This passage is one of those scenes when we get to see Israel, and specifically Jerusalem through the eyes of God. Even though I know what Israel is guilty of, this still appalls me.
Read Ezekiel 16-17
If a person in our day were to act like Jerusalem is described, they would be committed or imprisoned. Clearly this is desire and impulse “out of control”. I don’t know that there is any correct response for a person accused in this manner besides “I am very sorry, I will get some help immediately”. I think we can all agree, no matter what culture we are from, no matter what values we hold…that this is perversion and dysfunction. And yet, Jerusalem doesn’t respond in humility.
Everything we have was given to us by God. If we ever begin to believe that we have created our own destiny, or that our own skill has placed us where we are…we have begun a descent into depravity. As God describes it in 16:30 “we have a sick heart”.
You probably already know this, having read along with me: Zedekiah is the king that is spoken of in Chapter 17. Before he became king, the king of Babylon (Iran) overran his country and eventually installed him as a puppet king. Ezekiel tells us something that we didn’t hear in our other readings: Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah swear an oath to be loyal to him. Zedekiah apparently invoked the name of God in his oath to obey…and now he is appealing to Egypt for military support. Zedekiah’s plan (apparently) is to wiggle out of his vow to support Babylon while using muscle hired from Egypt to help him break free.
God is angry with Zedekiah over this, because He (God) sent Nebuchadnezzar in the first place, He has already told Zedekiah that this punishment is coming from God,and that he (Zedekiah) won’t be able to get help to avoid it. And finally, God is angry because Zedekiah used his name in taking an oath that he is now breaking. That might seem small to you and I, but in heaven it’s a big deal….so be careful about how you use God’s name.
Oddly, the things that grab my attention today seem to be side issues. For instance, Sodom and Gomorrah were not as wicked when they were destroyed as Judah. God says he destroyed them because they were wealthy and uncaring, and lazy while there were poor people just outside their door. That’s a judgment against the United States if I have ever heard one. The only comfort I can muster comes from the knowledge that we send billions of dollars every year to countries much poorer than ourselves. And, we send large sums to Israel as well. In the past, we have allowed people from every race and creed to take shelter in this country also. Our history is something to be proud of…I’m not so sure about our present, although there are reasons to be hopeful. Making this a little more personal: I wonder if I could be more generous, or more helpful to others? I certainly don’t want the Lord to compare me to Sodom (or Jerusalem in its current state).
“Lord, it’s easy to say that others should be more helpful, more active and more generous…but it’s another thing to look into my own life and draw the same conclusions. Please help me to see the ways in which you would have me to become more like you. Create within me a desire to be more like you that is greater than my desire for comfort, things or prestige. I want to seek you above all other things.”
I wouldn’t have understood the parable of the two eagles if it hadn’t been explained. And even after it was, I still had to think about it.
So, in case you are fuzzy on it as well: God is saying that the people taken in exile by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon will survive and put down roots..but they won’t become a large tree there…only a spreading vine that can be easily moved. The second eagle is Egypt, I think. Now the vine is “double minded” growing in Babylon, but also looking to Egypt for help. The second eagle isn’t of much use.
God says that vine won’t prosper. And, it doesn’t. Zedekiah was conquered after trying to escape the city at the end of a 2 year long brutal siege. His eyes were gouged out, and he was taken to Babylon where he spent the rest of his life. Egypt was defeated by Babylon as well, and didn’t rise to a world power again for some time.
Faithfully,
PR