“Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent…and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing.” (Ezekiel 17:22-23)

Yahweh directs Ezekiel to deliver a perplexing riddle targeting rebellious Israel and its leaders. The word for riddle is masal, normally translated “proverb,” which means in this context a mystery meant to be discovered. If you take time to read the entire chapter, you’ll see three main divisions: the parable stated (vv. 3-10), the parable explained (vv. 11-21), and the parable’s solution, including Yahweh’s covenant relationship with Israel and His promise to redeem (vv. 22-23).

The first great eagle in this chapter represents Babylon’s leader, Nebuchadnezzar. The highest branch of the cedar represents the nation Israel. The eagle transports the “topmost shoot,” Israel’s remnant and key leaders, including Daniel and his friends, who were carried into Babylonian captivity. The eagle then planted a “seed from the land,” King Zedekiah, who reigned as Jerusalem’s first “puppet king.” Zedekiah violated his oath both to Yahweh and Nebuchadnezzar, and sought an alliance with Egypt, the parable’s second eagle (vv. 7, 12-14).

Our Father’s love towers above Israel’s disobedience as He takes a twig, a tender shoot, from the lofty tree and plants Him, the Messiah, in response to man’s critical need for a Savior (Isaiah 52:13–53:2). Israel’s Messiah is our Savior as well, promising to hear our prayers if we cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and faith (Psalm 107; Romans 10:9-11). CCM