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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 170

"Pose a riddle"

Text: Ezekiel 17:2

SPEAKING IN RIDDLES

To speak in riddles was not an uncommon thing to do. Literary writers used many means to communicate knowledge. Riddles and parables were utilised to teach significant truths.

“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
‘Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel, and say,
‘Thus says the Lord God:
‘A great eagle with large wings and long pinions,
Full of feathers of various colours,
Came to Lebanon
And took from the cedar the highest branch.”'”
Ezekiel 17:1-3

1. The word of the Lord.

a) This riddle/ parable was a word from the Lord.

b) It was a message from Him to Israel.

c) This was another message Ezekiel was to deliver to erring and stubborn Israel.

d) This riddle was relevant to the people living in Babylon and Israel.

2. A great eagle.

a) The eagle is a bird of prey (a raptor).

b) This great eagle was to represent the mighty king Nebuchadnezzar.

c) A description of the great eagle:

i) It had large wings.

ii) It had long pinions.

iii) It was full of feathers of various colours.

d) The Babylonian Empire was made up of a number of kings who were ruled by a mighty overlord called Nebuchadnezzar.

3. Lebanon

a) Biblical Lebanon was a part of ancient Israel.

b) It was famous for its cedar trees.

4. The eagle came to Lebanon and took off the highest branch.

a) This describes the time when King Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin captive.

b) Jehoiachin was that highest branch that was taken to Babylon.

c) Along with him, thousands of people from Judah were taken to live in Babylon.

d) Ezekiel was one of those captives (2 Kings 24:8-12).