Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.
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