Interpretive Filter for the Book of Ezekiel
- Richard Lawrence
- Sep 15, 2025
- 26 min read
Updated: Dec 25, 2025
I was recently part of a men’s Bible study on the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel. The book of Ezekiel is built around visions that God gives to Ezekiel that are filled with both judgment and hope. The prophet confronts Israel with her rebellion against Yahweh and its devastating consequences: the departure of Yahweh from the temple along with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. For those who were exiled to Babylon, there was a deep fear that He had abandoned His people forever.
The Book of Ezekiel is characterized by its apocalyptic visions, symbolic actions, and messages of judgment and restoration. Ezekiel's role as a prophet was to convey God's messages to Israel, emphasizing themes of divine sovereignty, holiness, and the need for repentance. Through the visions God gives Ezekiel insight into His goal for the nation of Israel. These visions provide a profound promise of hope for people who feel all but abandoned.
Perhaps the most important question to ask in such a book is “What filter or lens one should use to interpret Ezekiel’s visions and actions in this book?” Did Jesus or his apostles provide any insight on interpretation? Were these things to be taken literally, viewed as symbolic or some other approach? Two encounters Jesus had during his ministry show us how he viewed and used the Old Testament scriptures.
The first is found in John 5 after Jesus heals the paralytic man. The Jewish leaders question Jesus’ authority for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responds to them “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;” (John 5:39). By referring to the “Scriptures” Jesus seems to be pointing to all of the Old Testament.
Then after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection we read in Luke 24 about two disillusioned disciples traveling from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. Luke records the story for us:
13 And behold, on that very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they came to a stop, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You possibly the only one living near Jerusalem who does not know about the things that happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What sort of things?” And they said to Him, “Those about Jesus the Nazarene, who proved to be a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 But also some women among us left us bewildered. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 And so some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And then He said to them, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.
Read that last phrase again, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.” It’s almost like Jesus is dumbfounded that these men could not perceive the person of messiah as He appears throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Their entire focus had been on their hope that “… it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” But Jesus is telling them that God’s narrative is much larger that just Israel. He is telling them that Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and more, they should have understood that all of them point directly to Him and His ministry.
We are told that these two disciples reported back to the others about their encounter with Jesus (Luke 24:33-36). But in spite of what Jesus told them about how to interpret the Hebrew scriptures the gathered disciples in Acts chapter one had only one question for Jesus before He departed, “Lord is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel.” (Acts 1:6).
Based on Jesus’ comment to these disciples perhaps we should be using Him as the primary interpretive lens through which to view and interpret all of the Old Testament. It often seems that Christians focus on temples, sacrifices and prophetic history in trying to interpret and apply these ancient Hebrew texts. They believed that the Hebrew scriptures were about God’s purpose for the nation of Israel. We approach these books with a presupposition that they were intended to show us future things, events and places. But what if they were intended to point us to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In keeping with this thought two passages in the New Testament that show us that the apostles themselves held this view as well. First, in Colossians 2:16-17 the Paul says that “… no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day — things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Paul seems to be saying that when reading Old Testament genres such as Torah, history, wisdom literature and prophesy we should always be aware that these books contain shadows pointing forward to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The second passage is found in Hebrews 10:1 where we read “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect.”
In light of these two passages, I found myself thinking “if the primary focus of Scripture is Jesus, maybe the visions in Ezekiel are not describing a collection of future “world events” (shadow) but a future “person” (reality). As I continued to research, I came across an actual name for this perspective: Christological Exegesis. Kyle R. Hughes explains that:
This method of interpreting Scripture is called christological exegesis, and it was a common form of interpretation in the early church. According to this view, all of the Old Testament points to and foreshadows Jesus of Nazareth. Irenaeus of Lyons, a second century bishop and apologist, summarizes this hermeneutic well: “If any one, therefore, reads the Scriptures with attention, he will find in them an account of Christ, and a foreshadowing of the new calling. For Christ is the treasure which was hid in the field, that is, in this world (for “the field is this world”); but the treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ, since He was pointed out by means of types and parables” (Adv. Haer. 4.26.1). The OT, therefore, is only read correctly when it points to Christ – and not just OT prophecies of Messiah, but all of the Old Testament.[1]
With all of this in mind I decided to do an analysis of Ezekiel from this Christological Exegesis perspective. I am not “looking for Jesus under every rock” in Ezekiel but considering how these prophetic words might speak first and foremost of the person and work of Jesus and only secondarily of Israels future history.
