It was my observation that the informal lamenting by Ezekiel is now being authored by God. In the case of chapter 19, the lamentation is about the leaders of Jerusalem. When we read in this lamentation about princes of Israel, I think we are talking about a king. I think God calls the king ‘a prince’ as a ‘dig’. He has no respect for them. Some interpreters seem to think we are reading about Jehoahaz the lion and Jehoiachin the cub that became a strong lion.
Ezekiel begins the message and listens as much as he speaks. I suspect he takes the message to heart. Ezekiel grieves as he observes the Hebrew kings mistreat their people. He grieves that the kings do not place a value on the covenant of God.
Ezekiel 19:1-9 says — Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel and say: What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater. The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt. When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, he took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion. He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater. [NIV]
The story behind the lamentation begins in the early days of Israel’s transition from Judges to Kings. The Hebrews had problems when Eli (a judge), getting older, appointed his two sons as judges. They turned out to be unacceptable (1 Samuel 2:22-25). I suspect that Eli the Judge knew his sons were problematic, perhaps he hoped the role would raise their behavior to an acceptable level. But, alas, it did not. His sons did not walk with God, rather they pursued personal gain. They took bribes and thwarted justice. The boys had real problems so God removed them (1 Samuel 2:12-36).
Samuel was next in line. Fast forward to 1 Samuel 8, we see more problems with the Judges and we get to the point of this line of reasoning. Israel rejects Samuel as a Judge. Samuel had similar issues with his sons as Eli did. By now the Hebrews were done with the system of Judges. They wanted something different. At this point things get messy. The Hebrew elders visited Samuel’s home and mentioned that Samuel was getting older and his sons were troublesome. They had lost confidence in the system of Judges. They wanted Samuel to appoint a king (1 Samuel 8:4-5). This caused Samuel much displeasure, he complained to God.
The reply to Samuel was simple — Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim his rights. (see 1 Samuel 8:7-9).
And claim his rights the king did. Look again at the passage from Ezekiel. We see a leader who is abusing his power and abusing his people. The King has claimed his rights. A horrid mess was created when the Hebrews started the gradual separation from the path God set for them. The nation died from a gradual decline and a thousand cuts. The Hebrew line of kings turned out to be a trail of tears that lead to the exile. There were bright spots of hope, but we know that many of the kings were near vipers. It is remarkable that God offered grace and mercy all through this period to his people. It is equally remarkable they often resisted the offer of mercy. I choose Jesus.