Ezekiel 47:9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that lives, which moves, wherever the rivers shall come, shall live… I. THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL. Rivers are often used as metaphors in the sacred writings to denote plenty, purity, refreshment, and happiness; and especially to illustrate the blessings of the Gospel. 1. Its character. Divine truth in the mind, and Divine grace in the heart, are sometimes compared to beams of light, and at other times to waters of a river. (1) The divinity of its origin. Ordinary rivers issue from springs that rise spontaneously out of the ground. These are usually small, and in some eases imperceptible and undiscovetable. The drop of goodness that has been distilled into your mind and heart, O Christian: the rivulet of happiness that may flow at your feet, the river of salt that is now flowing through the world, must be traced up to the threshold of the temple, and the foot of the throne of God and the Lamb. Let this consideration excite our prayers, remind us of our obligations, and call forth our praises. (2) The purity of its nature. "It is a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal," perfectly pellucid and transparent. The Bible is a holy Bible, and the Gospel is a holy Gospel. And as the river is itself pure, so it promotes purity. All true virtue, sound morality, evangelical holiness that exist in the world may be ascribed, directly or indirectly, to the influence of this pure river. 2. Its progress. The river is represented as flowing. We may regard the vision as applicable — (1) To the gradual discoveries of the method of salvation. (2) To the growth of grace in the heart. In the experience of the Christian it is at first a day of small things, but a promise is given him: "Thou shalt see greater things than these."(3) To the advancement of religion in the world. Every new convert to the faith of the Gospel — every new Christian church — every new mission to the heathen, is another tributary stream to this noble river. 3. Its effects. "Everything shall live whither the river cometh." Man in his civil capacity lives; his liberty is alive, and he claims it as his birthright. Man in his domestic capacity lives. His wife and his children are his own; no holder of slaves can claim them. Man in his moral capacity lives; pardon lives in his conscience; gratitude lives in his memory; obedience lives in his will; affection lives in his heart; joy lives in his faith; humility lives in his prayers; holiness lives in his character, and heaven lives in his hope. Be it ours either directly or indirectly to cut sluices and channels all around us at home and abroad, that the waters of this river may be conveyed everywhere, so that universal life and purity, prosperity and happiness, might, prevail. Let us all seek spiritual life on earth, for the life must be commenced here; this must be the cradle of our spiritual being, the seed must be sown on earth that produces fruit in heaven, the bud must appear here which is to blossom there; let us then seek grace on earth that we may enjoy life and glory in heaven. II. We are constrained to acknowledge THE FAILURE as well as the success of the Gospel. "But the miry places thereof," etc. 1. In miry places the water hath not free passage. The apostle prays that "the Gospel may run and be glorified." The Word runs when it meets with nothing to stop it — when it runs through the whole soul. 2. In miry places the earth and the water are mixed together. This mixture makes mire; so when the truths of the Gospel mix with the corruptions of men, or when men make use of the truths of God to plead for their sins. 3. In miry places the longer the water stands in it the worse it grows; so the longer a soul remains unchanged under the ordinances of religion the more polluted it becomes.Reflections: — 1. The duty of gratitude for Gospel privileges. 2. The necessity of embracing Gospel blessings. 3. The success attending the Gospel is to be very extensive.All nations, and kindreds, and people shall be called by the Gospel; it shall not be an excluding system, like that of Judaism, for its Author tasted death for every man. Can each one of us say — I feel He died for me? (J. Wonnacott.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. |
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