Vision of the Cherubim and Throne (Ezekiel 1:4-28)
Shadow
In his first vision Ezekiel is allowed into God’s very throne room where he encounters angels known as cherubim. Above their heads is a glassy expanse, a firmament gleaming like ice (Ezek. 1:22), and above the expanse, Ezekiel sees a lapis lazuli throne, occupied by a figure like a man made of fire and metal (Ezek. 1:26–27).
The cherubim and wheels and the expanse are only mechanisms to move the enthroned one from place to place. At the center of the vision is Yahweh himself, appearing as a glorified man.
“Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.
Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him.
As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.” (Ezekiel 1:26-28).
Substance: Jesus Claimed He was the God-Man
Throughout the New Testament Jesus referred to himself as the “Son of Man” as he identified himself with all of humankind thus speaking to His true humanity. Jesus was referred to as:
Mark 8:38 - For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Luke 18:8 - I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
John 5:27 - and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.Acts 7:56 - and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Revelation 1:13 - and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash.
Jesus also referred to Himself by designations that belong only to the LORD God
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 5:18 - For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill
Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
John 10:30-33 – “I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus replied to them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
Philippians 2:5-6 - Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Colossians 2:9 - For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
In this first vision Ezekiel sees the cherubim transporting the one on the throne “… a figure with the appearance of a man.” (Ezekiel 1:26). This seems to point to Jesus as the God-man.
Vision of the Scroll (Ezekiel 2:9―3:3)
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Ezekiel is called to be a prophet to a rebellious people. He is commissioned by God to speak words of judgment and warning, regardless of whether the people listen. given the symbolic act of eating a scroll, representing his full acceptance of God’s message.
Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and behold, a scroll was in it. When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were songs of mourning, sighing, and woe.
Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
Substance: Jesus is the One who hears and acts on God’s message and will:
John 4:34 – “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’”
John 5:30 - “I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.”
John 6:38 – "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
John 14:31 – “But so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.”
John 17:4 – “I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do.”
Failure of Israel’s Shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-31)
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In this passage Yahweh accuses Israel’s spiritual leaders of failing to fulfill their responsibility of caring for the nation and commits to being their shepherd and providing for their needs.
… 1Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel…. My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them.”’”
… 11 For the Lord God says this: “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd cares for his flock on a day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land
… 15 I Myself will feed My flock and I Myself will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; …
… 23 “Then I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken …
… 30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,” declares the Lord God. 31 “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are mankind, and I am your God,” declares the Lord God.
Substance: Jesus as Israel’s true shepherd
During His ministry Jesus assumed the mantle of the Good Shepherd of Ezkiel in John 10:11 and following:
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”
Vision of Dry Bones, Two Sticks and a New King (Ezekiel 37)
Shadow
Ezekiel receives several visions in this one chapter that seem to be linked together
Yahweh shows Ezekiel a valley of dry bones and commands him to prophesy to them. God adds flesh to the bones and calling upon the four winds to “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
God also binds the two sticks representing Israel and Judah into one single people
And that the united tribes that will be reunited under one king.
Substance: Israel’s Restoration Found in Jesus
I think we see a similar connection of events that speak to Israel’s restoration in the New Testament
Part of the restoration Israel is accomplished in Acts 2 at “Pentecost” when the “rushing wind” of the Holy Spirit fills each believer present. Note the language in this word of prophesy from Ezekiel.
The unification of the two sticks of Israel and Judah can certainly be seen in the teaching of Paul that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gala. 3:28)
And now all peoples are united under King Jesus as part of the people of God now viewed as the Body of Christ “…to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6).
The Vision of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39)
Shadow
In Ezekiel chapters 38–39, speak of a hostile force rising against God’s people. Gog is depicted as a ruler from “the land of Magog” and “the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal” (Ezekiel 38:2–3). These names likely symbolize nations and peoples opposed to God’s kingdom. The narrative unfolds with Gog leading a vast coalition against Israel in an attempt to conquer and plunder (Ezekiel 38:10–12).
While Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38–39 may have been rooted in historical realities familiar to Ezekiel’s original audience, the prophecy primarily employs these names symbolically to convey theological truths about the ultimate defeat of God’s enemies.
Substance: Jesus and His Victory Over the Devil
The opposition of Israels Enemy, Gog from Magog, continues unabated in the ministry of Jesus. The gospel narratives tell a compelling story of Jesus encountering the Devil (Gog?) and defeating him.
Matthew 12:28-29 - But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
Luke 10:17-18 - Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” And He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
John 12:31 - Jesus responded and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
The early apostles understood the effect the cross and the death of Jesus had upon the Devil and his power: it has ended.
