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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 174

"Do you not know what these things mean?"

Text: Ezekiel 17:12

A WORD TO THE REBELLIOUS NATION

The riddle/ parable of the two eagles was not well-comprehended by many. The Lord took the trouble to explain the riddle/ parable he gave to Ezekiel to proclaim.

“Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
‘Say now to the rebellious house:
‘Do you not know what these things mean?’
Tell them, ‘Indeed the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem
and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon.
And he took the king’s offspring,
made a covenant with him, and put him under oath.
He also took away the mighty of the land,
that the kingdom might be brought low and not lift itself up,
but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.””
Ezekiel 17:11-14

1. Israel addressed
God described Israel as “the rebellious house”.

2. The lack of comprehension.

a) This was obvious.

b) Few took the trouble to understand prophetic sayings.

c) God Himself had to explain His riddle/ parable.

3. Application of the riddle/ parable

a) The first eagle was obviously Babylon.

b) Nebuchadnezzar went to Jerusalem and captured King Jehoiachin.

c) Princes and other notable people (“the mighty of the land”) were brought to Babylon as political hostages.

d) This was recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:9-10.

4. “The king’s offspring”

a) This king is not Jehoiachin but Jehoiakim.

b) The brother of Jehoiachin was made the ruler of Israel in place of Jehoiachin.

c) His name was called Zedekiah (2 Chronicles 36:10).

5. The kingdom of Israel.

a) It was brought low in humiliation.

b) It must not seek to lift itself up.

c) This was the covenant that Nebuchadnezzar made with Israel.

d) This was a covenant that Zedekiah was supposed to keep and honour.