep! That was no merely natural river! No river normally grows at that rate. The was the “river of God”. This certainly speaks to all of us of the Holy Spirit.

Young Christians, whom I now address, do not think you must wait for years before the Holy Spirit may be to you as “waters to swim in”. You may know His copiousness NOW. Older Christians if you have been a believer for years and yet are still only “up to the ankles”, the fulness is for you just down steam a wee bit. In other words, the deeper you and I make the channel through our hearts and lives, the more deeply the Holy Spirit will flow in and through us.

The Holy Spirit is our Director of Continuing Education

Open my inward eyes,
Teacher Divine,
Spirit of glad surprise
Within me shine
Quicken my inward sight,
So that I may see
Shining in clearest Light
Thy Word to me.

Till next time,
Love from one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread!    

Denis