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EZEKIEL 17
LESSON #15
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD DESPITE MANS UNFAITHFULNESS
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 2:6
v EZEKIEL 17 IS ANOTHER PARABLE THATCOORDINATES WITH THE PREVIOUS ONES. REMEMBER, WE HAVE STUDIED:
Ø THE PARABLE OF THE VINE (ISRAEL) (EZE 15)
§ WE LEARNED THAT ISRAEL DID NOT PRODUCEFRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND GOD CUT HER DOWN.
Ø THE PARABLE OF THE ABANDONED BABY(ISRAEL) (EZE 16)
§ WE LEARNED THAT ISRAEL FAILED TOAPPRECIATE GODS BLESSINGS, AND GOD CUT OFF HIS BLESSINGS FROM THEM.
Ø THE PARABLE OF THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE(ISRAEL) (EZE 16)
§ WE LEARNED THAT ISRAEL WAS NOT FAITHFULTO GOD, AND GOD BROUGHT THE IDOLATROUS NATIONS TO DESTROY HER.
v READ EZE 17:1-10 THE PARABLE OF THE 2 EAGLES AND THE 3 SHOOTS
Ø BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE CENTRAL MESSAGEOF THIS PROPHECY IN THE FORM OF A PARABLE, WE FIRST NEED TO IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE ANDNATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS PARABLE.
§ THE FIRST EAGLE: A GREAT EAGLE WITH LONG WINGS AND FEATHERS OFVARIOUS COLORS = NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OFBABYLON. (3, 12)
· THE EXTENTION OF THE WINGS AND THE MANYCOLORS INDICATES THE LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THE VARIETY OF NATIONS CONTROLLED BYBABYLON. (JER 48:40)
· THE FIRST SHOOT : CROPPED OFF THE TOP OF THE CEDAR (3-4)
¨ THE CEDAR OF LEBANON IS ASYMBOL OF THE DAVIDIC LINE OF KINGS FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH.
Ø FROM THE TIME OF KING DAVID, ALL THESUBSEQUENT KINGS OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM WERE DESCENDANTS OF KING DAVID. WHEN THEBABYLONIAN ARMY DESTROYED JERUSALEM, IT WAS THE END OF THE LINE OF DAVIDIC KINGS. THE LASTKING AND HIS FAMILY WAS CARRIED TO THE LAND OF TRADE TO THE CITY OF MERCHANTS(4)WHICH REFERS TO THE CITY OF BABYLON.
§ NEBUCHADNEZZAR CONQUERED THE SOUTHERNKINGDOM OF JUDAH DURING THE REIGN OF KING JEHOIACHIN (CONIAH, OR JECONIAH = 3 NAMES REFERTO THE SAME MAN). 597 BC. HE REIGNED 3 MONTHSAND 10 DAYS. (2KIN 24:8-17 2CHR 36:9 JER22:24,28 JER 37:1)
¨ EZEKIEL PRESENTS A VERY INTERESTINGPROPHECY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT GOD PROMISED DAVID AN ETERNAL KINGDOM. (2SAM 7:16 LUK 1:32-33, 69)
Ø READ JER 22:24-30
§ THIS PROPHECY TELLS US THAT NO KING INJUDAHS LINE WOULD RULE AS KING IF HE WAS DESCENDED FROM JECONIAH.
· JER 22:30 DOES NOT MEAN JECONIAH WOULDHAVE NO CHILDREN BUT THAT THEIR NAMES WOULD NOT BE WRITTEN IN THE LIST OF KINGS.
§ MAT 1:11-12 TELLS US THAT JOSEPH, THEHUSBAND OF MARY, DESCENDED FROM JECONIAH. HOWEVER, JOSEPH WAS NOT THE FATHER OF JESUS.THEREFORE, JESUS CLAIM TO THE THRONE OF DAVID DOES NOT COME FROM JOSEPH BUT FROMMARY. MARYS LINEAGE DOES NOT GO THROUGH JECONIAH BUT SHE WAS STILL A DESCENDANT OFDAVID IN THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. THEREFORE, JESUS WAS NOT A DESCENDENT OF JECONIAH ANDHE HAS A LEGITIMATE CLAIM TO THE THRONE OF DAVID.
¨ NOTICE THE MANNER IN WHICH GOD FULFILLSPROPHECY:
Ø GODS PROPHECIES ARE FULFILLED100%.
