Ezekiel 16:1-14
God’s Love for Jerusalem
Ezekiel 16:15-30
Jerusalem’s Harlotry
Ezekiel 16:31-43
Jerusalem’s Adultery
Ezekiel 16:44-63
A Symbol of Total Corruption
Ezekiel 17:1-24
Two Eagles and the Vine
Ezekiel 18:1-18
A False Proverb Refuted
Ezekiel 19:1-14
Israel Degraded
Ezekiel 20:1-16
The Rebellions of Israel
Ezekiel 20:17-32
Ezekiel Reinforces the Law
Ezekiel 20:33-49
God Will Restore Israel
Ezekiel 21:1-7
God’s Judgment Sword Drawn
Ezekiel 21:8-17
The Sword Sharpened
Ezekiel 21:18-32
The Instrument of God’s Judgment
Ezekiel 22:1-16
Sins of Jerusalem
Israel Degraded
Ezekiel 19:1–14
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During his days as guest lecturer at Calvin Seminary, R. B. Kuiper once used the following illustration of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. “I liken them to two ropes going through two holes in the ceiling and over a pulley above. If I wish to support myself … More
Ezekiel explains in prophetic form the last declining years of Judah. He uses an illustration of a lioness and her cubs to illustrate his message (vv. 1-9). With this picture of the lioness and her cubs he raised the curiosity of his listeners. It is suggested that the lioness symbolized the nation of Judah and the two cubs were two of its kings. First, she is likened unto a lioness that trains her young lions in the art of savagery. The two young treacherous lions are thought to be Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin. Just as they were treacherous and cruel, so were they subdued. Pharaoh Necho captured Jehoahaz and led him to Egypt, as an animal in 609 BC (II Kings 23:33), where he died.
Second, Judah is likened to a very fruitful vine (vv. 10-14). Its strong branches are its kings. It rose to great glory, particularly in the reigns of David and Solomon. The lioness has been believed by some to be the wife of Josiah, the father of Jehoahaz. But the lioness is related both to Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin. It appears that she is meant to refer to Judah. Jehoiachin was taken captive to Babylon, along with ten thousand of the leading citizens, where he was imprisoned for thirty-seven years (II Kings 24:14). Not even the political and military might of Judah’s kings could save that nation. Like branches of a vine, they would be cut off and uprooted by “the east wind,” the powerful Babylonian army. From that time until the present there has not been a rod or branch ruling in Israel, but we know that in due time there will be a Branch to rule over Israel.Application
Like the illustration above states, I must exercise childlike faith when it comes to reconciling the doctrines of election and free will and am confident that in eternity He will reveal the truth of both.
Ezekiel 19:1-14 (English Standard Version)
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