Page 266 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XLVII.

We now come to a highly characteristic feature of the
coming age, in connection with the sanctuary of Jeho­
vah, waters that issue with healing power, and this
with increasing volume.
Joel, as is well known, had already predicted that
“ a fountain shall come forth of the house of Je­
hovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim.” (Joel iii.
18.) The prediction does suppose exuberance of
earthly blessing, as the token of God’s favour and de­
light in goodness to the creature. The valley of the
acacias does not forbid but confirm this. For it is no
question whether the waters could flow thither on the
other side Jordan, some seven miles or more beyond
the Dead Sea, as nature now is. “ That day” will be
subject to no such conditions. Nature bowed to the
Creator when He came to be a man and die and rise
again; nature will bow correspondingly when He exe­
cutes judgment on the quick at His coming again in His
kingdom. It is just because it affords such an example
of dryness that God takes that valley, and declares it
shall be watered then ; it is because the east sea is one
proverbially of death, that it shall be made to abound
in life. Blessing will spread to the ends of the earth,
and from this centre—the house of Jehovah. What
ought to be shall then be without fail, even on this
earth, in spite of its hitherto sad continuity of failure;