Ezekiel 17:23: “On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell.”
September 10th, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotionalGod spoke another powerful parable to His people, through His prophet Ezekiel, about their sin and the discipline and blessing He was bringing on them. The parable ends with a beautiful picture of the Messiah as a tree planted “on the mountain height of Israel,” with “birds of every sort” dwelling under it. Jesus Christ’s kingdom will indeed be established on a high mountain named Zion. He will come from the royal line of David, and both Jew and Gentile will find protection and great blessing under Him. Down to this day, believers anxiously await the fulfillment of this prophetic parable.
The ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey, by Homer, is the story of Ulysses, who after 10 years of fighting in the Trojan War, tries to return home, a journey which took another 10 years. Penelope, his beautiful wife had been waiting for her husband to return for 20 years. Assuming he was dead, many suitors urged Penelope to forget him and marry them. However, no matter how tempted or pressed, she remained true to her husband. At long last, Ulysses, disguised as a beggar, appeared one day among the suitors. He revealed that he was her long-lost husband by stringing his own great bow, which he alone was strong enough to bend and string. Penelope’s many years of faithfulness and fidelity were at last rewarded.
Even though the signs of Jesus’ return surround us, we are tempted to give up and give into the allure of the world. Paul the Apostle encourages us, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). In fact, none of the sufferings of this present time can separate us from God’s love. No matter what the circumstance, we are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us and is coming soon.
“Come quickly, LORD Jesus.”
