THE RIDDLER

“Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 17:2 HCSB)

The comics, television shows, and now the movie series have made Batman a worldwide icon. Yesterday, for my little grandson, Josh’s birthday party, he had a Batman cake, plates and some Batman toys received as gifts. That is but one example of this phenomenon.

Of course, every event associated with Batman has not been such a happy one, as we recall the slaughterhouse a movie theater became when James Holmes invaded during a showing of a Batman movie with guns blazing. The carnage was horrible.

Famous or infamous, however, the Batman brand lives on.

One of the archenemies of Batman is the Riddler. He was always speaking in riddles, leaving little hints of where and what his next crime would be. The Riddler liked living on the edge—and was mentally over the edge—insanely brilliant and diabolically psychopathic.

Many in Ezekiel’s day would have branded him in a similar way. Sin had so warped their thinking that they thought these prophets were bad because they spoke of bad things. They had been given a message of judgment and the people did not want to hear it. They prophesied and performed in a manner that caused people to think they were lunatics. Indeed, sometimes God did speak through them in riddles. Ezekiel was the original “Riddler” and we hear the mockery of the people who heard him. Well, they accused Jesus and Paul of being out of their minds also.

“Then I said, ‘Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, “Isn't he [just] posing riddles?”’” (Ezekiel 20:49)

Indeed, preachers can be somewhat, “eccentric.” I had a young child that used to call me, “The creature” instead of “the preacher.” Children are so honest!

There are four riddles given in today’s reading that not so cryptically conveyed the message of God’s wrath. That they were interspersed with pointed preaching made them illustrations that should have been clear as to their meaning had it not been for the willful blindness of the people.

The riddle of the SOARING EAGLES is found in chapter seventeen.

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.

You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:

A great eagle with great wings, long pinions, and full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar. He plucked off its topmost shoot, brought it to the land of merchants, and set it in a city of traders. Then he took some of the land's seed and put it in a fertile field; he set it [like] a willow, a plant by abundant waters.

It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height with its branches turned toward him, yet its roots stayed under it. So it became a vine, produced branches, and sent out shoots.
But there was another great eagle with great wings and thick plumage. And this vine bent its roots toward him! It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed, so that he might water it.

It had been planted in a good field by abundant waters in order to produce branches,
bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.

You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:

Will it flourish? Will he not tear out its roots and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels? All its fresh leaves will wither! Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots.

Even though it is planted, will it flourish? Won't it completely wither when the east wind strikes it? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted." (v.1-10)

The great eagle is the king of Babylon. He plucked off the “topmost shoot.” That was King Jehoaichin who was taken to Babylon. The seed that remained were the Jews who had been subjugated, and were left in Jerusalem to care for Nebuchadnezzar’s newly acquired territory. So long as they were rooted in submission to him, they prospered under the Babylonian vassal Zedekiah.

But, there was another eagle—the Pharaoh of Egypt—and Zedekiah saw in him an ally to aid his rebellion against Babylon. That did not turn out well! Babylon swept back in like a sirocco and withered the vine. Zedekiah was captured when Jerusalem fell, blinded, after he watched his sons put to death, and taken into exile. Read 2 Chronicles 36 for an overview of these events.

Yet, even in this message of judgment, there is a word of hope.

“This is what the Lord God says:

I will take [a sprig] from the lofty top of the cedar and plant [it]. I will pluck a tender sprig
from its topmost shoots, and I will plant [it] on a high towering mountain. I will plant it on Israel's high mountain so that it may bear branches, produce fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.

Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord. I bring down the tall tree, and make the low tree tall. I cause the green tree to wither and make the withered tree thrive. I, Yahweh, have spoken and I will do [it].” (v.22-24)

This tender sprig is a prophecy of Messiah, born of the royal line of Judah who grows into the majestic cedar who will eventually rule over all the nations and restore Israel.

The riddle of THE SOUR GRAPES is found in chapter eighteen.

"What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel: The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live’--[this is] the declaration of the Lord God-‘you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.

Look, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son--both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.” (v.2-4)

This riddle which Ezekiel repeats is not meant to confirm it, but to contradict it. The prophet was, in this case, correcting their faulty theology. The Jews blamed their suffering on their forefathers and were not willing to accept responsibility themselves. This “blame game” is as old as man—Adam and Eve, when confronted over their sin led Adam to point to Eve and Eve to point to the Serpent and the Serpent could not point—he had no fingers! It is almost as ludicrous as a President four years into his term blaming the former President for his failed policies—of course, we realize that would never happen. Or, perhaps it might.

