Sunday, February 23 – Ezekiel 16, 17

1. How does the Lord describe his favor on his people? Ezekiel 16:9-14

2. What terrible sins did Judah commit? Ezekiel 16:20-22

3. What did the Lord do to the high tree and to the dry tree? Ezekiel 17:24

Ezekiel 16 and 17 contain strong messages from the LORD to His people, illustrating their unfaithfulness, His impending judgment, and His enduring mercy and ultimate restoration.

In Ezekiel 16, God delivers a powerful allegory, describing Jerusalem as an abandoned child whom He rescued, nurtured, and adorned with beauty, only to see her later betray Him through idolatry and corruption.

God reminds Jerusalem of her humble origins, comparing her ancestry to that of the Hittites and Amorites—pagan nations known for their wickedness. This is a severe rebuke, as the people of Jerusalem prided themselves on being descendants of Abraham but acted worse than the surrounding pagans. In the parable, Israel is portrayed as an infant left to die in an open field, but God showed mercy, took her in, and caused her to flourish. He clothed her in fine garments and adorned her with jewelry, symbolizing the blessings He had given Israel.

However, instead of remaining faithful, Israel trusted in her beauty and turned to spiritual adultery, forming alliances with foreign nations and adopting their idol worship. God describes her actions as worse than those of Samaria and even Sodom—cities that had been destroyed for their wickedness. The people had even engaged in the horrific practice of child sacrifice, offering their sons and daughters to false gods, an act strictly condemned by God.

Despite all this, God promises to remain faithful to His covenant. He will restore a remnant of His people, not because they deserve it, but because of His grace. This restoration finds its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Christ, who brings salvation to Israel and all nations.

The message of Ezekiel 16 is clear: Israel’s sin had reached the point where she was worse than the most infamous of cities, and judgment was inevitable. However, God’s mercy endures, and He promises to renew His covenant with those who repent. This serves as a warning to believers today—idolatry is not limited to ancient times. Anything that takes priority over God in our hearts can be considered an idol, whether material possessions, worldly success, or self-reliance.

Ezekiel 17 presents a parable involving two eagles, a vine, and a cedar tree. The first eagle represents King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who took the top branch of a cedar tree (King Jehoiachin of Judah) and planted a low vine (Zedekiah) in the land of Babylon. Instead of growing strong under Babylon’s protection, the vine turned toward the second eagle (Egypt), seeking support and breaking its covenant with Babylon.

This parable refers to King Zedekiah, who was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar, rebelling and seeking help from Egypt. The LORD declares that this rebellion will lead to destruction—Babylon will punish Zedekiah, and neither Egypt nor anyone else will save him.

However, the parable does not end with judgment. In the final verses, God promises that He will plant a tender shoot from the cedar and cause it to grow into a mighty tree where birds of all kinds will find refuge. This is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, through whom all nations will find salvation.

Ezekiel 16 and 17 serve as both a warning and a message of hope. God’s people had broken their covenant and deserved judgment, yet He still extended mercy and promised a future restoration through Christ. Today, these passages remind us to examine our own hearts. Are we placing our trust in God, or are we turning to the world for security and guidance? Are we faithful to Him, or do we allow distractions and idols to take His place in our lives?

May we always seek to worship the LORD in spirit and truth, remaining faithful to Him as He has remained faithful to us.