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"He roved among the lions"

Text: Ezekiel 19:6

THE RISE OF ANOTHER KING

After the fall of Jehoahaz, his brother succeeded him. Eliakim (aka) Jehoiakim ruled in his place. He was the son of King Josiah but he chose not to follow his father’s footsteps. He did evil in God’s sight. He was replaced by Jehoiachin but his reign was very short. He ruled for just three months.

The last king of Israel (Judah) was Zedekiah. He reigned for 11 years. He was that young lion mentioned in this text.

“When she saw that she waited, that her hope was lost,
She took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.
He roved among the lions,
And became a young lion;
He learned to catch prey;
He devoured men.
He knew their desolate places,
And laid waste their cities;
The land with its fullness was desolated
By the noise of his roaring.”
Ezekiel 19:5-7

1. Zedekiah was an evil king.

a) He learned to catch prey.

b) He devoured men.

2. He was the king who jailed Jeremiah the prophet.

a) Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah that he would be captured by the Babylonians.

b) He was put in prison because of his prophecy (Jeremiah 32).

3. He was avaricious.

a) He fought and conquered some nations.

i) These were neighbouring lands.

ii) He was the one who made the lands desolate places.

iii) He laid waste their cities.

b) These lands were once flourishing.

i) But the fulness of these lands became depleted.

ii) The conquered lands became desolate.

iii) He was like a young roaring lion using his power to overpower and kill smaller nations.