Lion Whelps
Eze 19:1 Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
Lamentation; a song or dirge as at a funeral.
Jesus lamented over Jerusalem
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Eze 19:2 And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.
The mother lioness who had the whelps in this prophecy was referring to Jerusalem or the kingdom of Judah. I believe that the whelps mentioned here are two kings Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. Jehoiachin reigned only for three months. These were the kings of Judah before Zedekiah was enthroned by Nebuchadnezzer. This prophecy shows the last kings of Judah before the desolation of Jerusalem under Zedekiah, who did not come from Israel's roots.
We must watch out for kings who are put in place by foreign nations, we should know that they are of the nation they rule over and are loyal to it's people and not just a puppet of a foreign power. There is a lot in politics that is hidden from us. Who do the rulers serve? By their fruit you will know them.
Eze 19:3 And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
Eze 19:4 The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.
This was Jehoahaz who ruled for three months after King Josiah. The Egyptian Pharaoh, Necho 11 imprisoned him and made his older brother, Jehoiakim king of Judah.
Eze 19:5 Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
Eze 19:6 And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
Eze 19:7 And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
2Ch 36:5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
2Ch 36:6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
2Ch 36:7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
Jehoichin, was another who became king and only ruled for 3 months he was a destructive king until Nebuchadnezzer dethroned and deported him. He was in prison for 37 years until another king reigned in Babylon.
Eze 19:8 Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
Eze 19:9 And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
Eze 19:10 Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
Judah was a fruitful vine, producing many good kings blessed by the LORD.
Gen_49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
Pro_11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Isa_4:2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
Eze 19:11 And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
Zedekiah had many sons and was proud of his strength.
Eze 19:12 But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
Zedekiah was made king and he was from Babylon. He broke his treaty and King Nebuchadnezzar took him captive.
Eze 19:13 And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
Jer 11:15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
Jer 11:16 The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
Jer 11:17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
Eze 19:14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
The lamentation was an end to an era of kings ruling from the blood line of King David. There would be no king from the tribe of Judah until the Messiah Jesus returns to rule and reign during the Millennium.
A nation that turns from God to lust after other gods will lose it's ability to know truth and righteousness. To be free we must be loyal to God. Jesus comes first in a Christian's life. Our God is a God of love, but not a weak God. He is almighty and the protector of his people who obey him. If a nation turns from God they leave his protection and have little discernment, being fooled by enemy nations. Destruction may follow unless they return to the God of Israel.
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