Ø GODS PROPHECIES ARE NOT DEPENDENTON MAN TO FULFILL.
Ø EVEN WHEN MAN FAILS HISRESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE GOD, GOD WILL WORK AROUND HIM TO BRING ABOUT HIS PLAN.
· THE SECOND SHOOT: THE SEED OF THE LAND WAS TAKEN TOA FRUITFUL FIELD AND PLANTED TO BECOME A WILLOW TREE. (5) = KINGZEDEKIAH
¨ ZEDEKIAH, WAS FROM THE ROYAL LINE OFDAVID. HE WAS JECONIAS UNCLE. HIS ORIGINAL NAME WAS MATTANIAH BUT NEBUCHADNEZZARCHANGED IT TO ZEDEKIAH. WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR CONQUERED THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH, HESIGNED A TREATY WITH ZEDEKIAH, AND HE PUT ZEDEKIAH ON THE THRONE IN ISRAEL AS A PUPPETKING. ZEDEKIAH WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THE WILL OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR. HE PROMISED HE WOULDNOT REBEL.
Ø KING ZEDEKIAH IS THE SECOND SHOOTPLANTED IN A FRUITFUL FIELD (ISRAEL). SPEAKING SYMBOLICALLY, HE WAS TO BE A TALL WILLOWTREE. HOWEVER, HE WAS ONLY A SPREADING VINE OF LOW STATURE (6). WHY?
§ IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE SECOND EAGLE INEZEKIELS PARABLE. ZEDEKIAH TURNED HIS BRANCHES TOWARD THE SECOND EAGLE(6).
§ THE SECOND EAGLE: ANOTHER GREAT EAGLE WITH GREAT WINGS ANDMANY FEATHERS (7) = HOPHRA, PHARAOH OF EGYPT. (JER 48:40 JER 49:22)
· KING ZEDEKIAH, THE SECOND SHOOT,DECIDED HE DID NOT WANT TO BE A PUPPET KING. THEREFORE, HE BROKE HIS TREATY WITH KINGNEBUCHADNEZZAR. HE REBELLED AGAINST HIM AFTER REIGNING UNDER NEBUCHADNEZZAR FOR 11 YEARS.ZEDEKIAH LOOKED TO EGYPT FOR HELP IN HISREBELLION.
¨ EZEKIEL PREDICTED ZEDEKIAHSREBELLION ABOUT 3 YEARS BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
¨ EGYPT WAS A PROMINENT NATION BUT NOT ASPOWERFUL AS IT HAD ONCE BEEN. GOD HAD TOLD ISRAEL NOT TO TRUST IN EGYPT. HOWEVER, ZEDEKIAHDECIDED TO PLAY THE GAME OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS INSTEAD OF TRUSTING GOD. IT WAS GODSWILL THAT HE KEEP HIS TREATY WITH NEBUCHADNEZZAR AND LIVE IN PEACE.
Ø AS A RESULT OF HIS REBELLION, KINGNEBUCHADNEZZAR ATTACKED AND DESTROYED JERUSALEM. NEBUCHADNEZZAR TOOK KING ZEDEKIAH CAPTIVETO BABYLON AND BLINDED HIM. GOD CUT OFF ITS FRUIT AND CAUSED IT TO WITHER(9-10) 588 BC.
§ VERSES 9 AND 10 REMIND US OF THEUNFRUITFUL VINEYARD IN CHAPTER 15 WHERE GOD CUT THEM DOWN AND BURNED THEM.
Ø SUMMARY:
§ WHAT IS THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THISPARABLE?
· GOD WILL USE THE PAGAN NATION OFBABYLON TO CHASTISE HIS OWN PEOPLE. HE WILL CUT OFF HIS PEOPLES KINGS WHO DO NOTOBEY GOD AND TRUST IN HIM (JECONIAH AND ZEDEKIAH).
v READ EZE 17:11-21 EZEKIELS EXPLANATION AND AMPLIFICATIONOF THE PARABLE
Ø NOTICE IN VERSES 16-19 HOW GOD VIEWSTHE SITUATION WHEN ZEDEKIAH BROKE HIS AGREEMENT WITH KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR.
