Ezekiel 28: A Study of Pride, Power, and Prophecy
The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.
Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,
And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord God.
Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God.
Ezekiel 28 presents a powerful message about pride, its consequences, and God's ultimate sovereignty. This chapter contains oracles against Tyre and Sidon, cities known for their wealth and influence, and within the oracle against Tyre, a profound revelation about the spiritual forces at play behind earthly power. Let's delve into the depths of Ezekiel 28.
The Arrogance of Tyre's Ruler (Ezekiel 28:1-10)
Ezekiel's third oracle focuses on the ruler of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:2), a city renowned for its maritime trade and prosperity. This leader, consumed by pride, declared, "I am a god!" (Ezekiel 28:2). God's response is direct and humbling: "Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god" (Ezekiel 28:2). The king's arrogance stemmed from his perceived wisdom and the immense wealth he amassed through skillful trading (Ezekiel 28:3-5). He even considered himself wiser than Daniel, a figure known for his God-given wisdom.
However, God had a different fate in store for this prideful ruler. Like the people of Tyre, the king would be brought down to the Pit (Ezekiel 28:8) upon the city's fall. He would suffer the death of the uncircumcised, a humiliating end reserved for God's enemies (Ezekiel 28:9-10). This serves as a stark reminder that earthly power and perceived wisdom are fleeting and insignificant compared to God's authority.
Beyond the King: Unveiling the Power Behind the Throne (Ezekiel 28:11-19)
The fourth and final oracle against the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:11-19 has captivated commentators for centuries. Many believe that these verses extend beyond the earthly ruler and address Satan himself. The descriptions in Ezekiel 28:12-19 are too grand and profound to be applied solely to a human king, especially one whom God has already clearly defined as merely human.
This section unveils the power influencing the king – Lucifer, whose pride led him to rebel against God in heaven, becoming Satan. He was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty; he was in Eden, the garden of God (Ezekiel 28:12-13).
Satan was not just any angel; he was an "anointed guardian cherub" (Ezekiel 28:14), one of the highest-ranking created beings. He stood in God's very presence, leading the angelic host in worship and service. How, then, did wickedness find its way into this exalted being (Ezekiel 28:15)?
God granted Lucifer the freedom to choose – to serve Him willingly, not by compulsion. God desires genuine worship. Lucifer chose to rebel, attempting to usurp God's rule.
As a consequence of his rebellion, he was expelled in disgrace from heaven and cast down to earth because of his pride (Ezekiel 28:16-17). Revelation 20:10 reveals his ultimate destiny: to be "thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur...tormented day and night forever."
This passage highlights the origin of evil and the devastating consequences of pride and rebellion against God. Hell was created for Satan and the angels who joined him in his rebellion (Matthew 25:41). People go to hell because they also choose to align themselves with Satan by rejecting God's offer of salvation through Christ (John 3:18-21).
Judgment on Sidon and a Promise of Restoration (Ezekiel 28:20-26)
Following the extensive judgment on Tyre and Satan, the oracle against Tyre's neighbor, Sidon (Ezekiel 28:20-26), may seem less dramatic. Sidon's specific sins are not detailed, likely because of its close association with Tyre. Nevertheless, judgment against the city was certain. God's glory would be revealed when this pagan center was brought down, forcing its people to acknowledge His holiness (Ezekiel 28:22-23).
Sidon, like Tyre, treated God's people with contempt (Ezekiel 28:24). Its downfall would bring relief to Israel. This judgment broadens into a promise of future restoration. God promises to regather Israel in the millennial kingdom, granting them true peace and rest from all their enemies (Ezekiel 28:25-26).
Key Takeaways from Ezekiel 28
Ezekiel 28 offers several important lessons:
- Pride Leads to Destruction: The downfall of Tyre's ruler and Satan himself serves as a powerful warning against pride and arrogance.
- God's Sovereignty: God is the ultimate authority, and no earthly power can challenge His rule.
- The Origin of Evil: The chapter provides insight into the rebellion of Lucifer and the source of evil in the world.
- Hope for the Future: Despite judgment, God promises restoration and peace for His people.
Ezekiel 28 reminds us to remain humble before God, to recognize His sovereignty, and to seek His grace and mercy. While the chapter contains warnings of judgment, it also offers hope for a future of peace and restoration for those who trust in Him. This chapter serves as a potent reminder of the spiritual battle that rages around us and the importance of choosing God's path over the allure of pride and power.
