And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
Fire is gone out of a rod of her branches. The Jews' disaster was to be ascribed, not so much to the Chaldeans as to themselves; the "fire out of the rod" is God's wrath kindled by the perjury of Zedekiah (Ezekiel 17:18), who is meant by the "rod of her branches." "The anger of the Lord" against Judah is specified as the cause why Zedekiah was permitted to rebel against Babylon (2 Kings 24:20; cf. Judges 9:15), thus bringing Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem.
So that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule - no more kings of David's stock are now to rule the nation. Not at least until "the Lord shall send the rod of his strength (Messiah, Psalms 110:2; Isaiah 11:1) out of Zion," to reign first as a spiritual, then hereafter as a literal king.
This is ... and shall be for a lamentation. Part of the lamentation (that as to Jehoahaz and Jehoiakin) was matter of history as already accomplished; part (as to Zedekiah) was yet to be fulfilled; or, he explains it, this prophecy both is a subject for lamentation, and shall be so to distant posterity.
Remarks:
(1) The prophet utters an elegy over the fallen princes of David's royal line. Jerusalem, once "the lion of God," being valiant for the truth, was now become a mere beast of prey, feeding on the corrupt carcasses of the pagan idolatries around her, and as a savage lioness accustoms her cubs to her own ways, she reared the princes of the blood-royal in her own abominable practices. A people and their rulers generally act and re-act one upon the other, so that it might be said, "like prince like people" (cf. Hosea 4:9).
(2) The result of the violence of the Jewish princes was, they were made, in righteous retribution, to feel themselves the violence which they used against others. Those who terrify and enslave others are justly punished by being given over to terror and captivity themselves (Ezekiel 19:4; Ezekiel 19:8). Jehoiakim, not taking warning from the fatal effects to Jehoahaz of reckless violence, practiced every oppression and tyranny in gratification of his own insatiable cupidity (Jeremiah 22:13-17), and so fell into the same pit, being taken captive to Babylon, as Jehoahaz was taken captive to Egypt. As he had made desolate the palaces of others (Ezekiel 19:7), so was his own palace desolated by Nebuchadnezzar, so far as his tenancy of it was concerned. All who make might their right shall rightly be made to feel the superior might of the Almighty Ruler and Judge of the earth.
(3) Jerusalem was once the flourishing vine of the Lord, and her princes its fruitful branches. She ones bare scions, such as David and Solomon, who wielded the sceptres of far-reaching dominion (Ezekiel 19:11). But unfaithfulness to her God marred all her prosperity and glory. She was plucked up in fury, cast down to the ground, her fruit dried up, her rods broken and consumed by the fire (Ezekiel 19:12). Behold the terrible consequences of sin! Iniquity makes the sinners to become as tinder, ready for destruction, when the fury of the Lord applies the flame.
(4) Jerusalem still has a root left, but it is as a root in a dry ground. She now is as a wild vine in a dry and thirsty wilderness (Ezekiel 19:13), bearing no fruit unto God, and having "no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule" (Ezekiel 19:14). The time is, however, ere long coming when "Yahweh shall send the rod of His strength out of Zion" (Psalms 110:2). Messiah shall come again as "the Deliverer," who "shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Romans 11:26). He is not only a strong rod for the sceptre, but is Himself the true and living Vine. Let us by faith sit under His shadow with great delight, so we shall find His fruit sweet to the taste (Song of Solomon 2:3): and at His second coming we shall by sight enjoy His presence, and partake of the new and better fruit of the vine, which He will drink with His people in the Father's kingdom (Matthew 26:29).