“Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”
(Ezekiel 17:22-24)

This curious passage from Ezekial is part of a larger parable God gives Ezekial regarding God’s judgment on King Zedekiah of Judah – and the people of Judah by proxy.  For more information on the parable itself and its meaning, check out this brief explanation at Bible Gateway.

To distill the whole scenario down a bit, Judah’s leadership had wholesale ignored all of God’s prophets and their prophetic warnings regarding Judah’s need to repent of all its bloodshed, idolatry, injustice, licentiousness, and outright disregard for God.  Leading up to the Babylonian captivity and exile, Judah’s morality had ebbed to its lowest point, striking rock bottom, and permanently breaking its moral compass.  Instead of simply turning to Yahweh, repenting, and embracing His covenant again, Judah’s leaders felt they could negotiate their own course to peace with Babylon.  When it was obvious that wasn’t possible, they (Zedekiah) turned to the Pharaoh of Egypt instead for military support, a move which would ultimately cost him the kingdom, and his very life.  When, all along, God was beckoning him, and all of Judah, to repent and to trust in His wisdom.

It’s extremely sad….tragic really, when in duress we choose to run to every other human resource imaginable instead of the reliable, compassionate, strong arms of our Holy God and King.

And despite this sad state of affairs for Zedekiah and the unrepentant masses of Judah, God still brings a promise.  He will swoop down as the ultimate Eagle, break off His own sprig, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.  It will become a dwelling for every type of bird and a shade for all who are harassed and “lowly” in spirit.   This is a messianic prophecy and that “tender shoot” planted by God’s design in the driest, most unlikely mountain dwelling is none other than Jesus Christ.

I believe this Ezekial parable has two messages for us today:

First, it’s never too late to turn to Christ in repentance.  The worst thing we can do is trust in our own cleverness, resourcefulness, or strength.  It is our nature to try to run to human powers, institutions, and game plans when life gets challenging instead of running immediately to God.  This was Judah’s devastating tendency, and it continues to be ours today.   Whatever you are facing, before you consider anything else, run to God and His mercies.  His strength and wisdom is ultimate and unending.  He may lead you to pursue help from human resources or institutions, but if you don’t start with Him you’ll miss the path He intends for you.

Second, Christ is that tree planted on the heights (the desolate, unexpected places) that beyond comprehension or explanation, becomes a life-giving shelter and resource of strength to all the weary and beaten-up in spirit who flock to His branches.  I find that comforting.  God didn’t plant Him in the middle of the most fertile valley or by an Oasis – as if He was a desert mirage – but He is right there present in the midst of our desolate places and life experiences.  Isaiah prophetically described Him as a man accustomed to suffering, bruised and afflicted for our iniquity.   All for our redemption.  Jesus suffered, and that brings us great comfort, because He KNOWS suffering, and He KNOWS bitterness of soul.  But He also knows victory, resurrection, and redemption.

With a Savior like this, why would we ever run to an inferior worldly or human alternative?  Today, whatever it is you are suffering, whatever affliction you bear, run to God first, cry out to Christ and find shelter in His sturdy, weather-worn, resilient, and life-giving branches.