[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 19
“The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt” (Ezekiel 19:4)
“With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 19:9)
“Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter” (Ezekiel 19:13-14)
A LAMENT FOR ISRAEL’S PRINCES
Ezekiel used two familiar images of the nation to speak about the fate of their kings:
- The Lioness (vs. 1-9) – The lion is the royal animal and Ezekiel was speaking about the rulers of the land: Jehoahaz (vs. 2-4) who died in Egypt and Zedekiah (vs. 5-9) who was blinded and taken to Babylon. Both failed to save Israel because they disobeyed the Word of God.
- The Vine (vs. 10-14) – The beautiful vine would be uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind will strip of its fruits and its branches withered and consumed by fire (v. 12). That would be the end of David’s line as no strong branch was left for a ruler’s scepter. It was only until the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of David who will supply the scepter.
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