As parents slowly turned toward me,
To ask, “Oh, Pastor, why?”
I have held the youthful husband’s head,
And felt death’s heave and sigh.
A widow looked through tears and said,
“Dear Pastor, tell me why?”
I have seen a gold-star mother weep,
And hold a picture nigh
Her lonely breast, and softly ask,
“Why? Pastor, why, oh, why?”
I have walked away from babyland,
Where still-born babies lie.
A mother stretches empty arms,
And asks me, “Pastor, why?”
I have watched my drunken Father leave
Our home, and say “good-bye,”
While looking into Mother’s face
I asked, “Please tell me why?”
I have heard the white-tipped tapping cane,
Which leads a blinded eye.
And then a darkened, lonely voice
Cries, Preacher, show me why.”
I have caught a fiancee’s burning tears,
And heard her lonely cry.
She held an unused wedding gown,
And shouted, “Pastor, why?”
I have heard the cancer patient say,
” Tis gain for me to die;”
Then look into his daughter’s face,
And mutely whisper, “Why?”
I have seen a father take his life,
A widow stands nearby;
As little children say, “Dear Mom,
The Preacher’ll tell us why.”
I’ve seen my mother stand beside
Two tiny graves and cry.
And though she’s never let me know,
I knew she wondered, “Why?”
I’ve heard an orphan faintly say,
Who gazed into the sky,
“Tho Mom and Dad have gone away,
My Preacher will know why.”
I tiptoed to my Father’s throne,
So timid and so shy,
To say, “Dear God, some of Your own
Are wanting to know why.”
I heard him say so tenderly,
“Their eyes I’ll gladly dry,
Tho they must look through faith today,
“If now they find the reasons that
Their hopes have gone awry,
In Heaven, they will miss the joy
Of hearing Me tell why.”
And so I’ve found it pleases Him
When I can testify,
“I’ll trust my God to do what’s best,
And wait to find out why.” Jack Hyles
In Ezekiel 17 came a great bird, he seized the top of a cedar tree, plucked off its highest branch. He carried it away to a city filled with merchants. Took also a seedling from the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside a broad river, where it could grow like a willow tree. It became a low spreading vine, its branches turned up toward the eagle.
But then another great eagle came with broad wings and full plumage. So the vine now turned its roots and branches toward him for water, even though it was already planted in good soil and had plenty of water. it had grown into a splendid vine and produced rich leaves and luscious fruit.
So, here’s the meaning: The original Jewish king was plucked out and transplanted to Babylon. A “vassal” king was instated in Jerusalem to rule now. Nebuchadnezzar (eagle), of Babylon and Zedikiah in Jerusalem made a covenant; Zedikiah, of course had no real choice here.
Then the “vassal” king wanted freedom from the Babylonian king. Another eagle came; Egypt, and promised to help Zedikiah escape the jurisdiction imposed on him. However, to come out from under the king of Babylon, the covenant had to be broken; one made before God.
God had arranged the covenant in His benevolence. He was disciplining His people in order to secure their hearts in repentance and brokenness. They had rebelled against Yahwah. His chastisement included exile for some and the vassalage at home for the rest. In both cases they were made subject to a foreign ruler. Again, the goal was to humble them and cause them to return heart-wise to their God. Had Zedikiah complied, peace would ensue and some ability to prosper at home. He opted for fleshly rebellion.
There is another eagle in Deuteronomy. “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings,” Deuteronomy 32:11 Beloved Our God will bear us up on wings and we will fly. In humility we may not get questions replied to, but, Our Father carries us above the clouds. We may live under some oppression, but, we can lift our weary heads, and fly away with Him.
Finally, don’t dispair for the lack of feedback, God never ultimately turned His back on His people, neither will He forsake us. Some questions are not going to get answered in this lifetime, but God cares. We will find out in heaven. There is yet another bird. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37 They didn’t but we can. He loves us with a mother’s heart. love ya
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