It makes salt water fresh. This river of fresh water. And it comes from Jerusalem, the city that oddly is not based on a water source. I’m thinking this river is probably figurative, although some would say it’s a reality for the millennium. So what does this mean?
Clearly there is life and abundance associated with a river. Even here it says the waters will team with fish and the banks will have abundant trees. And oddly enough when this river flows to the Dead Sea that is so salty you can float in it, it will be the Sea that is made fresh and not the typical vice versa.
This river here in Ezekiel then is not just for Israel but perhaps also for the Gentiles. I’m wondering if that’s what is indicative here based on the emphasis of the foreigner who had children here and was circucmised (as we see elsewhere in Scripture) would be treated like native-born Israelites. So much so they would receive an inheritance of land as if they were of Israel.
I can’t say for certain, but what I see in this is that the water and life that flow out of the city of God will go throughout the land, bringing life where there has only been death. In Him there will be abundance, fruitfulness and flourishing. And that which is dead will be made alive. The stone heart made flesh. The old man made new. The dead brought to life.
The parallel is Rev 22:1-3 where again we see a river in the city of God, heaven.
22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
