Lament for the Kings of Israel

Text: Ezekiel 19

 

I.         A lioness rears a young lion - Ezekiel 19:1-4

            A.        This a lamentation – a subject of sorrow – concerning the ruling family of Israel.

            B.        The kingdom of Judah, and David’s house in particular, is compared to a lioness who gives birth to a cub - Genesis 49:9; Number 23:24; 24:9

                        1.         Jerusalem is called Ariel (lion of God) - Isaiah 29:1

                        2.         Other uses of lions as symbols - Zephaniah 3:1-4; Nahum 2:11-12; Isaiah 5:29-30; Zechariah 11:3

            C.        The cub is Jehoahaz, son of Josiah - II Kings 23:31-34

                        1.         The reference to learning to catch prey is indicating a cruel and bloody reign.

                        2.         The lion is captured and brought to Egypt - Jeremiah 22:11-12

II.        The lioness raises another young lion - Ezekiel 19:5-9

            A.        Jehoiakim is the second cub - II Kings 23:34-37; 24:1-7

                        1.         Some believe it is Jehoiachin because he was the next to be raised to the throne by the people of Israel

                        2.         Others think it is symbolic of all three kings: Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah because all three were carried off to Babylon

            B.        Jeremiah’s prophecies - Jeremiah 22:13-19; 26:1-24; 36:1-32

            C.        As king he is destructive - Proverbs 19:12; 28:15-16

            D.        The lion is captured by the nations and brought to Babylon - II Kings 24:2; II Chronicles 26:4-8

III.       The vine that brought forth kings - Ezekiel 19:10-14

            A.        Now the kingdom of Judah or the house of David is compared to a vine “in your blood” - Psalm 80:8-11

                        1.         Some translated this as vineyard.

                        2.         Others as the “blood of the grapes;” in other words a productive vine

                        3.         Others as a reference to the blood line of the kings.

            B.        It grew well because of the abundance of the land - Deuteronomy 8:7-9

                        1.         Full of branches – lots of children.

                        2.         Strong branches - capable leaders

                        3.         It grew tall - exalted among the nations

            C.        But the vine was pulled up and burnt - Psalm 52:5; Jeremiah 31:27-28

                        1.         An east wind dries the vine up - Babylon (from the east) removes the kingship and those set up to govern are poor quality and then they are destroyed. - Jeremiah 4:11-12; Hosea 13:15

                        2.         Removal of the leading citizens - II Kings 24:14-16; Jeremiah 22:25-27

            D.        The vine is now in the desert - in exile in Babylon - Deuteronomy 28:47-48

                        1.         Though Babylon is a well-watered region, it is the lack of God’s favor that is shown by dryness and thirst - Psalm 63:1; 68:6; Hosea 2:3

            E.        Fire came from a rod - Zedekiah brought the destruction down on Judah - II Kings 24:20

                        1.         What remains is unable to rule - Hosea 3:4

                        2.         The government left was too weak to stand

                        3.         It is an occasion for great weeping