Israel Degraded
February 28, 2019
Commentary
Ezekiel explains in prophetic form the last declining years of Judah. He uses an illustration of a lioness and her cubs to illustrate his message (vv. 1-9). With this picture of the lioness and her cubs he raised the curiosity of his listeners. It is suggested that the lioness symbolized the nation of Judah and the two cubs were two of its kings. First, she is likened unto a lioness that trains her young lions in the art of savagery. The two young treacherous lions are thought to be Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin. Just as they were treacherous and cruel, so were they subdued. Pharaoh Necho captured Jehoahaz and led him to Egypt, as an animal in 609 BC (II Kings 23:33), where he died.
Second, Judah is likened to a very fruitful vine (vv. 10-14). Its strong branches are its kings. It rose to great glory, particularly in the reigns of David and Solomon. The lioness has been believed by some to be the wife of Josiah, the father of Jehoahaz. But the lioness is related both to Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin. It appears that she is meant to refer to Judah. Jehoiachin was taken captive to Babylon, along with ten thousand of the leading citizens, where he was imprisoned for thirty-seven years (II Kings 24:14). Not even the political and military might of Judah’s kings could save that nation. Like branches of a vine, they would be cut off and uprooted by “the east wind,” the powerful Babylonian army. From that time until the present there has not been a rod or branch ruling in Israel, but we know that in due time there will be a Branch to rule over Israel.
Application
Like the illustration above states, I must exercise childlike faith when it comes to reconciling the doctrines of election and free will and am confident that in eternity He will reveal the truth of both.
Ezekiel 19:1– 14 (NET)
1 “And you, sing a lament for the princes of Israel, 2 and say: “‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay among young lions; she reared her cubs.
3 She reared one of her cubs; he became a young lion. He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.
4 The nations heard about him; he was trapped in their pit. They brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5 “‘When she realized that she waited in vain, her hope was lost. She took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.
6 He walked about among the lions; he became a young lion. He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.
7 He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it was frightened at the sound of his roaring.
8 The nations—the surrounding regions—attacked him. They threw their net over him; he was caught in their pit.
9 They put him in a collar with hooks; they brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him to prison so that his voice would not be heard any longer on the mountains of Israel.
10 “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by water. It was fruitful and full of branches because it was well-watered.
11 Its boughs were strong, fit for rulers’ scepters; it reached up into the clouds. It stood out because of its height and its many branches.
12 But it was plucked up in anger; it was thrown down to the ground. The east wind dried up its fruit; its strong branches broke off and withered— a fire consumed them.
13 Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.
14 A fire has gone out from its branch; it has consumed its shoot and its fruit. No strong branch was left in it, nor a scepter to rule.’ “This is a lament song, and has become a lament song.”
Illustration: Kuiper God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
During his days as guest lecturer at Calvin Seminary, R. B. Kuiper once used the following illustration of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. “I liken them to two ropes going through two holes in the ceiling and over a pulley above. If I wish to support myself by them, I must cling to them both. If I cling only to one and not the other, I go down.” I read the many teachings of the Bible regarding God’s election, predestination, his chosen, and so on. I read also the many teachings regarding ‘whosoever will may come’ and urging people to exercise their responsibility as human beings. These seeming contradictions cannot be reconciled by the puny human mind. With childlike faith, I cling to both ropes, fully confident that in eternity I will see that both strands of truth are, after all, of one piece.” (John Morren, Lake City, Michigan – Logos Sermon Illustrations).