24And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it. Ezekiel 17:24
All the nations of the world shall know that God raises up powers and destroys powers as he sees fit.
In the days when Jesus walked the earth, the great kingdom of David had been destroyed and the Jews were looking for a new earthly king to restore their power. However, God had a different plan. We read in Matthew 21:5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, behold your King is coming to you, lowly and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” This lowly king was exalted to be the Savior of the world through his death and resurrection on the dry tree of the cross. Jesus died on a dry tree. Through this dry tree, we see that the “green tree” (Ezekiel 17:24) – the flourishing wickedness of this world— has been overcome. Psalm 37:35 says “I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away and was no more.”
Jesus said with His own words in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
Prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you for your grace and mercy sent to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. We pray that we would be good stewards of this mercy that was given to us and that it would flourish in our love and care for fellow people of all nations. We pray this is the name of Jesus. Amen.
Contributed by Paul Obermann