Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.
—Francis Havergal
Idaho has a number of blue ribbon trout streams, some of which are a short drive from our home here in Southwest Idaho. My friends and I have fished them all with might and main and have marveled at their beauty and productivity. The fish are large and feisty. "It doesn’t get much better than this," we often say.
Ezekiel, however, saw a more perfect stream, flowing from the heart of God (Ezekiel 47:1-12). There's no other river that compares (Psalms 46:4; 65:9; Isaiah 33:20f.).
The river begins as a trickle from the southeast corner of Ezekiel's Messianic temple and flows past the altar of burnt offering. It issues from the temple compound on the south side of the eastern gate.
It grows in volume as it descends eastwards down the Kidron Valley and tumbles through the mountain passes to the Dead Sea, first ankle-deep, then knee-deep, then waist-deep and finally too deep to wade—all of which marks it as a symbolic, apocalyptic stream since no tributaries exist to increase its flow.
Everywhere it goes it brings life and vitality. The salt waters of the Dead Sea are made fresh by its flow and swarm with fish. Trees flourish on both sides of the river, producing fresh fruit each month. Their leaves possess medicinal properties and are there for our healing.
All this takes place because "the river flows from the sanctuary" (47:12). Our Lord himself is its source. Drought and dearth are banished in its path. The impossible becomes true.
Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me: and drink, whoever believes in me, for, as the scriptures say, 'Streams of living water will flow from Him' (Jesus). He was speaking of the Spirit (of Jesus) whom those who believed in Him were to receive" (John 7:38:39).
"How can I endure this present pandemic and political pandemonia that cloud our thoughts and thwart our dreams?" Listen to the prophet: A healing river flows from the heart of Jesus, flowing deeper, fuller every day. We’re invited to come and drink from him,—to ask through the day for his peace and joy and place our hope in him. And it shall be that, "where the river flows, life will abound" (47:9).
Some lines from C.S. Lewis come to mind:
"I am dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I — could I — would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to — do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair
David Roper
10.14.20
