Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

 

Ezekiel 17:1-15

 December 1, 2023

 

Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel; say, Thus says the Lord God: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.  He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants.  Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters. He set it like a willow twig, and it sprouted and became a low spreading vine, and its branches turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So, it became a vine and produced branches and put out boughs.

 

“And there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage, and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and shot forth its branches toward him from the bed where it was planted, that he might water it.  It had been planted on good soil by abundant waters, that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine.

 

“Say, Thus says the Lord God: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots.  Behold, it is planted; will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it—wither away on the bed 

where it sprouted?”

 

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Say now to the rebellious house, Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them, behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took her king and her princes and brought them to him to Babylon.  And he took one of the royal offspring and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath (the chief men of the land he had taken away), that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand.  But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?

 

We the Church, not we the Conservated or we the Liberal, not we the Catholic, or we the Baptist, but we who have by faith enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that brought us into a relationship with the Father, and we are His Church.  I believe it is shameful to feel the need to explain what the Church is to the Church, but it is necessary at this time in history.  The Church should always ask themselves two questions: first and most important how does this Scripture apply to my life?  Second is often a question we do not ask, will I ask the Holy Spirit to clarify how to obey the teaching and give me a right heart attitude.

 

My wife has memory issues, and she puts things where they do not belong, she loses many things, and yet she is one of the most loving and thoughtful people you have ever known.  We tried many of the snake oil sell people stuff, with little or no results, and yes, I lose it at times, and yes, I cry out to my Father and Lord to show me how to be the man Jan needs.  I share this today because I require prayer, I like the chosen people have often looked to many other things but prayer, and God.  Like a child with a broken toy that I’ve taken to my dad to fix, but grab it back not willing for him to fix it for me.

 

We know that obedience brings blessings and anything less brings problems.  We the Church, choose each day blessing or discipline.

 

The king of Babylon put the son of the king of Jerusalem under a covenant but he sought help from Egypt, and Egypt in the Scripture often depicts our flesh, and looking to the world instead of God.  God has said to each of us; Choose this day whom you will serve, as for my house we will serve the Lord.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice