Dear RTB’ers,
Speaking through Ezekiel to the exiles in Babylon, God offers a parable in today’s first ten verses, then explains it in the next eleven verses. And if it is still not clear, our STS companion book offers the explanation in its introductory remarks. Essentially, when Jehoiachin, the king of Judah was taken captive to Babylon in 597 BC, his uncle, Zedekiah was put in as king in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Then Zedekiah rebelled some years later and appealed to Egypt for help. Nebuchadnezzar then destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC and Zedekiah was brought to Babylon (blind) and his army was soundly defeated. The exiles had hoped that Zedekiah’s rebellion would lead to their return to Jerusalem. It was Ezekiel’s job to explain to them that that was not going to happen.
Today’s final three verses are surely Messianic to us: 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. 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.” (vv. 22-23) Yes, these verses are Messianic to us New Testament “birds”, but whether it was to the Old Testament Jewish nation is debatable. But, no doubt these verses offered hope to those exiles in Babylon, that God will redeem their misfortunes and all the world will honor that new “noble cedar”.
I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it. (v. 24b)
Blessings.
Fred