Ezekiel 17

Ezekiel 17:2-7

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt, are represented as great eagles, because of their great 2 power, high dignity, tyrannical murder and oppression of their neighbours. Their great wings represent their extensive dominions. King Jeconiah, and his family and princes, carried to Babylon, were the highest branch carried into a land of traffic. Zedekiah made king by Nebuchadnezzar, as his sworn tributary, over the Jewish multitudes in Judea, in a state of subjection to the Chaldeans, is the seed of the land planted with circumspection in a fruitful field, that it might be a vine of low stature. Its bending its roots and branches towards the other eagle, refers to his seuding ambassadors to Pharaoh-hophra, for procuring troops to assist him against the Chaldeans

Ezekiel 17:22-24

Out of the royal family of David I will raise up the Messiah, exalt him to my right hand, and make him Head of his Church, and of all things to her; and to him shall multitudes of all nations be converted, for salvation and comfort, and become members of his church. And all the nations of the world shall remark my power in exalting and prospering my once-deepised church, and in bringing down her most powerful enemies, Chaldeans, Jews, Romans, Antichristians, or Turks

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVII.—Ministers must turn themselves every way to promote the conviction or conversion of sinners: and plain similitudes are of great use for the illustration of divine truths, and impression of them upon men’s minds. What a despicable appearance, even as ravenous beasts, do the mightiest conquerors and kings make before a great and righteous God! And, if his providence reduce us to a low condition, it is our wisdom, and will be our comfort, to submit to our lot, and improve it in the best way we can. But it is dreadfully criminal and dangerous to violate oaths and covenants with God, or even with wicked men, as God is made witness and guarantee of the solemn transaction. Men’s sinful evasions to extricate themselves do but involve them in more certain and tremendous ruin. And fatal experience will at last force sinners to believe God’s threatenings. It is in vain to attempt restoring the credit of decayed families till God himself rise for their help. And it is infinitely to the glory of his sovereign grace that scenes of wickedness and ruin introduce exhibitions of Jesus Christ, and his eternal redemption and glory