23. I shall plant it on the highest mountain in Israel. It will put out branches and bear fruit and grow into a noble cedar tree. Every kind of bird will live beneath it, every kind of winged creature will rest in the shade of its branches.
Ezekiel 17 is a chapter in which the prophet uses a metaphor to portray Israel's infidelity in relation to God. He compares the nation to a great cedar that, instead of trusting God, seeks support in other nations and gods, which leads to his fall and destruction. To find verses related to the topics covered in Ezekiel 17, the themes of infidelity, confidence in other nations and fall were considered. Following are five verses chosen in order of proximity to these themes:
Jeremiah 2:13: "For my people have committed two evils: They abandoned me the source of living water; and they dug cisterns, cracked cisterns that do not retain water." This verse talks about Israel's infidelity by abandoning God, which is the source of life and joy to seek satisfaction in other things.
Isaiah 30:1-2: "Woe to the rebellious children! - Oracle of the Lord - who take action, but not mine, who make covenants, but without my spirit, accumulating sin over sin! , seeking refuge in the strength of Pharaoh, in the shadow of Egypt seek shelter! " This verse denounces Israel's confidence in other nations, without seeking the guidance of God, which results in more sin and infidelity.
Jeremiah 13:23: "Can an Ethiopian change your skin, or a leopard to your blemishes? In the same way, you, who got used to doing evil, are unable to do good." This verse talks about the inevitability of the fall of Israel, which got used to doing evil and turned away from God.
Hosea 14:3: "Assyria will not save us, we will no longer assemble horses, we will no longer call the works of our hands. In you the orphan finds compassion." This verse portrays the transformation that should occur in Israel, which needs to abandon your trust in other nations and return to God, which is the only one capable of saving them.
Isaiah 31:1: "Woe to those who come down to Egypt in search of help, who trust horses, war cars, crowds of carriers, horses and knights, but do not put their trust in the saint of Israel, nor or seek the Lord! " This verse reinforces the message that confidence in other nations and earthly things leads to fall and destruction, and that the only safe source of salvation is God.
“De que vale perder-se em vãos temores?” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
