Rebecca’s Well: The Healing River Pt. I

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Text: Ezekiel 47:1-12

Companion Scriptures: Zechariah 14:8; John 7:38-39a; Revelation 22:1

“There is a river” 

(Psalm 46:4)

“Joys are flowing like a river”

“Deep river, my home is over Jordan”

“When peace like a river attendeth my way…”

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this He (Jesus) spoke of the Holy Spirit …” (John 7: 38, 39)

The river symbolizes life from God the Father and God the Son from whom all blessings flow.  It is a gentle, safe and deep river expanding as it flows in the life of the Christian.

In the text, Eze 47:1-12, we have the vision of Holy Waters, the Healing River, that issued out from under the threshold of the temple, the sanctuary.

We see the rising of the waters, their increase, depth and healing virtue, the plentiful fish and the account of trees growing on the banks of the Dead Sea.

The mystical and spiritual meaning of this Healing River is explained in the verse, “everything shall live whither the river cometh.” (v.9) Wherever these rivers come, they make things to live, both plants and animals. There is a wonderful restorative here. Even waters of the Dead Sea shall become sweet and pleasant so fish may live and green trees flourish on its banks.  Wherever the river runs in the Christian experience is life and health, joy and peace.

In the text, Ezekiel was lead to the door of the house, the front entrance. The house is the sanctuary of God and Jesus Christ is “the Door.” (John 10:9)

It is out of  his pierced side that the Holy Spirit as the Living Waters and the Healing Streams flow into our past and present lives healing and consuming the hurts and unrelenting pain.

Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem so no one nation or race of people can claim him. As Billy Graham has preached fervently for years, “Jesus belongs to the whole world.” And as Bishop T.D. Jakes admonishes, “Jesus belongs also to the thieves, prostitutes and whore mongers.”

The Spirit of Christ enters all our seasonal parts known and unknown to us, calming the tempest, dissipating the cognitive dissonance, and making well our souls.

Although that great prophecy of Zechariah 14:8 refers to “The Day of the Lord,” it has a significant spiritual meaning here also.

“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.”

When Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem, out came blood and water from His pierced side. His Blood was for our redemption from the original sin nature; and His water to cleanse us from daily sins.  Our Lord’s Healing Stream flowed from the geosphere Jerusalem past, to the “eternal Holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God.” (Rev. 21:10)

Notice, in the text, the waters came forth on the right side of the sanctuary intimating that gospel-blessings are right-hand blessings bestowed by the right hand of God.  We believe these Holy Waters to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ flowing from Jerusalem at His death and resurrection and preached by Christ’s followers who were filled with the power and gifts of the Holy Ghost.  Their preachment was the “Gospel of Grace and the Workings of the Cross.” (Rudolph Lewis, Local Bible Scholar)

… Continued next week

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