On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.
When God announces that the twig which he will plant shall become a lofty cedar, he shows by lofty words that the increase of Christ’s kingdom shall be so wonderful, that it shall surpass the common rule of nature; which indeed was shadowed forth in the person of Zerubbabel, who was chosen to bring back the people from their sad and disgraceful captivity.
David's line seemed extinct, his throne broken by captivity, yet the unbelief of man cannot undo God's promise. He will raise another phoenix from those ashes: a Branch of David whom He Himself plants, not depending on any eagle's mercy, but destined to reign forever and shelter all the world.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 17:22-24
under it . . . all fowl--the Gospel "mustard tree," small at first, but at length receiving all under its covert (Mat 13:32); the antithesis to Antichrist, symbolized by Assyria, of which the same is said (Eze 31:6), and Babylon (Dan 4:12). Antichrist assumes in mimicry the universal power really belonging to Christ.