Compare Ezekiel 17:10 with Jeremiah 17:5-6 on trusting human strength. Setting the Scene - Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah ministered to Judah in her final decades before exile. - Their messages confront Judah’s political maneuvering—alliances sought with Egypt rather than covenant faithfulness to Yahweh. - In both texts, trusting human power over God is pictured as futile and self-destructive. Ezekiel 17:10 — The Withered Vine “Behold, when it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it? It will wither away on the bed where it sprouted.” - The “vine” = Judah’s royal line, uprooted by Babylon, then planted again under a Davidic prince who secretly turns to Egypt (vv. 11-18). - God’s verdict: the vine cannot survive. An “east wind” (Babylon) will scorch it. - Key idea: Human schemes—even royal ones—cannot reverse divine judgment or supply life. Jeremiah 17:5-6 — The Cursed Shrub “Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.’” - Jeremiah universalizes the issue: any person who leans on human power while turning from God becomes barren. - Imagery: a lonely, stunted bush in a salty wasteland—no roots, no fruit, no future. Shared Warning: The Futility of Human Reliance • Both pictures—withered vine, desert shrub—emphasize: ‑ Lack of deep roots (no enduring source of life) ‑ Exposure to harsh elements (east wind/desert heat) ‑ Inevitability of failure (will wither / will not see good) • Trusting people, governments, armies, or personal ability cannot sustain spiritual vitality or avert judgment (cf. Psalm 146:3; Isaiah 31:1). Root Cause: Misplaced Trust - “Heart turns away from the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:5). - Judah’s political covenant with Egypt broke covenant with God (Ezekiel 17:15). - Human strength is limited (“flesh”) and ultimately opposed to the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Divine Alternative: Trust in the Lord - Jeremiah continues: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD… He will be like a tree planted by the waters” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). - God Himself replants a future “sprig” that becomes a mighty cedar (Ezekiel 17:22-24)—a prophecy of Messiah. - The Lord alone supplies lasting fruitfulness (John 15:4-5). Application for Today • Examine alliances of the heart—where does security really come from? • Refuse to elevate human leaders or strategies above obedience to Christ. • Cultivate deep roots through Scripture and prayer; outward success fades, but hidden dependence endures (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Expect God, not circumstances, to provide life, influence, and vindication (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). |
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