Devotional on Ezekiel 17:24
God Brings Down and Lifts Up
Ezekiel 17:24 (ESV) — “And 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 is a powerful declaration of God’s sovereign rule over the nations and individuals alike. In the imagery of trees, the Lord reveals His ability to reverse human expectations and reorient power according to His purposes. The “high tree” and the “low tree” represent the proud and the humble, the exalted and the overlooked. God brings down the exalted and raises up the lowly, displaying His authority and justice.
The world often celebrates the strong, the successful, and the influential. But God’s kingdom operates differently. He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). When we rely on our own strength or seek greatness apart from Him, we risk becoming the “green tree” that God can dry up. But when we acknowledge our need and walk in humility, God can take even the “dry tree”—lifeless, weak, and withered—and cause it to flourish.
This verse speaks both warning and hope. It warns the proud that their strength is no match for God’s hand. It also offers hope to the humble and brokenhearted: God sees, He knows, and He has the power to lift you up in due time. The final words, “I have spoken, and I will do it,” remind us that God is not only sovereign but faithful. What He says, He accomplishes.
Let this verse deepen your trust in the Lord. No situation is too bleak for Him to redeem. No person is so small that He cannot raise them up for His glory. Submit to His will, trust in His timing, and know that He is Lord over all.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to walk in humility and trust in Your sovereign power. Uproot pride from my heart and cause me to flourish according to Your will. You bring down and lift up. I rest in Your perfect plan. Amen.
Thank You and God Bless
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