Colossians 2:13-15 – “And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Hebrews 2:14 - Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.
As much as we love to paint a picture of a coming battle between Israel and the forces of evil, perhaps it is simply a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own battle against Satan. A story of Jesus defeating Satan through his life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father. Satan has been defeated but not destroyed. That will come about in Revelation 20 and the final judgement.
Detailed Measurements of the Temple (Ezekiel 40 – 42)
Shadow
These chapter provide us with meticulous measurements of the temple and all of its porches, chambers and gates placing emphasis on God's sense of detail, precision and order. The temple represents God's presence, holiness, and the restoration of His relationship with His people. This temple was never built. Many believe it will be built and in operation in a future time as part of Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom.
Substance: New Testament Passages Equating Jesus to the Temple
However, the New Testament presents Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of all of God’s promises. In John 2:18-21 we read that “The Jews then said to Him (Jesus), “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”
In Matthew 12:3-6 Jesus reminds the religious leaders of what King David did in his own day … “how when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? “Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? “But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.”
Rev. 21:10, 22 - And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
A corollary truth is found in the passages that call God’s people today the temple of God.
1 Corin. 6:19 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
I Corin. 3:16-17 - “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? … the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
2 Corin.6:16 For we are the temple of the living God;
Ephe. 2:21 - in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
I am of the persuasion that any prophetic allusion to a future temple is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
God’s Glory Returns to the Temple (Ezekiel 43:1-5)
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The glory of the Lord descends upon the newly built temple, filling it with his presence. This signifies the fulfillment of God’s promise to dwell among his people and the restoration of their relationship.
“1Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east; 2 and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone from His glory. 3 And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the Lord entered the house by way of the gate facing east. 5 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner courtyard; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.”
Substance: Jesus is the Full Expression of God’s Glory
John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Luke 9:32 - Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake they saw His glory, and the two men who were standing with Him.”
John17: 22, 24 – “The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
II Corin. 4:4 – “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Heb. 1:3 – “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Offerings, Festivals and “the Prince” (Ezekiel 44 – 46)
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These three chapters introduce us to some specific rules concerning priests, sacrifices and a mysterious individual only referred to as “the Prince”. After reading dozens of Bible teachers and commentators there seems to be a consensus that this future “Prince” is not Jesus, but probably a spiritual leader in the coming millennial kingdom serving under the Lord Jesus Christ. For this section allow me to put a typical commentators remarks next to how Jesus might fulfill these roles [2]
Shadow: The Prince in Ezekiel | Substance: Jesus is Our High Priest and Sacrifice |
He is set apart from the rest of the people (Ezekiel 44:3). | For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26) |
He sits and eats bread before the Lord in the temple’s east gateway (Ezekiel 44:3). | The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. (John 14:10-11) |
He alone can use the east gateway to enter and exit the temple courtyard (Ezekiel 44:1-3). | He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. (Hebrews 9:11-12) |
He offers sacrifices and worship to the Lord on Sabbaths and feast days (Ezekiel 45:16-17). | But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. (Hebrews 10:12) |
He provides the sacrificial animals for the people’s offerings (Ezekiel 45:16-17). | That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. (Hebrews 9:23) |
He receives possession of lands around the temple and city (Ezekiel 45:7-8). | … to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (I Peter 1:4) |
He must provide offerings for himself since he is a sinful human (Ezekiel 45:22). | He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corin. 5:21) |
He cannot take any of the people’s property by force (Ezekiel 46:18). | N/A |
His sons can inherit his property (Ezekiel 46:16-18). | … knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colo. 3:24) |
I would like to add to this list the fact that the Apostle Peter in the book of Acts seems to have thought that Jesus fulfilled this word of prophesy when he made the following remarks:
But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. Acts 3:14-15
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:30-31)
The Vision of the Flowing River (Ezekiel 47:1-12)
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Ezekiel witnesses a vision of a river flowing from the temple, bringing life and fertility to the land. This symbolizes the abundance of blessings that will flow from God’s presence and the revitalization of the nation. In Ezekiel 47:1-12 we read that …
“Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east … And it will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes… And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
Substance: Jesus is the “living water”
While speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter four Jesus makes it clear that He is both the “living water” and also the true source of worship that both Jews and Israel were searching for.
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
In Revelation 22:1-2 we see this picture of flowing water again in God’s city “… he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
The Distribution of Land and God’s Presence (Ezekiel 39:13 – 40:35)
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In the final chapter, the land is divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, outlining the territories assigned to each. This chapter signifies the fulfillment of God’s original promise to give the land to his people as an inheritance.
