June 22, 2018 Friday

“22 ¶  Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. 23  “On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. 24  “And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.”” (Ezekiel 17:22-24 NKJV)

            Ezekiel chapter 17 uses the image of an eagle and a cedar tree as the prophecy that the king of Babylon would come and take away the people of Israel. Ezekiel has the sad duty of prophesying to Israel that the days of judgment are very near.

            After generations of unfaithfulness, serving other gods, seeking help from other nations and refusing to worship the God who had redeemed them from slavery the time had come for Israel to pay for their sin.

            While some will see this as a sign of God’s meanness we must see that generation after generation God gave them a chance to return and even sent prophets to warn them and to call them back. While the judgment of God took place over a few years the mercy of God extended for decades and generations.

            But in this prophecy of judgment and defeat by Babylon God makes a promise Israel will return and from Israel and will come Jesus Christ “a tender young twig” to become the new cedar that would grow and become a place of protection, nourishment and draw people from all around the world like the birds of every sort to come together to live under the tree!

            This new tree will replace the dried up tree but it will also make the dry tree flourish. Even as Jesus forms the Christian church God does not forget His people, the people of Israel. All the power of the nation of Israel and Rome will not be able to stand against the body of Christ, the church and God will spread the church through the Holy Spirit around the world.

            From the depths of judgment and defeat God will raise up people and they will win the ultimate victory!

            Do you believe God can bring victory from your unfaithfulness and sin? Do you believe God can take your fallen life and from it grow a tree that will bring nourishment and blessing to others? As you look at the world and all of the troubles do you look for signs of God’s mercy and in the hope of victory?