Day 495: Ezekiel 17- History And Hope

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel; 3 say, Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.4 He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants.5 Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters. He set it like a willow twig, 6 and it sprouted and became a low spreading vine, and its branches turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out boughs.
7 “And there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage, and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and shot forth its branches toward him from the bed where it was planted, that he might water it. 8 It had been planted on good soil by abundant waters, that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine.
9 “Say, Thus says the Lord God: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots.10 Behold, it is planted; will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it—wither away on the bed where it sprouted?”
11 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Say now to the rebellious house, Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon. 13 And he took one of the royal offspring and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath (the chief men of the land he had taken away), 14 that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand. 15 But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?
16 “As I live, declares the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke, in Babylon he shall die. 17 Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives. 18 He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head. 20 I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there for the treachery he has committed against me.21 And all the pick of his troops shall fall by the sword, and the survivors shall be scattered to every wind, and you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken.”
22 Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”
 
Meditation
Jesus is King. The kingdom of God begins small and will grow to bless all peoples and nations. Jesus says the Kingdom of God begins like a mustard seed and grows to provide rest for the birds of the air (Mark 4:30-32). Ezekiel’s allegory promises the same for every kind of bird.  These truths build on one another: God is king and He will restore His people to bless all nations. We can hope in Him!

God provides salvation to all who believe, bringing hope for every nation. God Himself is our hope, the only source of restoration and fruitfulness (22-24). Kings and countries of the earth (eagles in the allegory) are nothing compared to the Lord!

Empires rise and fall but the Kingdom of God is eternal, a promise of salvation from the devastation for all who believe. Birds and trees represent every kind of person in the world- anyone and everyone is invited to hope in God for salvation, restoration and blessing.

The history behind the allegory is captured in 2 Kings 25 and is a springboard for hope in a God who saves. The gospel of Jesus Christ historically transplants us into the kingdom of God’s beloved son, through whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:12-14). Do you have the hope of God in your heart?

King Jesus rules and His Kingdom never ends. Jesus wants to provide shade and rest for you as He does the birds of the air. Will you trust His rule and reign?

Richly Dwelling
-Hope is rooted in history because God historically established hope through the true King, Jesus Christ, and His finished work. Do you rejoice under the rule and reign of King Jesus?

-Our hearts find refuge and refreshment in kingdoms of the world, fake empires whose promises are empty. What do you need to turn FROM to return TO the rule of King Jesus? Grace is the ground from which you walk- trust His love and return.

-Every kind of bird and tree, people from all nations and tribes, will find refuge in the rule of God. This is an exciting mission to be a part of! What is your highest and best role to participate in King Jesus’ mission to bless the nations?

Key Verse
23 On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.