Ezekiel 17:19
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: 'As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke.
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:
This phrase introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. In the context of Ezekiel, God often speaks directly to convey His judgments and plans. This reflects the prophetic tradition where God communicates His will through His prophets, reinforcing the seriousness and certainty of the message.

As surely as I live:
This is an oath formula used by God, underscoring the certainty and unchangeable nature of His declarations. It is a divine assurance that what follows will undoubtedly come to pass. This phrase is used elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Numbers 14:28) to emphasize God's commitment to His word, highlighting His eternal and unchanging nature.

I will bring down upon his head:
This indicates a personal and direct consequence for the actions of the individual in question. In the historical context, this refers to King Zedekiah of Judah, who broke his oath to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The imagery of bringing something down upon one's head suggests a judgment that is both inevitable and deserved, reflecting the biblical principle of reaping what one sows (Galatians 6:7).

My oath that he despised:
The oath refers to the solemn promise made by Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar, which was sworn in God's name. Despising the oath implies a willful disregard for the sacredness of a vow made before God. This highlights the biblical theme of the seriousness of oaths and covenants, as seen in passages like Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, where breaking a vow is considered a grave offense.

And My covenant that he broke:
The covenant here refers to the agreement between Zedekiah and Nebuchadnezzar, which was meant to be upheld as a divine obligation. Breaking the covenant signifies a breach of trust and faithfulness, not only to Nebuchadnezzar but also to God, who was invoked in the making of the covenant. This reflects the broader biblical theme of covenant faithfulness, which is central to God's relationship with His people, as seen in the covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David. The breaking of this covenant foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant through Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills and restores the broken covenants of humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Lord GOD
The sovereign and covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks through the prophet Ezekiel.

2. Ezekiel
A prophet of God who ministered to the exiles in Babylon, delivering messages of judgment and hope.

3. The King of Judah
Likely referring to Zedekiah, who broke his oath to the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, by rebelling against him.

4. Babylon
The empire that conquered Judah and took its people into exile, serving as the backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies.

5. Covenant
The solemn agreement or promise, in this context, likely referring to the political covenant between Zedekiah and Nebuchadnezzar, which Zedekiah broke.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Oaths and Covenants
God takes oaths and covenants seriously, and breaking them has severe consequences. This underscores the importance of integrity and faithfulness in our commitments.

God's Sovereignty and Justice
God's declaration of judgment on Zedekiah demonstrates His sovereignty and justice. He holds individuals accountable for their actions, especially when they involve broken promises.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Zedekiah's rebellion serves as a warning about the consequences of disobedience to God's commands and the breaking of solemn agreements.

The Faithfulness of God
While humans may fail in their commitments, God remains faithful to His promises. This should encourage believers to trust in God's unchanging nature.

Repentance and Restoration
Although judgment is pronounced, God's ultimate desire is for repentance and restoration. Believers are called to turn back to God and seek His forgiveness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the breaking of covenants in Ezekiel 17:19 reflect on the importance of integrity in our own lives?

2. In what ways does the account of Zedekiah's rebellion serve as a warning for us today regarding the consequences of disobedience?

3. How can we apply the principle of God's faithfulness to our personal lives, especially when we face unfaithfulness from others?

4. What steps can we take to ensure that we honor our commitments and promises, both to God and to others?

5. How does understanding God's justice and mercy in Ezekiel 17:19 help us approach repentance and seek restoration in our relationship with Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 24-25
These chapters provide historical context for Zedekiah's reign and his rebellion against Babylon, which led to the fall of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 52
Offers a parallel account of Zedekiah's rebellion and the consequences that followed, emphasizing the seriousness of breaking covenants.

Numbers 30:2
Highlights the importance of keeping vows made before God, reinforcing the gravity of Zedekiah's broken oath.

Psalm 89:34
Speaks to God's faithfulness in keeping His covenant, contrasting human unfaithfulness.
A Parabolic Setting Forth of the Relations of Judah to Babylon and EgyptW. Jones Ezekiel 17:1-21
The Parable of the VineJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 17:1-21
The Sacredness of TreatiesJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 17:11-21
People
Ezekiel, Pharaoh
Places
Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria
Topics
Agreement, Bring, Broke, Broken, Covenant, Despised, Inflict, Oath, Punishment, Recompense, Requite, Says, Sovereign, Surely, Thus, Truly, Verily
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 17:16-21

     7773   prophets, role

Ezekiel 17:19-20

     1349   covenant, at Sinai

Library
Divine Destruction and Protection
CAN your minds fly back to the time when there was no time, to the day when there was no day but the Ancient of Days? Can you speed back to that period when God dwelt alone, when this round world and all the things that be upon it, had not come from his hand; when the sun flamed not in his strength, and the stars flashed not in their brightness? Can you go back to the period when there were no angels, when cherubim and seraphim had not been born; and, if there be creatures elder than they, when none
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

'As Sodom'
'Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4. And it came to pass, in the ninth year of his reign,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Bunyan's Last Sermon --Preached July 1688.
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God;" John i. 13. The words have a dependence on what goes before, and therefore I must direct you to them for the right understanding of it. You have it thus,--"He came to his own, but his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God." In
by John Bunyan—Miscellaneous Pieces

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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