[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 17
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender spring from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel i will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of very kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. It dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it” (Ezekiel 17:22-24)
TWO EAGLES AND A VINE
God used allegory to arouse interest and catch attention in conveying a message to the people of Israel.
A great eagle with powerful wings came to Lebanon and took a shoot at the top of a cedar. He carried away and planted it in a city of traders. Then, he took some of the seeds from your land and planted it in a fertile soil with abundant water. It sprouted and its branches spread and became a vine. But, there was another great and powerful eagle. The vine sent out its roots towards him and stretch out its branches to him for water. It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce brandes, bear fruit and become a splendid vine (vs. 1-8)
The great eagle (Nebuchadnezzar) came to Jerusalem (Lebanon) and took the top branch of the cedar (King Jehoiachin) to Babylon. He left some of the seed (King Zedekiah) which grew into a low vine. Zedekiah made a covenant to be loyal to babylon, but he broke it and turned to Egypt for help. As a result, the king of Babylon came back and destroyed the lovely vine of Judah.
The cedar represents the Davidic dynasty. One day, Jesus Christ from David’s line will establish his glorious kingdom where mankind will nest in it and find shelter as we enter into His glory.[:]