Verse 8 The nations set against him - The Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and the king of Babylon - king of many nations. He was taken - The city was taken by Nebuchadnezzar; and Jehoiakim was taken prisoner, and sent in chains to Babylon.

They - The house of Israel have summoned in all fit for arms. None - There is not a man going to the war. Wrath - That displeasure which takes away their courage.

Eze 19:1-9

The parable of the lion’s whelps.

I. THE LION-LIKE CHARACTER OF ISRAEL. This character was especially given to the tribe of Judah, from which the royal family came (Gen 49:9). There should be something of the better nature of the lion in the people of God.

1. Strength. With one blow of his paw the lion can break the neck of a bull. The nation of Israel was strong. The Church of God is strong with the might of God. God does not only save his children as weak creatures needing his shelter; he inspires them with strength.

2. Freedom. The lion is not a domestic animal, trained to wear the yoke like the patient ox. When he is caught and caged his proud spirit is broken. In a state of nature he roams at large over the desert. God gives liberty to his people. They are not his slaves; they are his free men.

3. Rule. The lion is regarded as the king of the fort, st. Israel in her greatness ruled over her neighbours politically; but spiritually she has since extended that rule over the civilized world. There is power and a ruling influence over minds in the Church of Christ.

4. Majesty. The lion looks more brave than he is. His lordly mane and noble bearing, and the thunder of his roar that echoes through the woods at night, impress men with a sense of awe. God has called his people to a position of greatness and honour.

II. THE FATE OF THE TWO WHELPS.

1. The disastrous fate of the first whelp. Jehoahaz behaves ill, and is carried in chains to Egypt (2Ki 23:32-34).

(1) His great sin is that he worked destruction. "It devored men." Sin is hurtful to ethers as well as to the sinner. When a man is in a position of power and influence this is especially the case. But "no man liveth unto himself." We are responsible for the harm done by our sin.

(2) His punishment is loss of liberty and banishment. The lion is taken in a pit, shackled with chains, and carried off to Egypt. Power to work ill will not last forever. The liberty that is abused in sin will be taken away. They who are unfaithful to God will be banished from God’s inheritance.

2. The similar fate of the second whelp. Jehoahaz is followed by Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, not only on the throne, but in evil conduct and in consequent punishment.

(1) Them is a succession in sin. This is not by natural inheritance nor by inevitable fate, but by a gathering together of various common influences, especially that of example. Yet the fate of former sinners should be a warning to their successors. Men are too ready to copy the misdeeds of predecessors, without waiting to consider the consequences of those misdeeds.

(2) There will be a succession in punishment. The resources of judgment are not exhausted. The band that smote Israel is strong to smite a faithless Christendom. The form of the punishment may vary, but the essence of it will be unchanged. Jehoahaz was sent to Egypt, Jehoiachin to Babylon; but the doom of the two was essentially the same. Moreover, in both cases, as the villagers assemble in a circle to catch a destructive lion, the neighbouring nations joined in the work of Egypt and Babylon. Sinners make many enemies.