The Waters in Ezekiel

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 (NRSVCE)

Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side.

Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was knee-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was up to the waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Mortal, have you seen this?”

Then he led me back along the bank of the river. As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh. Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes.

On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

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There’s a lot of imagery going on here in Ezekiel’s vision, and it’s hard to even know where to begin. The easiest place to start is probably the flowing water. Ezekiel is led by the angel to this small stream which was flowing out of the temple. Ezekiel wades in it easily, as it’s only ankle deep. He took him a bit further, and Ezekiel is now in it up to his knees. A bit further, and now it’s up to his waist. A bit further, and now Ezekiel needs to swim, as his feed no longer touch the bottom. The stream has become a mighty river. That’s when Ezekiel sees that this river is feeding all kinds of life on its shores and in its waters. This isn’t just some sewage runoff, this is a source of abundance.

The immediately striking thing is the steady growth of the running waters. This can be taken to be symbolism for many things. It could be taken to mean grace, as God’s graces are superabundant, and as we grow in our faith our capacity to love God grows ever more, and God keeps our cup overflowing all long the way. It is God’s grace which perfects us, and this process of sanctification is a gradual welling up in our souls, as we see the waters begin as a small stream but eventually blossom into a mighty river full of life.

On the other hand, it could be symbolic of knowledge—that is, knowledge of God and of God’s ways. God doesn’t reveal Himself all at once to man, He does it gradually. He comes to Abraham and promises a great family, and shows He is not like the gods of other nations when He stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. He shows great wonders to Moses and the Israelites, through the Exodus and bringing them to the Promised Land. He even gives them the Law, so that they might know how they are to please Him. This progressive revelation of God builds and builds throughout Scripture, finally culminating in the Gospels—in Jesus Christ, God among us. In Christ we see the Law fulfilled, we see the plan of salvation, we see more than we ever had before how much God loves us. And in Christ we find life.

Or perhaps we ought to turn our attention to evangelization, to preaching the Gospel. Jesus set His followers to the task of preaching the good news, which like this stream began at the site of the Temple, in Jerusalem. At first, Christ’s Church was a small band of believers reaching out from Jerusalem. But as they pressed on in doing God’s work, they grew. And perhaps a river is even the most fitting of the images here, as the Church grew how? By converting more believers and baptizing them into the one Church. As the apostles and their followers continued to flow out from Jerusalem, they continued to grow. And Christ’s Church brings life to the world, through the preaching of the Gospel, through spreading the good news and leading people to Christ. Like in Ezekiel’s vision, there is a stagnant sea. But the Gospel is like the fresh waters of the river, bringing abundance and life to the world.

There are many other ways to see the imagery at work here in this passage (and indeed in all of Ezekiel). I would be curious to hear any of your thoughts on it, as I find myself overwhelmed by the beauty and depth of it.