“Say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots.
The vine could not flourish once it abandoned the eagle that planted it; removing itself to another brings only destruction. Zedekiah severed his own roots when he turned to Egypt, and no Egyptian aid will preserve him, a mere breath will wither what he has betrayed.
AI summary
God uses riddles and parables not to obscure His mind but to command attention and stay in memory; what He hides in a familiar dress insinuates itself deeper into careless minds. Ministers must study acceptable words and find varied methods, lest the pulpit and life speak two different languages.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 17:1-21
The east wind is the Chaldean army, and it needs only to touch this vine for it to wither completely. All of Egypt's help cannot save Zedekiah in the very land where he thought himself safe; he will be taken and his sons slain.
AI summary