The citizen., 1899-08-16
THE RIVER OF SALVATION.
for August 2O, isD,I-Te.t, EsekisI,
ATn-t2-MemorE verse, ~.

22l1
LIGHT FROM OTHER scriptures.
The Temple symbol Rev. q; Cor. s.ls
~; 6:i9. 2 Cor 6:i6. Eph. 2.21 2 Thea 2A:
Rev. 3:i2 The River OF I.lfe.--Zech. iSI.
ltS. 3; John i.i0-l5; Z. g7-sg: Rev. 92l. 2;
Gen 2:lO; Psa. la
TlME.-This prophecy was written In n
G. d2 (Ezek. i0.D the twenty-nfth year Of
Ezekiers captivity. 5g7. and fourteenth aft.
er the destruction OF Jerusalem In 6S6 II
was about the middle OF the seventy years
captivity.
PLACE.-It was written In Babylonla. a,
Tel-abib on the river Chcbar, near Va byion
EXPLANATORY.
|. The Source Of the River of Life
VS.. I, 2. V. l. Afterwards" After the
angel had shown him the temple and
oil its details. "Waters issued out from
under the threshold Of the house cnst.
ward:" The natural fact on which this
conception rests is this, that there was
a fountain connected with the temple
hill, the waters OF which fell into the
valley east Of the city, and made their
way towards the sea. Prof. Davidson.
AT the south side Of the altar" The
stream flowed not only from the tenn
Holes, and flowed close by the altar Of
sacrifice. The truth represented Is
that the presence Of God is the source
from which the influences flow forth
that renew and purify human exist.
ence" prot. Skinner).
II. II Broadens rs II Flows.-Ns. 3-S.
V. ,. ~ thousand cubits:" There is no
special significance to this exact dis.
tance. V. 5. Waters to swim in, a river
that could not be passed over:" broad
and deep. THE word rendered river Is
the usual one for brook or wady. viz,
n stream with its valley or gorge" The
picture OF broadening stream symbol.
lied that while the renewal of the king
dom OF Israel. on the return from exile.
would have n small and insignificant
beginning, both In numbers and in
prosperity, the spirit that would make
1t n great kingdom would increase on
aud on TO the end, the outward bless.
ings would become more abundant, the
true life OF the nation would deepen as
well ms broaden. This picture has been
realized in history.
III. The Trees upon Its Danks.-Ns
G, 7. V. G. "Son Of man, hast thou seen
this?" DO you understand what YOU
have seen so far? Then let MS go
farther. V. I. AT the bank of the river
were very many trees on the one side
and on the other" Compare Rev. 22:i,
2. There was always n vision Of better
things possible, and In the last days the
prophets cherished the expectation that
that vision would he realized When all
causes of ofrcnse are removed from Is.
rael and Jehovah smiles on His people,
I he land will blossom into supernatural
fertility, the plowman overtaking the
reaper, the treader of grapes him that
seed. the mountains dropping
new wine and the hills melting" (Amos
D: l3).-Prof. Skinner. Compare Psa.
la.
~. II Causes the Desert to blossom
rs the Rose.-Vs. s-l2. V. s. "And go
lown into the DESERT" The Arabah.
The valley OF the Jordan and the Dead
sea extending south to the Red sea.
The country between Jerusalem and
he Dead sea is the most desolate and
nhospitable tract In the whole coun-
.ry. go into the sea-" The Dead
sea, the waters OF which are so i'm
Dregnated with various salts that no
ish or animal can live in them. THE |
waters shall be healed" Restored to |
heir proper condition. made healthful. |
Y. 0. Everything that liyeth:" All
orms of animal life. "Whithersoever |
he rivers shall come, shall lives" The |
liver OF life shall bring life in abun-
lance wherever II flows. V. 10. THE |
ishers shall stand upon it from En-
,edi:" Fountain OF the Kid" situ-
tied about the middle Of the west shore |
Il the Dead sea. Even unto En-
glaim:" Fountain OF the two calves"
rot identified, but probably near the
mouth OF the Jordan. The meaning il
hat there shall he fishing all around
he lake, because the fish are so abun-
ant, "ns the fish OF the great sea-"
he Mediterranean. VII. "But the miry |
'laces:" The marshes around the sea
hall not be sweetened, but left as beds
or digging salt. Probably the excep-
ion, which reserves for sterility places
o which the living water does not
each, indicates that the life and health
re solely due TO the stream which
roceeds from beneath the throne Of
iod. Compare lisa. $500, 2l.)-Iiible
ON. V. ~. This verse enlarges on the
marvellous fertility and richness OF the
desert, which shall re joice
nd blossom as the rose. II shall bios
ON nbundantly. and rejoice even with
~ and singing: the glory Of Lebanon
hall he given unto II, the excellency
( Carmel and Sharon; they shall see
he glory Of the Lord, and the excel
'ncy of our God" lisa. 1851, p. This
ision of the transformed desert and
cad sea pictured the change which
cd would work for the land then des-
lated as the wilderness OF Judea, and
,r the circumstances and hopes Of the
ews, whose only symbol was the des.
II. The desert should become a lux
RANT garden. The land, barren Of life
the Dead sea. should he filled with
ne living. II they would only believe
od aud become His obedient children,
lis ideal should become the real 10
rem.
PRACTICAL
The desert IL the emble,n of the nm.