Ezekiel 19:5

Ezekiel 19:5 says, Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.  God said that when the people saw that they had waited too long and were lost that they took another young lion to be their redeemer.  This was Jehoiakim, who was made king after Jehoahaz was taken away to captivity in Egypt.  Unfortunately, he was no better than Jehoahaz.  The people of Judah were still looking to find their own king instead of repenting and turning to God and allowing Him to appoint their king.  We can never be successful spiritually as individuals or as a nation if we look to our own ability in selecting our leaders instead of looking to God.   

Verse six adds, And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.  God said that Jehoiakim became as a young lion who was good at catching its prey.  Like his brother, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim began to oppress his own people.  He did not return to God in a covenant relationship with Him.  If we are being overpowered in life, we need to look to God for strength and not to any man.   

Verse seven continues, And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.  Jehoiakim began to plunder the people of Judah for his own glory and enrichment.  The leaders of the church and even of the nation if we are to be a Christian nation cannot use others to enrich themselves while those underneath them are in need.   

Verse eight starts, Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.  God said that when Jehoiakim became too corrupt that the nations around him took him away captive as well.  We cannot look to an earthly leader to bring us salvation, and if we do, we will be led away captive by sin, no matter how many so-called deliverers we may raise up.  Jesus Christ is the only Deliverer there is, and if we don’t put our faith in Him, we will one day be taken away forever to everlasting punishment as captives of sin.   

Verse nine adds, And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. Jehoiakim was taken away captive to Babylon, and his voice was no longer heard in Israel.  When we fail to put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will one day be taken away captive to sin and sent to everlasting punishment and our voice will no longer be heard in God’s kingdom, no matter how great and powerful we may have been in the world.