Faithful in Exile (4): Wading In
Note: We had some technical difficulties with the tripod, so there will be more shakiness than typical.
2014/07/27
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Prayer,
Psalm 46
Psalm 46
Children,
Luke 5.1-11
Luke 5.1-11
Message,
Ezekiel 47.1-12
Ezekiel 47.1-12
Around
15 years ago, a prayer day story: Water rising in the Susquehanna
15 years ago, a prayer day story: Water rising in the Susquehanna
Power, danger:
“It was a river that I could not
cross” (47.5)
cross” (47.5)
And,
it all starts with a small trickle
it all starts with a small trickle
(47.2, otherwise translated “flowing” or
“coming out”)
“coming out”)
Threshold, facing east, southern side of
threshold
threshold
South of altar and out the east gate
Permanently sealed because it is the
LORD’s entrance, 44.1
LORD’s entrance, 44.1
Water flows out the southern edge of
the gate
the gate
Small
trickle, Hebrew mepakkim
trickle, Hebrew mepakkim
Hebrew’s version of “glug” – from pak, for bottle
River
vision in Biblical story (sources for Ezek, Ezek as source for)
vision in Biblical story (sources for Ezek, Ezek as source for)
Eden – 4 rivers that water the earth, Gn 2
Zion as the mountain of God, e.g., Psalm
46.4, “river whose streams make glad the city of God”, God ruling over the
world
46.4, “river whose streams make glad the city of God”, God ruling over the
world
Revelation, including multiple trees of
life, with a different fruit each month, and leaves that offer healing to the
nations (Rev 22.1-2)
life, with a different fruit each month, and leaves that offer healing to the
nations (Rev 22.1-2)
And,
it all starts with a small trickle
it all starts with a small trickle
“The
sea of stagnant waters” (47.8, Dead Sea), made fresh!
sea of stagnant waters” (47.8, Dead Sea), made fresh!
Swimming in the Dead Sea (about Jan 1995?)
Renewal of the creation – what is dead
becomes fresh and alive
becomes fresh and alive
Pollution – invisible buried trash,
invisible in the air, invisible chem
invisible in the air, invisible chem
Litter – defiling what is otherwise
pristine wilderness
pristine wilderness
Climate change – we could be past
the point of no return
the point of no return
Renewal of the world’s peoples – healing
leaves
leaves
Israel
& Palestine; Afghanistan; Iraq; the Ukraine – no possibility of peace?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” – really?
& Palestine; Afghanistan; Iraq; the Ukraine – no possibility of peace?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” – really?
Central
American children coming to the US for asylum with stories of sexual abuse and
the murder of loved ones – and we are both unprepared and, in many areas, unwelcoming
to God’s “little ones”
American children coming to the US for asylum with stories of sexual abuse and
the murder of loved ones – and we are both unprepared and, in many areas, unwelcoming
to God’s “little ones”
Renewal of our souls – healing (biblical)
goes beyond body only
goes beyond body only
John 7.38 – out of the believer’s heart
shall flow rivers of living water (we are the temple!)
shall flow rivers of living water (we are the temple!)
Heal me, hands of Jesus,
And search out all my pain
Restore my hope, remove my fear
And bring me peace again
“Heal
Me, Hands of Jesus,” Michael Perry, UMH
#262 (cited in K. P. Darr, 1607)
Me, Hands of Jesus,” Michael Perry, UMH
#262 (cited in K. P. Darr, 1607)
Context
for this vision:
for this vision:
The arrival of the glory of God – the same
vision of wheels & creatures
vision of wheels & creatures
A vision of renewed temple worship –
Worship transforms!
Worship transforms!
It
all starts with a small trickle
all starts with a small trickle
Luke
5.4 – “launch out into the deep”
5.4 – “launch out into the deep”
Resources:
Katheryn Pfisterer
Darr, 2001, Ezekiel, in The New
Interpreter’s Bible, Vol VI, Abingdon Press: Nashville.