Today's reading offers us a song written by the prophet in the genre of a funeral lament. One might think that a person who perfectly understands the spiritual causes of what is happening should bear the misfortune that has befallen his people and country more easily than...
Today's reading offers us a song written by the prophet in the genre of a funeral lament. One might think that a person who perfectly understands the spiritual causes of what is happening should bear the misfortune that has befallen his people and country more easily than others, especially since Ezekiel, unlike many of his contemporaries, knew that the history of the Jewish people was not yet over, that they had a future and that the Babylonian exiles had hope. But, of course, although such knowledge eases the pain, it does not completely save one from it.
On the human level, the prophet's lament for Jerusalem and the people is quite understandable. Yet this is not merely an outpouring of Ezekiel's own feelings: it is God Himself who prompts him to lament for the people (v. 1). And here a question arises: why does God need Ezekiel's lament? God is not human, and He certainly knows perfectly well everything concerning the historical destiny of His people, especially since that destiny is entirely in His hands. And yet God weeps for His people; He weeps in Ezekiel. The time will come when, having become Man, He will weep for Jerusalem with literally human tears.
But now, while that time has not yet come, He weeps in Ezekiel. No future spiritual heights or achievements, not even the Coming of Christ itself, lessen the pain of those who suffer here and now, just as the future fullness of the Kingdom does not lessen the pain of those who suffer from the evil and sin in which the world lies, a world that has not yet come into contact with the Kingdom. These tears and this pain do not devalue the Kingdom, but they do devalue every theodicy, every assertion that “all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.” The Kingdom becomes possible only because all pain subsides there. But pain in itself has no meaning, and theologians should hardly seek what is not there. Even God sees no meaning in pain itself. But He knows how to comfort everyone and wipe away every tear. And in the Kingdom He will do so. For now, He weeps as He looks upon human pain. For now, through the eyes of His prophet. But the day will come when He will weep through the eyes of His Son.
19 The kingdom of Judah and house of David is compared to a lioness, and their princes to lions taken in nets, Eze 19:1-9.
The kingdom and house are compared to a vine, and these princes to branches, now broken off and burnt, Eze 19:10-14.
19:1 For the princes - Jehoahaz, Jehoiachim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.
19:2 What - What resemblance shall I use to set out the nature, deportment, and state of the mother of these princes? Thy - One of whom was upon the throne at once, and therefore the prophet speaks to one at a time. Mother - The land of Judea, and Jerusalem, the chief city of it, the royal family of David. Lioness - Tho' chosen of God to execute justice; yet they soon degenerated into the fierce and ravening nature of the lioness. Lay down - Associated, and grew familiar with neighbour kings, called here lions; fierce and bloody.Her whelps - Her sons, successors to the crown. Young lions - Either foreign princes and kings, or some of the fierce, unjust, tyrannizing princes at home.
19:3 Brought up - Advanced, caused him to take the throne after the slaughter of Josiah. One - Jehoahaz the second son of Josiah.Became - Soon shewed his fierce, cruel, and bloody disposition.
19:4 The nations - The Egyptians heard what he did.
19:5 Made him - King, and infused the lion - like maxims into him.
19:6 He - Jehoiachim. Went up - He continued eleven years on the throne; whereas Jehoahaz was taken as soon as he first ventured out.The lions - Heathen kings, with whom he entered into leagues.He became - Fierce, ravenous, unsatiable.
19:7 He knew - By taking them, he came to know their places, which are here called, what he made them, desolate. Roaring - By the perpetual violent threats of this cruel king.
19:8 The nations - Which were tributary to Nebuchadnezzar.Set against - By order of the king of Babylon.The provinces - Which belonged to the Babylonish kingdom.
19:10 Thy mother - O thou prince of Israel. By the waters - In a very fruitful soil. Full of branches - Full of children; when Josiah died, he left four behind him, beside other branches of the royal line.
19:11 Strong rods - Many excellent persons endowed with qualifications befitting kings, that they might sway the scepter. Exalted - Above the ordinary majesty of other kingdoms. Thick branches - This kingdom equalled, if not excelled, the greatest neighbour - kingdoms, and her kings exceeded all their neighbouring kings, in riches and power.
19:12 The east wind - God raised up the king of Babylon to pull up this sinful kingdom. Dried up - Blasted all her fruit, deposed her king, captivated him, his family, and the whole kingdom. Strong rods - All the choice men.
19:13 She - A few of the branches of the last pruning.In the wilderness - Tho' Babylon was in a very fruitful place, yet the cruelty of the Babylonians, made it to the Jews as terrible as a wilderness.
19:14 Fire - The fire of rebellion, kindled by Zedekiah, who is of the blood - royal. No strong rod - The regal dignity is ceased.