Ezekiel 17:1-21
The parable of the two great eagles and of the vine, explained in vv. 11-21, portrays in picture form the happenings which were then taking place. The king of Babylon, the first great eagle, takes captive Jehoiachin, feeble offspring of the royal cedar, and takes under his wing the vine of Judah. He places at its head Zedekiah, requiring him to take an oath in the name of the LORD. But the king of Judah does not hesitate to break his oath. So the king of Babylon, instrument in the LORD’s hand, chastises the treacherous prince and takes him also into captivity.
The crime of Zedekiah was particularly serious in this respect, that he dishonoured the name of the LORD before the nations. He showed in what low esteem this name was held by those upon whom it had been placed (Exodus 23:21). We, redeemed of the Lord Jesus, are responsible before the world to honour "that worthy name by the which ye are called" (James 2:7). Those around us watch us much more clearly than we realise; they will mercilessly draw attention to our inconsistencies, because they make use of them to excuse themselves. How can we then lead them to a Saviour for whom we have shown so little loyalty?