Wed, 14 September, 2005: Today’s Bible readings.
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.”
In this chapter, Ezekiel has this elaborate prophecy of trees, vines and eagles. Knowing the history of what happened in the Babylonian exile, the message is pretty clear. The great eagle is Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. When the eagle takes the top of the cedar tree from Lebanon, it refers to Nebuchadnezzar taking King Jehoiachin into captivity.
The seed that the eagle plants that then grows into a small vine is Zedekiah, who was appointed king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. When the vine turns to a different eagle, this alludes to Zedekiah’s turning to Egypt to rebell against Babylon, which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and Zedekiah’s blinding and imprisonment.
What do we learn from this?
God is in control of all history. Whether it is the big things of life, like the falling and rising of nations in our chapter today, or the small things of life, like the dying of a bird, God is in control.
There is much comfort for us in knowing that our Heavenly Father is in control of all things. So even if things do not go well for us, we know that God has allowed it to happen for a reason, and that He will work in the terrible circumstances to bring about His glory and our ultimate good.
Where is Christ in this passage?
The chapter ends with God promising to set up his own apointed twig that will grow into a mighty tree. The birds will come to this tree for shelter and rest.
This tree is the promised Messiah. It is God again renewing the promise He made to David to bring a king to sit on the throne forever. The kings of Judah had failed, and were being carried into captivity for their disobedience, but God promises He will establish His King.
Jesus Christ is this King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the one to whom we flee for refuge and rest. He is sprig that has been made into the high tree.
