In my most recent opportunity to preach, I enjoyed tracing out a biblical theology of living water. My text was Ezekiel 47:1-12, and the focus was on Ezekiel’s vision of a river of life flowing from the end-times Temple sanctuary (you can see my notes and download the audio here). In one part of the message, I traced out a biblical “history of living waters” in a journey through the Bible. I want to share that outline here. The message was received well, and I hope I gave people a taste of the richness that biblical theology has to offer.
- Eden’s Four-fold River
- Gen. 2:10 “A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.”
» Gold, onyx are mentioned in Gen. 2, and they are central to the Temple. There is a tree of life in the garden too, like Ezek. 47, and Rev. 22. - SIDENOTE: 3 points illustrating why Ezekiel is looking back on Eden with his prophecy in Ezek. 47.
- Ezek. 36:35 “land shall be like a garden of Eden.”
- Eden called the Mountain of God in Ezek. 28:14 and the temple vision starts with the Temple on a high mountain (Ezek. 40:2).
- Outside of Eden was wilderness – similar to the Dead Sea region being a wilderness (prior to the coming of the river in Ezek. 47).
- Gen. 2:10 “A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.”
- Water from the Rock (Exodus) – preserved life
- Ps. 78:16 “He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.”
- Exod. 17:6 “you shall strike the rock and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.”
- The Joyful River of God
- Ps. 46:4 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.”
» There is no river in Jerusalem. - Ps. 36:8-9 “and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life…”
- Ps. 63:1 “…my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
- Is. 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
- Ps. 46:4 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.”
- The LORD is the Fountain
- Jer. 2:13 “they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters.”
- Jer. 17:13 “they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.”
- Streams in the Desert (New Exodus) – renewed life
- Is. 35:6 “waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.”
- Is. 43:19 “For I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
- Is. 48:21 “they did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out.”
- Is. 49:10 “He who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.”
- SIDENOTE: the NT draws on this, with John the Baptist using the same cry given in Is. 40:3 – another New Exodus passage.
- Cleansing with Water and the Outpouring of the Spirit
- Is. 44:3 “I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”
- Ezek. 36:25-27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean… I will put my Spirit within you…”
- Renewed Israel and a fountain in Jerusalem
- Is. 58:11 “you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
- Zech. 14:8 “on that day living waters shall flow from Jerusalem.”
- Joel 3:18 “in that day… a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim.”
- Zech. 13:1 “on that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”
» To cleanse sin.
- New Jerusalem (ultimate fulfillment)
- Rev. 22:1-2 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
» Clearly draws from Ezekiel. - Rev. 7:17 “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of living water.”
» ultimate New Exodus.
- Rev. 22:1-2 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
- CONCLUSION from this Biblical History
- Water is connected with spiritual joy and life in God’s presence.
- Water is sourced in God – the True Fountain of Life.
- Water is associated with the Temple:
» Eden itself was a paradise – “Garden of God” – depicted in Ezek. 28 as a mountain.
» Eden is the template to which the Tabernacle and Temple imagery point back to.
» Ezekiel’s temple looks back to Eden with the “trees of life” on its banks (Ezek. 47). - Water is associated with the Holy Spirit who will be outpoured and cleanse the renewed Israelites (and believers in Christ) of their sins.