Ezekiel is now to tell them a story in the form of a parable, a form often adopted by Jesus. The allegory will describe what King Zedekiah did. v3,4 describe Nebuchadnezzar coming to take away the elite of Jerusalem into exile.
The seedling was Zedekiah. He was a spreading vine rather than a tall cedar, ie he did not have the stature of a real king. Though his roots were in Jerusalem, he owed his allegiance to Babylon. He was dependent upon Babylon. However, a second eagle, representing Egypt, became powerful, and Zedekiah sought to make an alliance with Egypt, seeking military assistance. This was an act of rebellion against Babylon.
Zedekiah thought he was making himself stronger, but this plan would nit work. He would be easily uprooted, as indeed happened when Babylon invaded.
From verse 11 onwards the meaning of the parable is made clear. A key point is that Zedekiah had made an oath to Babylon. The breaking of this treaty is the main charge against Zedekiah in this section. Pharaoh would prove to be of no help at all. Zedeikiah would fall as a result of the Lord's judgement,
The chapter finishes with the promise of restoration. The Lord Himself would set up His king in Jerusalem. v 22-24 reminds one of Jesus's parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32).
One of the key lessons of this is that the keeping of promises is important. Zedekiah should never have made a treaty with Babylon in the first place, but having done so God expected him to honour it. The heart of the decisions we make is important. Zedekiah's trying to get out of it by further scheming would prove futile. Only a change of heart would rescue him.
The seedling was Zedekiah. He was a spreading vine rather than a tall cedar, ie he did not have the stature of a real king. Though his roots were in Jerusalem, he owed his allegiance to Babylon. He was dependent upon Babylon. However, a second eagle, representing Egypt, became powerful, and Zedekiah sought to make an alliance with Egypt, seeking military assistance. This was an act of rebellion against Babylon.
Zedekiah thought he was making himself stronger, but this plan would nit work. He would be easily uprooted, as indeed happened when Babylon invaded.
From verse 11 onwards the meaning of the parable is made clear. A key point is that Zedekiah had made an oath to Babylon. The breaking of this treaty is the main charge against Zedekiah in this section. Pharaoh would prove to be of no help at all. Zedeikiah would fall as a result of the Lord's judgement,
The chapter finishes with the promise of restoration. The Lord Himself would set up His king in Jerusalem. v 22-24 reminds one of Jesus's parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32).
One of the key lessons of this is that the keeping of promises is important. Zedekiah should never have made a treaty with Babylon in the first place, but having done so God expected him to honour it. The heart of the decisions we make is important. Zedekiah's trying to get out of it by further scheming would prove futile. Only a change of heart would rescue him.
No comments:
Post a Comment