Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 19
This short chapter in the book of Ezekiel reads like a poem. In fact, God calls it a funeral song. This song is meant to be sung for the princes of Israel at the funeral of their leaders.
The poem used in this chapter depicts the imagery of a lioness and her cubs. The lioness first rears a strong young cub. But that cub becomes trapped and hauled away to Egypt.
After losing her first cub, the lioness then rears another cub. The second cub also grows strong and powerful. He devours prey and becomes a man-eater. But as with the first cub, the second cub becomes trapped on all sides and is captured and brought to Babylon.
The metaphor of the lioness and her cubs is meant to invoke the history and the future of the nation of Judah and its kings. Judah, the lioness, lost their King Jehoahaz to the nation of Egypt (see 2 Kings 23:31-33). After that loss, the great nation of Judah lost another king to Babylon: King Jehoiachin (see 2 Kings 24:8).
This funeral song that God shares with Ezekiel shows the tough times that Judah has gone through and will continue to see. Judah has lost its kings, it is being surrounded by enemies and they have delved deeply into idol worship. At this point, there is no more hope for the nation.
Key Verses:
“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.” ~ Ezekiel 19:10
“Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.” ~ Ezekiel 19:14
Questions to ponder:
- A funeral song is typically used to invoke a certain mood. What kind of emotions does this song evoke?
- How else have poems and songs been used to present God’s word?
