26 lines
		
	
	
	
		
			1.1 KiB
		
	
	
	
		
			Markdown
		
	
	
	
	
	
		
		
			
		
	
	
			26 lines
		
	
	
	
		
			1.1 KiB
		
	
	
	
		
			Markdown
		
	
	
	
	
	
|  | +++ | |||
|  | title = "Ezekiel 17:1–15" | |||
|  | date = "2023-04-15" | |||
|  | +++ | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | ### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel17.1-15)
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|  | 
 | |||
|  | The nice thing about confusing metaphors in the Bible is that usually if you | |||
|  | just keep reading it will explain its own imagery for you. The Lord describes a | |||
|  | great eagle with splendorous, colorful plumage. It comes to a cedar of Lebanon | |||
|  | and removes the top-most branches and takes them to a trade city. Then it | |||
|  | plants a seed in the land, cares for it and waters it, and it sprouts into a | |||
|  | spreading vine. However, in spite of the good soil and water it received from | |||
|  | the eagle, the vine started reaching out toward a different eagle to get. | |||
|  | Because of this disloyalty, the vine will be rooted up and wither away. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | What does this mean? The Lord explains: the first great eagle is Babylon and | |||
|  | the top of the cedar is the king and the upper crust of Jerusalem that were | |||
|  | deported earlier. The vine is the king of Judah that Nebuchadnezzar set up in | |||
|  | their place to be a vassal to Babylon. However, the new king sought aid from | |||
|  | Egypt, the other eagle, and now he and his rule will be destroyed. | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | * * * | |||
|  | 
 | |||
|  | By Your grace we received wisdom and understanding. |