The fact is, that is human nature. But, we never find forgiveness until we admit our own failings. This opens the way to repentance and that is what is desperately needed. Forgiveness is what God desires—mercy and not judgment is what He is pleased to bring—if we will only humbly admit we are sinners and turn to Him from our wicked ways. Listen to this precious plea from a God of pity:

“’Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.’ [This is] the declaration of the Lord God. ‘Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment. Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel?

For I take no pleasure in anyone's death.’ [This is] the declaration of the Lord God. ‘So repent and live!’” (v.30-32)

The riddle of the SNARED LIONS is found in chapter nineteen, verses one through nine.

"’Now, lament for the princes of Israel and say:

What was your mother? A lioness! She lay down among the lions; she reared her cubs among the young lions. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion.
After he learned to tear prey, he devoured people.

When the nations heard about him, he was caught in their pit. Then they led him away with hooks to the land of Egypt.

When she saw that she waited [in vain], that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion. He prowled among the lions, and he became a young lion. After he learned to tear prey, he devoured people. He devastated their strongholds and destroyed their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring. Then the nations from the surrounding provinces set out against him. They spread their net over him; he was caught in their pit.

They put a wooden yoke on him with hooks and led him away to the king of Babylon.
They brought him into the fortresses so his roar could no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel.” (v.1-9)

Judah is the lioness from whom the kings of the Davidic dynasty were sired. They were as lions, the king of the jungle. Specifically, this riddle spoke of Jehoahaz who was carried captive into Egypt by Pharaoh Necho and Jehoiachin who was captured and brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. See 2 Kings 23-24 if you need a refresher on the details.

We are again reminded that the rise and fall of nations—the ebb and flow of leaders—is all under the sovereign direction of the King of kings, the Lord of all. The ruler who roars in power today, may be put in a cage, helpless as a kitten tomorrow. God is still God—and we are not! The narcissist who struts in arrogance through the halls of power is treading on rotten flooring that can suddenly collapse.

The riddle of the SCORCHING FLAMES is found in chapter nineteen, beginning with verse ten, through chapter twenty.

“Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of plentiful waters. It had strong branches, [fit] for the scepters of rulers; its height towered among the clouds. So it was conspicuous for its height as well as its many branches. But it was uprooted in fury, thrown to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were torn off and dried up; fire consumed them. Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

Fire has gone out from its main branch and has devoured its fruit, so that it no longer has a strong branch, a scepter for ruling. This is a lament and should be used as a lament.” (19:10-14)

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev, and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it.

Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished." (20:45-48)

God would bring the fire of His fury on the nation. Despite all He had done for them, they had defied the Lord and deified themselves—living according to their own lustful desires and denying God’s designs for them.

The riddle wasn’t difficult to solve. There should have been no puzzle about it. In fact, Ezekiel delivers a powerful exposition of this truth in 20:1-43. But, the Jews were in fact in such a state of spiritual stupor that they didn’t grasp it. Instead, they scorned the “Riddler” and rejected his preaching. Just the ranting of a madman—that was their foolish conclusion.

Yet, once again, the compassionate God honors His covenant in promising that out of the fire, though sinners are consumed, His nation would be refined. Israel would be reborn. The fire would make them into a sweet-smelling sacrifice in the nostrils of the Lord.

"’When you say, “Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of [other] countries, worshiping wood and stone,” what you have in mind will never happen. As I live’-the declaration of the Lord God-‘I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath. I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath. I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples and enter into judgment with you there face to face. Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you.’ [This is] the declaration of the Lord God. ‘I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

‘As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols. For on My holy mountain, Israel's high mountain’-the declaration of the Lord God-‘there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts, all your holy offerings. When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate My holiness through you in the sight of the nations. When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your fathers, you will know that I am the Lord. There you will remember your ways and all your deeds that you have defiled yourselves with, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.

You will know that I am the Lord, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts.’ [This is] the declaration of the Lord God.” (20:32-44)

How patient is our God! Now, that is puzzling—when we merit judgment—every one of us. The Holy One who is utterly just, will yet justify sinners who repent! How can He do both? No riddle—it is through His Son, Jesus Christ. When His people are unfaithful, he abides faithful still. This is our hope and joy! God is good, even if we are not! He has chosen to love the unlovely. That is the great mystery—the wonder of His love!