Scriptures:
Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 14:1-9
Reflection:
The Dead Sea lies to the southern end of the Jordan valley, which forms the boundary between Israel and the kingdom of Jordan. The area to the east of the lake, now part of Jordan, is the biblical land of Moab.
The Dead Sea is probably most famous for being the lowest point on earth - 430.5 metres (1,412 ft) below sea level.
The name comes from the fact that it is a salt lake, nearly 10 times more salty than the ocean. The sea bed is solid salt crystals which are painful to step on. This makes it a very harsh environment in which plants and animals cannot survive, and swimming is more like floating.
However, the Dead Sea forms a vital part of the economies of both countries. The salt and minerals are harvested from the water, used in the spas and hotels on its shores, and made into cosmetics which are sold across the world. This commerce, along with reduced rainfall and increased demand for water drawn from the river Jordan higher up the Jordan valley, means that the Dead Sea is receding at an alarming rate. Some of those hotels which were on the shores of the lake, are now a short walk from the water.
Ezekiel’s prophetic vision in chapter 47 speaks of a day when the Dead Sea will be filled with fresh, flowing water. Zechariah 12:8 calls it ‘living water’. Then plants and animals will flourish, and there will be an abundance of produce in the land, with trees bearing fruit every month (Ezek. 47:10-12). The water will flow in summer and winter (Zech.14:8).
Isn’t this what we might metaphorically call perpetual summer? But how can this be?
According to Zechariah, the source of this water will be Jerusalem, with Ezekiel being more precise in stating the Temple. It is said that if water were to flow now from that point where Solomon’s Temple stood on the Temple Mount, it would flow west, due to the lie of the land.
So, are we just to take Ezekiel’s vision as just that, and nothing more? That would be to ignore Zechariah’s prophecy. Writing of the return of the Lord – the Messiah – he says, 'On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south' (Zech. 14:4).
These are undoubtedly difficult scriptures to interpret. How much we should take literally and how much is figurative is hard to discern. I cannot go into that here. But this verse suggests that Ezekiel’s prophecy of water flowing east to the Dead Sea is not as far-fetched as it might at first appear. With such a major geographical event taking place – an earthquake creating a new valley - there opens up the possibility of this prophecy being fulfilled literally at the return of the Messiah.
What can we take from this:?
The Bible cannot be dismissed as mere fantasy.
We can be sure that God’s will (his purposes and plans) will be fulfilled, even in the face of the seemingly impossible.
In light of this, we can trust God for the future. He is coming back.
Then it will be perpetual summer!
Prayer:
Lord, keep me trusting in your Word,
Keep me trusting in your promises.
Keep me watching and waiting for your return,
When all your plans will be fulfilled.
Then it will be summer. AMEN
Songs:
Two songs which mention summer:
As water to the thirsty – an instrumental version of the hymn written by Timothy
Dudley-Smith
All things bright and beautiful – arrangement by John Rutter
Food for Thought:
Are there parts of the Bible which you find difficult to understand? Ask God the Holy
Spirit to open your eyes of understanding as you read.