Chapter 781 of 1163

EZEKIEL 19

Jeremiah was not the only prophet to write funeral dirges. Ezekiel wrote this one five years before Jerusalem fell. He used two familiar images of the nation in speaking about the fate of their kings.

The lioness (1–9). The lion is the royal animal, and Ezekiel was speaking about the rulers of the land: Jehoahaz (vv. 2–4; Jer. 22:11–12), who died in Egypt; and the present king, Zedekiah (vv. 5–9), who was blinded and taken to Babylon (Jer. 39). None of Judah’s “cubs” succeeded in saving the land because they resisted the Word of God.

The vine (10–14). We have met this image of Israel several times already. The prophet had spoken about Zedekiah, but now he speaks to Zedekiah and tells him that the beautiful, luxuriant vine would be withered by the east wind (v. 12; 17:10), plucked up, and planted in Babylon. That would be the end of David’s line; there would be no strong branch out of which to make a scepter—until the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:30–33)! Judah will supply the scepter (Gen. 49:8–10).

When it looks like man has done his worst and everything is at an end, remember that God always has the last word—and His “Last Word” is His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1–2).

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