LIFE-STUDY OF EZEKIEL
Message 26
The river that flows from the house
WEEK 13 - TUESDAY
Scripture reading: Num. 2:3; Ezek. 40:3, 43:2, 47:1, 3-5
Read and pray: “The man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, and he measured a thousand cubits and made me pass through the waters, waters that reached to the ankles.” (Ezekiel 47:3)
WATER FLOWING FROM UNDER
THE THRESHOLD OF THE TEMPLE
Ezekiel 47:1a says, “Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and there was water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east.” For water to flow, there must be a threshold, an opening, through which it can flow. This indicates that if, through Christ, we have more fellowship with God and draw near to Him, there will be an opening that allows the living water of God to flow out of the church.
THE RIVER FLOWS TO THE EAST
The river proceeds from the house and flows to the east (v. 1b). The east is the direction of the glory of the Lord (Num. 2:3; Ezek. 43:2). The flowing toward the east indicates that the river of God always flows in the direction of the glory of God. The river is concerned with the glory of God.
Everything in the church life must be for the glory of God. For example, in our preaching of the gospel, we must seek the glory of God. If our preaching of the gospel is for the glory of God, there will be an outlet for the living water.
However, if we do not care for the glory of God, the flow will be limited. Everyone in the church must seek and care for the glory of God. Then the living water will flow out of the church.
THE WATER FLOWS FROM
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOUSE
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOUSE
Ezekiel 47:1c also tells us that the water flowed from the right side of the house. According to the Bible, the right side signifies the highest position. The flowing of the water from the right side indicates that the Lord’s flow must have the preeminence. We need to give the Lord the highest position, and we also need to give the Lord’s flow the highest position. Then the flow will be predominant and will become the controlling factor in our living and work.
IT FLOWS FROM THE SIDE OF THE ALTAR
The flow is from the side of the altar (v. 1d). This indicates that the flow is always by the cross. If we do not have the dealing of the cross, the flow will be frustrated. If we want to have the flow, we must have the dealing of the cross. We need to be willing to pass through the cross so that the flow may come.
THE MAN WITH A MEASURING LINE
The main point here is the man with a measuring line in his hand (v. 3). This man, who is the Lord Jesus Himself, has the appearance of bronze (40:3). As we have pointed out, bronze in typology, or copper, signifies judgment and trials.
The Lord Jesus was tried and judged as a man, and because He was tried and judged, He is now trying and judging. Because He has been tried, He is qualified to try, and because He has been judged, He is qualified to judge.
He is the only one with the measuring line in His hand, fully qualified to measure us. We said previously that to measure means to try, to judge, and to possess. When a sister is about to buy a piece of cloth, she first examines the cloth and then measures it. Whatever measure she takes will also be what she possesses. This indicates that to measure is to examine, test, judge, and ultimately take and possess.
THE FLOW OF THE RIVER IS MEASURED
The man came with a measuring line in his hand to measure the flow of the river (47:3-5).
HE MEASURED A THOUSAND CUBITS
When this man measured the river for the first time, there was only a trickle of water coming out of the house. Then he measured a thousand cubits, and the flow became deeper, to the ankles (v. 3). Again he measured a thousand cubits, and the flow became deeper, to the knees (v. 4). After that, the man measured another thousand cubits, and the flow became even deeper, to the loins (v. 4). When He measured a thousand cubits the fourth time, the flow became a river that could not be crossed, and the river became waters to swim in.
In the Bible, the number one thousand represents a complete unit. For example, in Psalm 84:10, the psalmist says that one day in the courts of the Lord is better than a thousand elsewhere. Since one thousand represents a complete unit, to measure a thousand means to measure a complete unit; it is a complete measure.
If we want to enjoy the flow from the house, we need to be measured completely. If we want to enjoy a deeper flow, we need to be measured, that is, tried, examined, judged, and taken by the Lord. Our motives, our intentions, our goals, our aims, our desires—all must be judged. Everything we possess and everything we are involved in must be judged. This will deepen the flow within us.
When we are judged by the Lord, we need to make a thorough confession. We need to allow the Lord to be our Judge and let Him bring us into His light and expose us. Then we should say to Him, “Lord, everything You have judged is now Yours. I ask You, Lord, take full possession of me.”
The Lord’s judgments and trials upon us are not once for all. In Ezekiel 47, the man did not measure once, twice, or even three times; he measured four times. In the Bible, four is the number of the creature. The four measurements here indicate that, as a creature, we need to be fully judged and tried by the Lord and then fully taken by Him.
To be fully taken by the Lord is not an easy experience. We may think that we have been fully taken by the Lord, but after a period of time, we will realize that we still have some reserve. Then we will be tried and judged again, and after that we will have another consecration to the Lord, saying, “Lord, take this and possess it.”
We may think that the Lord has taken everything, but the Lord knows that He has gained us only to a certain extent. Therefore, after some time, we may again realize that we have reserved and preserved much for ourselves. Once more, we will make our confession to the Lord and experience His trial and judgment.
Even after many years, we may still not be fully taken by the Lord, and therefore we will again need to be measured, tried, judged, and possessed by Him.
🌿Enjoy more:
Hymn: “So attractive You are! Draw me more, Lord”
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