Thus says the Lord God, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions. You shall divide it for an inheritance, each one equally with the other; for I swore to give it to your forefathers, and this land shall fall to you as an inheritance. (Ezekiel 39:13-14)
We read in Genesis 12:7 we that “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.”” And the promise is repeated again in Genesis 15:18 as Yahweh makes a covenant agreement with Abraham in response to his obedience by promising “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:”
Later in the book of Deuteronomy, after Israel had been rescued from their slavery in Egypt and had entered into the Promised Land Joshua records that “the Lord gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” (Deut. 31:44-45).
So, what was the significance of the Old Covenant land promises? Obviously, they pointed to the faithfulness of God in caring for and protecting the nation but as I read other passages related to these promises I noted over and over the phrase of “rest” for Israel from her enemies:
Deut. 3:18-20 - The Lord your God has given you this land to possess it; … until the Lord gives rest to your fellow countrymen as to you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God will give them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return every man to his possession which I have given you.’
Deut. 12:10 - When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security
Deut. 25:19 - Therefore it shall come about when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies
Joshua 1:13 - “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’
Joshua 11:23 - … Thus the land had rest from war.
Joshua 21:44 - And the Lord gave them rest on every side,
I Kings 8:56 - Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.
But the one that struck me the most was Lamentations 1:3 where the prophet Jeremiah grieves that
Judah has gone into exile under affliction
And under harsh servitude;
She dwells among the nations,
But she has found no rest;
All her pursuers have overtaken herIn the midst of distress.
We end the book of Ezekiel with Yahweh reminding Israel that they will eventually come to the place of “rest” they so desperately desired.
Substance: Jesus as the Fulfillment of God’s Land Promise
Let’s return to our original point from Luke 24 and the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus did not say beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Israels future history. He said “… beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.” This differentiation is important. I am not saying that Israel will not have a designated land to occupy in the future, but I am saying that this was not the point. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes;” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
If Jesus is the lens through which we interpret Torah and the Prophets what exactly is the “rest” that Isreal would find in their coming Messiah? Perhaps we find it in Jesus’ words to his followers to “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28). Is it possible that the land promises in the Old Covenant find their fulfillment or completion in in person of Jesus Christ? That seems to be the case in Hebrews 3 where we read:
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today if you hear His voice,8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me,As in the day of trial in the wilderness,9 Where your fathers tried Me by testing Me,And saw My works for forty years.10 “Therefore I was angry with this generation,And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,And they did not know My ways’;11 As I swore in My wrath,‘They shall not enter My rest.’”
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15 while it is said,
“Today if you hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”
16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
In the next chapter the writer of Hebrews reminds his readers that “…if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” (Hebrews 4:9-10).
Throughout His ministry Jesus seems to have reinterpreted so many of the notions that the Jewish people and leaders had of what the Kingdom of God would be like. Could it be that the “rest” they sought all those years in the past was not so much a place (land) as an experience of the “rest” that only God can provide. It is a place of confidence and assurance that God is faithful. God’s goal was for them as a nation was for them to come to this place of simply trusting (resting) in Him.
I think that Hebrews 11 confirms this perspective for as we read about the great leaders of the faith such as Abraham and others we do not find a reminder of how the “land” is to be divided up among the tribes but instead we find phrases such as
… he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (11:10)
… they are seeking a country of their own. (11:14)
… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. (11:16)
The point is not receiving some particular allotment of land, but “…all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” (11:39-40)
The entire book of Ezekiel closes with the phrase “… the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The Lord is there.’”
John declares that in Jesus “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us;” (John 1:14).
Then in John chapter 14:9-10 Jesus spoke with his disciple Philip and said “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?”
In Revelation we read of God’s new kingdom on earth where He will reside with His people and that “I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,’”
Conclusion
I believe the biggest take away from this study is that when reading the Old Testament I don’t put the greatest emphasis on the future of the nation of Israel but on understanding how these ancient texts point to their greatest fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Jesus Himself is the God/Man on the throne (1:4-23), the one who eats the scroll of God’s will (2:9-3:3) the Good Shepherd (34:1-31), the restoration of the dry bones (37), the one who defeats Gog of Magog (38-39), the very “temple of God (40-42), the glory of God (43:1-5), the offering for sin (44-46), the river of flowing water that gives life (47:1-12), the “rest” Israel longs for (48), and that He is “the Lord is there.” (48:35)
This interpretive filter has provided me with a new set of eyes to use as I read and study the Old Testament.
[1] Web: Kyle R. Hughes, In Layman’s Terms: Christological Exegesis | Kyle R. Hughes.
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