NOTES for Eze 17:1-24
From a shoot torn from a cedar tree, a grapevine grew. This does not happen in living nature, but let us not insist pedantically on a literal reading of the parable; let us look more closely at what it says.
A cedar is a beautiful and mighty tree, accustomed to growing in freedom, in inseparable connection with wild, natural life. The grapevine that comes from it is more fragile and requires constant care. The vine was provided with everything necessary to bear fruit and become a splendid vine. But it turned away from the eagle that had transplanted it, and by doing so refused the one who cared for it.
The kings of Israel and Judah, striving for alliance with pagans, hoped for earthly greatness acquired apart from God. But it is unattainable, and even efforts aimed at seeking earthly power sooner or later lead not to it, but to exhaustion and degeneration. Such efforts themselves turn out to be the consequence of spiritual betrayal, a refusal of communion with the One who gives everything necessary. An endless running in a circle begins, and only repentant return to God can break it.