§ KING ZEDEKIAH THOUGHT HE HAD JUST MADEAN AGREEMENT WITH A PAGAN KING. HE THOUGHT IT WAS NOT IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, GOD CONSIDEREDIT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO KEEP IT BECAUSE HE HAD SWORN IN THE NAME OF GOD. (2CHR 36:11-14).WHEN KING ZEDEKIAH PROMISED TO KEEP THE AGREEMENT, HE WAS NOT ONLY MAKING A PROMISE WITHTHE KING OF BABYLON, BUT HE WAS ALSO MAKING THAT PROMISE TO GOD.
v READ EZE 17:22-24 THE THIRD SHOOT
Ø WHO DOES THE TENDER ONEREPRESENT IN VERSES 22 AND 23?
§ READ ISA 53:2
· THE TENDER ONE FROM THE TOP OF THE CEDAR TREE REFERS TO JESUS CHRISTWHO IS THE TENDER PLANT OUT OF THE DRY GROUND. (JER 23:5-6 JER 33:14-16 ISA 11:1 ZEC3:8 ZEC 6:12-13)
¨ HOSEA PROPHESIED THAT ISRAEL WOULD BEWITHOUT A KING, WITHOUT A PRINCE, WITHOUT A SACRIFICE FOR MANY YEARS. (HOS 3:4) HOWEVER, THE MESSIANIC LINE DID NOT DIE OUT.
¨ THIS THIRD SHOOT COMES FROM THE CEDARTREE. WE KNOW THAT SOMEHOW THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD WILL WORK AROUND THE UNFAITHFULNESS OFJECONIAH AND ZEDEKIAH. GOD WILL PRODUCE A FAITHFUL BRANCH TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE OF ANETERNAL KINGDOM FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND FROM THE LINEAGE OF DAVID. THAT FAITHFULBRANCH IS JESUS CHRIST. HE DOES NOT COME THROUGH JECONIAH BUT BY A DIFFERENT BRANCH INDAVIDS FAMILY. MARYS GENEALOGY FROM DAVID GOES THROUGH NATHAN TO JESUS CHRIST.(LUKE 3:31)
v APPLICATION:
Ø CHRISTIANS TODAY ARE GODS PEOPLE.WE MUST LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD IF WANT HIS PROTECTION AND BLESSING. OTHERWISE, GOD WILLEVEN USE NON-BELIEVERS TO DISCIPLINE US.
§ REMEMBER THAT EGYPT IS A BIBLICALSYMBOL OF WORLDLINESS. WE ARE NOT TO TRUST IN THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. WE ARE TO TRUST INGOD.
§ WHEN WE MAKE AGREEMENTS, IT ISIMPORTANT THAT WE FULFILL THEM. OUR LIVES ARE TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE OF NON-BELIEVERSWHO BREAK THEIR WORD IF IT BRINGS THEM AN ADVANTAGE. NOTICE THAT IN THE STORY OF KINGZEDEKIAH, IT WAS THE PAGAN KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR THAT KEPT HIS SIDE OF THE AGREEMENT.HOWEVER, IT WAS GODS PEOPLE, THE ISRAELITES, THAT BROKE THEIR SIDE OF THE AGREEMENT.GOD EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO FULFILL THEIR WORD. HE WILL HONOR US WHEN WE ARE FAITHFUL TOKEEP OUR PROMISES EVEN IF IT PUTS US AT A DISADVANTAGE TO DO SO.
§ GODS SOVEREIGNTY OVERRULES ANDSETS ASIDE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WHOSE UNFAITHFULNESS BLOCKS GODS WILL AND PLAN. BUTWHAT A GREAT BLESSING THOSE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE MISS WHEN GOD HAS TO SET THEM ASIDE.
· REMEMBER OUR LESSON ABOUT THEUNFRUITFUL VINEYARD IN CHAPTER 15
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 18
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 17
Ø HOW WELL DO YOU KEEP YOUR COMMITMENTS?YOUR PROMISES? YOUR AGREEMENTS? MARK THEFOLLOWING SCALE.
SELDOM SOMETIMES USUALLY ALWAYS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Ø PRAY ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENTS, YOUR PROMISES,YOUR AGREEMENTS BEFORE YOU MAKE THEM TO BE SURE THEY ARE IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD. ASKGOD TO HELP YOU KEEP THEM.
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 18
Ø READ EZEKIEL 18:1-32
§ KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS CHAPTER REFERSTO PHYSICAL LIFE AND PHYSICAL DEATH NOT ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH.
§ WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MEANING OF THEPROVERB IN VERSE 2?
§ WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF SIN BETWEENPARENT AND CHILD?
· READ EXO 20:5
v MEMORY VERSE: MICAH 6:8
