For Israel has turned away from what is good; they pursued the enemy; they sought to rule independently, not in My will; they had leaders and did not allow Me to be known; they created idols from their silver and gold, leading to their demise. The text has been translated: let there be a trumpet in your throat, while the Hebrew is alechchac sophar, similarly rendered by Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion. The Septuagint uniquely states: in their inner being as if the earth, though its precise meaning is unclear. Some suggest it pertains to the lower garment, reaching from the reproductive parts to the feet, or as a bay, like the Adriatic or the Marmara; they argue that the false prophets, who have followed the errors of the Egyptians, carry within them everything that indulges in lust and worldly desires, without seeking the true riches.
However, adhering to the authentic Hebrew text, we shall continue our explanation in order. A command is given to the prophet, saying: Let there be a trumpet in your throat, meaning raise your voice like a trumpet so that many may hear, as many have sinned. When you lift your voice, declare loudly: Like an eagle upon the house of the Lord. This signifies that Nebuchadnezzar and his entire army will arrive with the swiftness of an eagle hunting its prey, coming specifically to Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God, to lay waste to it. Ezekiel elaborates on this eagle (Ezekiel 17), describing it with great wings, feathers, and claws, commanding to enter Lebanon, or the temple of God, as the prophet Zechariah noted: Open your doors, O Lebanon, and let the fire consume your cedars (Zechariah 11:1). Therefore, I instruct you, O prophet, that there be a trumpet in your throat, that you proclaim loudly that the king of the Chaldeans will assault the house of the Lord; and I command this because they have broken My covenant and abandoned My service. Consequently, in their deepest distress, when captivity arrives, they will call out to Me, confessing: My God, we Israel know You; we who bear the name Israel claim You, holding onto the honored name of Jacob, favored by You as Israel. Yet the Lord will respond: How can you be called Israel when you have rejected what is good, namely your Lord, the God who granted you that name? Since Israel has turned from goodness, the Assyrian enemy will pursue them and take them captive because they forsook Me, their King, seeking a king for themselves as the other nations have, acting against My will. This was highlighted by Samuel, who warned them about the burdens of kingship, stating: Their sons and daughters will serve the kings (1 Samuel 8), urging them to return to the Lord as their true King. Yet, contrary to God's desire, they chose kings for themselves. Their dissatisfaction did not end there; they compounded their sin by transforming their silver and gold, intended for beauty and provision, into idols. Thus, Saul became king, not by God's will but by the error of the people, and as he lacked a foundation of righteousness, he quickly succumbed to wickedness upon assuming his reign. The phrase: They ruled but not through My direction, they had princes but I did not acknowledge them, may also refer to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, along with the leaders who followed him. Although God was displeased with Solomon and intended for his kingdom to be divided, this does not justify Israel's choice to appoint a king. According to the law, it was imperative to inquire of the Lord whether He approved. It is even stated of the Savior that it is fitting for the Son of Man to be betrayed, but woe to the one who betrays Him (Luke 22:22).
Often in Scripture, the devil is likened to an eagle aspiring to nest above the stars of heaven: Though you soar like an eagle, I will cast you down from there, says the Lord (Obadiah 1:4). Additionally, there is a warning against the eye that mocks a father and distresses aged mothers—the vultures will devour the young eagles (Proverbs 30:17)—signifying a loss of clarity of vision due to the devil and his demons. Thus, the law prohibits the eating of the eagle (Leviticus 11). This eagle will assault the gatherings of heretics, once the house of the Lord, because they have violated God's covenant, disregarded His law, and unjustly invoke Me while claiming: You are My God, and we have known You, we who are called Israel, who see God and carry the name of Christ. Their calls are futile, for they have chosen kings for themselves, acted contrary to My will, and installed leaders whom I do not recognize, as they are unworthy of My acknowledgment. All their silver, gold, and anything derived from their hearts, through words and thoughts, have turned into idols; they did not intend for this transformation to lead to their destruction, yet as a result of it, they faced demise. They did not act for self-destruction, yet because they did so, they faced demise as a consequence.
THEOSIS