Ezekiel 17

It comes first as a riddle, but its purpose is parabolic. Ezekiel receives from the Lord a story which serves to warn the government back in Jerusalem.

The Lord compares Jehoiachin to the tender sprig of cedar taken from the top of the tree by a great eagle, Nebuchadnezzar. God had granted Babylon the authority to do pretty much what she pleased. The king had ruled but a few months in Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar's troops took him custody back to Babylon. He was fine. Meanwhile, in his place, the emperor had planted Zedekiah like local stock willow near good water. Not as noble as the cedar, but he was in a very good place. Zedekiah was not under crushing tribute, and he had every reason to do well and be fruitful.

But we broke his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar, sworn before Jehovah, and began reaching out to Pharaoh. In the Hebrew language, Ezekiel points out the best Pharaoh can offer is ditch water, compared to the vast flow of Babylon's protection. But Zedekiah is a fool, and believes Pharaoh's big talk about how much he would be willing to invest in defending Judah from Babylon's wrath. The Lord warns Pharaoh cannot deliver. He can't bring enough troops, nor can he actually build good battlements to divert the Babylonian army by much. We know for fact this was true, as it happened that way sometime later.

Zedekiah made this covenant, this oath, before the Lord. It was God's idea, not Nebuchadnezzar. No empire can come and go without God's notice, nor without His permit. This was not merely some rebellion against an earthly lord, but against God Himself. Zedekiah would end with more sorrow than he can imagine if he doesn't do what's right, and obey the Lord by remaining faithful to Babylon.

Ezekiel then reminds us God has a final Master Plan. He Himself will one day pluck the youngest sprout from the same tree Israel could have been, and will plant Him on a high mountain. He would grow greater and fruitful, offering His protection to anyone who comes to Him. Where no tree should even be able to grow, the Lord will make Him greater than all others. We know this to be His own Son.