Bible Study- Ez.47 commentary -2

North- South Divide

While continuing with Ezekiel the north refers to Zion founded above mountains, “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” (Ps.48:1-2) This is a holy mountain. Ezekiel is given a guided tour like St John, Ezekiel refers to the city, “and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.”(40:2) The throne of the Lamb is on the right hand of the throne of God. Ps,110:1 also refers to ‘thy footstool’. So the nations are given a place in relation to the throne.

” In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”(Ze.13:1) Further down in Ez.47 we are shown the living waters in its mighty course, “Then said he unto me, 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.”(47:8) There shall be a revival for them. Prophet Zechariah refers to in that day’ to the day of regeneration where the apostles shall judge the 12 tribes. The throne of glory is set in relation to his ‘footstool’, “when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”(Matt.19:28) This judgement we shall see in the measurement the angel uses, “a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit”(Ez.40:5) The same measure applies to the idol of the nations.”Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits.”(Dan.2:5). On the other hand in the case of St John it was a single measurement man-angel where the man and his angel in Christ served as one unit. “and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.”(Is.2:11).”Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.”(Is.2:8-11)

North indicates judgement. Jeremiah also refers to ‘in that day’ which is different from what Prophet Zechariah predicted. It is not to cleanse them but to make a distinction between what is holy and what is not. The holy city of God is holy and the footstool is not. “And it shall come to pass at that day,”and “I will give my sentence against them”.(Je.4:9-12) “At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,/Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.”

The term ‘idols” we need see as a tag overarching from Mount Sinai to the end times. The golden calf was in the hearts of nations,- and Israel like Rachel had by stealth carried it along. (Ge.31:34) Jeremiah continues, ” For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.” (4:27) This remnant is what figures in the Zechariah quote. Isaiah also refers to the wrath of the Lamb. “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;/To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Israel shall be wrung through a great tribulation while the throne of the Lamb is established on the holy mountain.

Compare the line of flax and the reed, “a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed,” which refers to Israel and other nations. Among priestly garments God stipulated linen,”fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” and “And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen,” for Israel.(Ex.28) The reed of 6 cubits signify nations. The golden reed for faith is what made the single measurement.(Re.21:17)

About bennythomas

I am a Dutch citizen. An architect by profession I am married and have six grandchildren. I am still keen on expressing myself and each day is new and an occasion where I might bring out from within something worthwhile.
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