Ezekiel continues with a parable to express the wickedness of Judah and the inevitable destruction that approaches. Afterwards God promises to set things right himself. The parable concerns two eagles and a cedar in Lebanon.
Ezekiel is given another vision from the LORD. It is a riddle and a parable.
Anon, 2009. 1000 Bible Images, Stuttgart, Germany: German Bible Society.
17 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. (Eze 17.1-6)
The picture language represents the nations of Babylon and Judah. Judah is pictured as a cedar tree, and the King of Babylon as an eagle which has already punished and partly stripped the cedar (‘break off young twigs and carry to a land of trade’), yet now protects and would preserve it (‘planted it in fertile soil beside abundant waters’).
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?” (Eze 17.7-10)
But Judah turns instead to another eagle, Egypt. Between the two eagles Judah will not thrive.
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? (Eze 17.11-15)
Judah broke the covenant with the LORD. Now they have broken the covenant with Babylon by turning to Egypt. This does not look to end well for Judah. Or will it?
“The fable returns to give a positive close to the chapter (17:22–24), more unequivocally positive than ones Ezekiel usually allows himself (contrast ch. 16). The Judean monarchy will be flourishingly reestablished (cf. 34:23–24; 37:24–25), where it belongs, on the mountain height of Jerusalem, which is still to fulfill its destiny as the focus and source of security for the whole world (cf. Psalm 48; Isa 2:2–3). There this monarchy will take over the worldwide significance which is also its destiny but has been lent temporarily to Nebuchadrezzar. This goes far beyond the freedom Zedekiah sought; it will not come about because such a man is seeking to find his own freedom (Zimmerli). Yahweh in person will bring it about.” (Goldingay, J.A., 2003. Ezekiel. In J. D. G. Dunn & J. W. Rogerson, eds. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, pp. 637–638.)
Ezekiel’s prophecy will be fulfilled when God comes in person to set things right. He does in the gospel.
11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. (Lk 7:11–17)
God has visited his people in the person of Jesus. Judah was surely punished for breaking covenant after covenant. But despite their unfaithfulness, God is always faithful to his promises. He is faithful to you.
Ezekiel continues with a parable to express the wickedness of Judah and the inevitable destruction that approaches. Afterwards God promises to set things right himself. The parable concerns two eagles and a cedar in Lebanon.
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.
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?
