Commentary on Ezekiel 47

I know this post is a little different from the theme of my normal posts, but I couldn't let this go by without jotting down some of my thoughts. And I think some of my readers will enjoy reading this. It was too cool to pass over.

In my church, we don't have a paid clergy, so each member of the ward (local congregation) has a specific job (or more than one job). One of my jobs is to periodically teach the adult Sunday School class. This year we're studying the Old Testament. I taught today's lesson which covered Ezekiel 43-44 and 47. It was an interesting coincidence because as I was celebrating Thanksgiving with one of my good friends and her family up on Long Island, it was discovered that she had taught the same lesson in her ward last Sunday, that her brother was teaching it there that Sunday, and I was also teaching it down in Baltimore.

I'm pretty sure that I've read these passages in Ezekiel before, but I don't remember them. Nor do I remember them being so awesome.

The premise is that Ezekiel, who was a prophet in ancient Israel, had a vision of the temple in Jerusalem. By reading a variety of verses in Chapters 43 and 44, we gain insight into various aspects of the temple. (Including it being the house of the Lord, its holy nature, the very grounds being holy, worthiness requirements to enter, etc.) The really meaty stuff is in Chapter 47. This vision blows my mind.

First though, it's important to understand the geography of the region of this part of the world. Here's a basic map of the area:

The Sea of Galilee (the top, smaller lake) is a fresh water lake. The Jordan River flows out of it, and into the Dead Sea (the bottom, larger lake). The Dead Sea is the lowest point of dry land on the planet earth, about 1300 feet below sea level. Water does not flow out of the Dead Sea, and as water from it evaporates, it leaves the salt and other minerals behind, so it just gets saltier with time. It's a crazy cool place, and geologically very interesting. In fact, due to the high salt content of the water, it is much more dense than fresh water, and so people can actually float in it. I can attest to that! (And it's really, really fun.)

Because the Dead Sea is so salty, it cannot sustain life. There are no fish or bugs anywhere around, not even those brine shrimp that seem so abundant in the Great Salt Lake. There are no macro organisms of any kind. This is why it's called the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea is located to the east of Jerusalem. In between the two is an area known as the Judean wilderness. It is among the most barren places in the world. (I took this picture on our drive to the Dead Sea this past summer.)

Ezekiel's vision, as recorded in the first 12 verses of Chapter 47 (specifically 47:1, 6-12) goes something like this: He sees the temple in Jerusalem, with its doors facing toward the east. (This eastward facing is symbolic for other reasons, but note that this also means the doors are facing toward the Judaen wilderness and the Dead Sea.) In verse 1 he sees a river rushing out the eastward-facing door of the temple.

The results of this are astonishing. I love the imagery. Specifically parts of verse 8 (emphasis added):

These waters issue out toward the east country,
and go down into the desert, and go into the sea:
which being brought forth into the sea,
the waters shall be healed.

Amazing! What beautiful symbolism. Because of the water that is flowing from the temple, the waters of this barren sea are healed. What a beautiful choice of words!

The verses continue to talk about the multitudes of life that are brought forth as a result, including trees, and specifically the tree of life. (Although it doesn't call it that here; however, John sees something similar in vision, recorded in Revelation 22:1-3, and does refer to it as the Tree of Life.) We know from other scripture (including from Lehi's vision in the Book of Mormon) that the Tree of Life is representative of the love of God, is most desirable of all things, and will bring joy to our souls.

The symbolism of this vision is so rich. The imagery is so beautiful. Our discussion of it in Sunday School today led to many thoughtful possible interpretations of it. I believe the overarching symbolism is this:

• The water from the temple: Pure doctrine; Christ as the living water; etc.
  
• The Dead Sea/Barren Wilderness: Personal suffering; consequences of sin; etc.

In other words, the doctrines of the Gospel are healing. Specifically, the power and spirit that are available from the temple are healing. We can be healed. Everything that the Savior touches will be healed, whether it's a broken heart, a broken relationship, a broken home, or a broken society. I believe the answer to life's ills lie in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and like the waters from the temple in Ezekiel's vision healed the barren wilderness and the Dead Sea, so can the Gospel (and especially the power available from the temple) heal us and cleanse our hearts and homes if we allow it.