Sermon Tone Analysis

Ezekiel’s Healing Waters

47 Then he brought me back to the door of the 1temple; and there was awater, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces beast; and there was water, running out on the right side.

3 And when cthe man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles.

4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees.

Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist.

5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.

6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many dtrees on one side and the other.

8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the 2valley, and enters the sea.

When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed.

9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever 3the rivers go, will live.

There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.

10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets.

Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish eof the Great Sea, exceedingly many.

11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt.

12 fAlong the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; gtheir leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail.

They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary.

Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for hmedicine.”

Expounding the Healing Waters

Images of E

A drip from the sanctuary in Jerusalem

Ankle deep; Knee deep; Waist deep; Swimming deep; Too deep to cross

Ankle deep; Knee deep; Waist deep; Swimming deep; Too deep to cross

The water is not stagnant and still; but deep and rapidly flowing, its alive

The water is not stagnant and still; but deep and rapidly flowing, its alive

Only once Ezekiel has been totally emerged in the water, does he see the trees for the first time.

More than alive, it is healing, life giving: (NKJV)

(NKJV)

8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea.

When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed.

8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea.

When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed.

Teeming with fish and all kinds of life

PHOTO - Fish

From En Gedi (Fountain of the kid) to En Glaim (Fountain of the two calves)

Although the water does not reach everywhere (swamps and marshes), there are places it doesnt get to

Fruit every month because the water comes from the sanctuary

The fruit will be food and their leaves for medicine.

What the Israelites must of thought - explain the miracle

MAP - Valley

MAP - En Gedi & Masada

PHOTO - Masada

PHOTO - EnGedi

The Water Source

The water started at the Most Holy Place of the temple

It started where God is; where Jesus is and flowed deeper and faster throughout the area

Starting with the Throne of God

Highlight ‘ALSO’ in the wrong spot for it to be the Tree of Life AND the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

The Tree of Life is in the middle ALSO with GOD

Verse 10

The Water is the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ

The Water is the Forgiveness of sins that Christ’s death affords

In all cases mentioned, the water brings healing and forgiveness.

It turns the salty into sweet, fresh water

In the lead up to , Ezekiel takes significant time to explain the sanctuary (where God resides)

He spends even more time then focussing on worship - Israel had to repent to rebuild the sanctuary - conditional prophecy that never came to fruition.

BUT IT DID IN THE SPIRITUAL SENSE WITH THE EARLY CHURCH.

As they spread the gospel message, it started with the water trickling from Jesus’ side

It turns the salty into sweet, fresh water

The Day of Pentecost and the out pouring of the Holy Spirit

The church grew, first in Jerusalem, and then towards the East.

Now an unstoppable flow.

OR IS IT?

The need to be totally immersed in the Gospel, before you can see the blessings it bring.

Sharing of the Gospel - Dead Sea vs Sea of Galilee