The story of two eagles and God

Read Ezekiel 17.

God's word came to Ezekiel to communicate a parable.  A parable is a comparative story that most often needs an explanation.  The Bible is the best commentary on itself and gratefully this story is explained within the chapter.

The first great eagle was Nebuchadnezzar and the place, though called Lebanon in the story, refers to Jerusalem (v.12).  Lebanon was used to depict the stately cedars of that area.  As the eagle lopped off the top of the tree, so Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin and other key leaders to replant them in Babylon.  Then, he appointed Zedekiah to oversee Jerusalem (v.13).  Zedekiah took an oath of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar.  It was a step in bringing this area under Babylonian rule without destroying the city.

The second great eagle was Egypt.  It was a temptation to believe that, perhaps, with Egypt as an ally, the combined forces could relieve Judah of Babylon's control.  There were at least two problems with that thinking.  First, Egypt was no longer the powerful nation it once had been.  Second, the exile and control from Babylon had been ordered by God Himself (v.16-18).  Therefore, the rebellion was not only against the Babylonians but against God.  This disloyalty resulted in the LORD causing Nebuchadnezzar to return to destroy Jerusalem (v.20-21)

But God is not through with Israel.  In the closing verses of this parable, the LORD will pick His own top person and establish them to rule over all.  Finally, Israel's earthly peace, prosperity and world influence will be restored.  This, of course, did not happen in the return from Babylon and has yet to take place.  Such is the description of the earthly rule of Christ from David's throne in Jerusalem.  "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)