The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.
Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,
And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord God.
Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God.
Ezekiel 28 presents a powerful message about pride, its consequences, and God's ultimate sovereignty. This chapter contains oracles against Tyre and Sidon, cities known for their wealth and influence, and within the oracle against Tyre, a profound revelation about the spiritual forces at play behind earthly power. Let's delve into the depths of Ezekiel 28.
The Arrogance of Tyre's Ruler (Ezekiel 28:1-10)
Ezekiel's third oracle focuses on the ruler of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:2), a city renowned for its maritime trade and prosperity. This leader, consumed by pride, declared, "I am a god!" (Ezekiel 28:2). God's response is direct and humbling: "Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god" (Ezekiel 28:2). The king's arrogance stemmed from his perceived wisdom and the immense wealth he amassed through skillful trading (Ezekiel 28:3-5). He even considered himself wiser than Daniel, a figure known for his God-given wisdom.
However, God had a different fate in store for this prideful ruler. Like the people of Tyre, the king would be brought down to the Pit (Ezekiel 28:8) upon the city's fall. He would suffer the death of the uncircumcised, a humiliating end reserved for God's enemies (Ezekiel 28:9-10). This serves as a stark reminder that earthly power and perceived wisdom are fleeting and insignificant compared to God's authority.
Beyond the King: Unveiling the Power Behind the Throne (Ezekiel 28:11-19)
The fourth and final oracle against the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:11-19 has captivated commentators for centuries. Many believe that these verses extend beyond the earthly ruler and address Satan himself. The descriptions in Ezekiel 28:12-19 are too grand and profound to be applied solely to a human king, especially one whom God has already clearly defined as merely human.
This section unveils the power influencing the king – Lucifer, whose pride led him to rebel against God in heaven, becoming Satan. He was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty; he was in Eden, the garden of God (Ezekiel 28:12-13).
Satan was not just any angel; he was an "anointed guardian cherub" (Ezekiel 28:14), one of the highest-ranking created beings. He stood in God's very presence, leading the angelic host in worship and service. How, then, did wickedness find its way into this exalted being (Ezekiel 28:15)?
God granted Lucifer the freedom to choose – to serve Him willingly, not by compulsion. God desires genuine worship. Lucifer chose to rebel, attempting to usurp God's rule.
As a consequence of his rebellion, he was expelled in disgrace from heaven and cast down to earth because of his pride (Ezekiel 28:16-17). Revelation 20:10 reveals his ultimate destiny: to be "thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur...tormented day and night forever."
This passage highlights the origin of evil and the devastating consequences of pride and rebellion against God. Hell was created for Satan and the angels who joined him in his rebellion (Matthew 25:41). People go to hell because they also choose to align themselves with Satan by rejecting God's offer of salvation through Christ (John 3:18-21).
Judgment on Sidon and a Promise of Restoration (Ezekiel 28:20-26)
Following the extensive judgment on Tyre and Satan, the oracle against Tyre's neighbor, Sidon (Ezekiel 28:20-26), may seem less dramatic. Sidon's specific sins are not detailed, likely because of its close association with Tyre. Nevertheless, judgment against the city was certain. God's glory would be revealed when this pagan center was brought down, forcing its people to acknowledge His holiness (Ezekiel 28:22-23).
Sidon, like Tyre, treated God's people with contempt (Ezekiel 28:24). Its downfall would bring relief to Israel. This judgment broadens into a promise of future restoration. God promises to regather Israel in the millennial kingdom, granting them true peace and rest from all their enemies (Ezekiel 28:25-26).
Key Takeaways from Ezekiel 28
Ezekiel 28 offers several important lessons:
- Pride Leads to Destruction: The downfall of Tyre's ruler and Satan himself serves as a powerful warning against pride and arrogance.
- God's Sovereignty: God is the ultimate authority, and no earthly power can challenge His rule.
- The Origin of Evil: The chapter provides insight into the rebellion of Lucifer and the source of evil in the world.
- Hope for the Future: Despite judgment, God promises restoration and peace for His people.
Ezekiel 28 reminds us to remain humble before God, to recognize His sovereignty, and to seek His grace and mercy. While the chapter contains warnings of judgment, it also offers hope for a future of peace and restoration for those who trust in Him. This chapter serves as a potent reminder of the spiritual battle that rages around us and the importance of choosing God's path over the allure of pride and power.