| A Death Blow to Pride
As with those who achieve personal success, so it is with any of humanity's institutions—pride in some form often becomes a cancer to their souls, a cancer that has its origin in Satan himself. Ezekiel is given a declaration of judgment upon nations that would have seen themselves as undefeatable. Tyre was the greatest city-state of its time, a city on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea that had become the financial wonder of the ancient world (28:1-19). And like Tyre, Sidon, a powerful and prosperous city north of Tyre, had become drunk on its own success (28:20-24). Even the ancient, longstanding center of power of northern Africa and much of the land to its north would become victim to its own corrupting destructive force of pride (29:1-16). These nations had written their own death certificates. In the end, God will make it clear that there are no other "gods" than He. No person or institution of humanity will be able to withstand God exposing every self-idolatrous expression as a self-deceptive delusion. The greatest example of this is given in God's dealing with Satan himself as clearly alluded to in 28:11-19. Satan, the "anointed cherub," had been given a created glory from God that we can only guess at. He walked with God and lived in an unequalled authority over creation given to him by God. He was "beautiful in all that he was and did." Yet the poisonous, deforming force of self-idolatry rose from within him as he became fixated on himself. So much so that this led to his uncontrollable desire to have the place of God Himself (Is. 14:13-14). It was this same poison of pride that he injected into our first parents in the Garden of Eden, the garden of God (28:12-13). A place of blissful perfection became a corrupted shell when they fell for the trap of becoming a "god." Prideful self-idolatry has been at the root of every sin ever since. This is why Christ has come as a "second Adam" to rebirth a new humanity with new hearts, hearts that are meek and lowly with a new nature like that of our Lord Jesus. This is why it is impossible to follow Christ unless we are willing to accept His command to "deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). Until we accept this commanded death to our self idolatry, we will find it impossible to follow in His footsteps. Let us face the inevitable fact that in the end, God will bring down the prideful and lift up the lowly. To exalt ourselves above the God who alone deserves the place of supremacy will be our destruction in the end. Let us die, that we may live. | |||
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Ezekiel 28:1-29:21  Proclamation Against the King of Tyre 1 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is lifted up, Yet you are a man, and not a god, 3 (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! 4 With your wisdom and your understanding 5 By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, 6 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, 7 Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, 8 They shall throw you down into the Pit, 9 "Will you still say before him who slays you, 'I am a god' But you shall be a man, and not a god, 10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised 11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; 14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers; 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, 16 "By the abundance of your trading 17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; 18 "You defiled your sanctuaries 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; 20 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 21 "Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against her, 22 and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Sidon; 23 For I will send pestilence upon her, 24 "And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD." Israel's Future Blessing25 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26 And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God."'" Ezekiel 29 Proclamation Against Egypt1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt. 3 Speak, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, 4 But I will put hooks in your jaws, 5 I will leave you in the wilderness, 6 "Then all the inhabitants of Egypt 7 When they took hold of you with the hand, 8 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will bring a sword upon you and cut off from you man and beast. 9 And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the LORD, because he said, 'The River is mine, and I have made it.' 10 Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdolto Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia. 11 Neither foot of man shall pass through it nor foot of beast pass through it, and it shall be uninhabited forty years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries." 13 'Yet, thus says the Lord GOD: "At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered. 14 I will bring back the captives of Egypt and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they shall be a lowly kingdom. 15 It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore. 16 No longer shall it be the confidence of the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity when they turned to follow them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD."'" Babylonia Will Plunder Egypt17 And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me,' says the Lord GOD. 21 'In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.'" | |||
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| Ezekiel 28:1-29:21 v. 1 prince of Tyre – The ruler of Tyre at this time. This word from the Lord is either addressed to him personally or to Tyre itself. The majority of conservative scholars also believe that this is a double prophecy that applies to Satan as well as Tyre. Lord GOD – In this context God is expressing the surety of the His judgment against Tyre by signing His name to it. Because your heart is lifted up – The Lord reveals here the reason for Tyre's coming judgment. Tyre had become arrogant in the face of God even to the point of claiming to be a god. The scriptures are clear that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). v. 3 wiser than Daniel – God sarcastically compares Tyre to His truly wise prophet Daniel who revealed great mysteries and accurately predicted world history. v. 7 strangers – the Babylonians defile your splendor – The Babylonians will attack and destroy Tyre, reducing her glory to ashes (28:18). v. 8 Pit – bowr (Heb.) a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison) cistern, dungeon v. 10 the uncircumcised – The Phoenicians, Israelites, and Egyptians all practiced circumcision. To call anyone "uncircumcised" was equivalent to calling them an uncivilized "barbarian." v. 12 lamentation – qiynah (Heb.) an expression of grief or mourning; a dirge or lament often accompanied by the beating of the breast or on instruments seal of perfection – Cutting irony aimed at the arrogant city of Tyre. From this point through verse seventeen is considered by many as a double prophecy of God's judgment against both Tyre and Satan depicting Satan's fall from his perfect position in heaven when his heart was lifted up with pride. v. 13 Every precious stone – In contrast to Adam and Eve in the Garden, the king of Tyre is royally clothed with nine of the 12 stones worn by God's high priest (Ex. 28:17-20). Again considered a description of Satan before his fall. Sardius – odem (Heb.) redness, i.e. the ruby, garnet, or some other red gem Topaz – a gem, a precious stone Diamond – yahalom (Heb.) a precious stone known for its hardness, perhaps the jasper, onyx, or diamond Beryl – tarshiysh (Heb.) yellow jasper; a precious stone or semi-precious gem; perhaps a chrysolite, yellow jasper, or other yellow-colored stone Onyx – shoham (Heb.) a gem, from its pale green color probably onyx, chrysoprasus, beryl, or malachite Jasper – yashepheh (Heb.) a gem supposed to be jasper (from the resemblance in its Hebrew name). Sapphire – cappiyr (Heb.) a gem, perhaps used for scratching other substances; sapphire, lapis lazuli Turquoise – nophek (Heb.) shining; a gem, probably the garnet, or perhaps an emerald, turquoise, ruby, or carbuncle emerald – bareqeth (Heb.) a gem, perhaps the emerald; carbuncle gold – zahab (Heb.) from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow) timbrels – toph (Heb.) tambourine. If this prophecy is descriptive of Satan as many suppose, this verse indicates he might have been musically gifted in heaven. pipes – neqeb (Heb.) technical term relating to jeweler's work i.e. groove, socket, hole, cavity, settings. But in this context it could mean finger holes for musical pipes or flutes. you were created – God reminds Tyre (and Satan) that she was created by God and not a god herself. 14 anointed – mimshach (Heb.) This Hebrew word carries the sense of expansion; outspread; expanded or far-reaching wings. cherub – keruwb (Heb.) An order of angelic beings seen as guardians of Eden (Gen. 3:24), images over the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:18-19), flanking the throne of God in heaven (Eze. 1:1-23). who covers – cakak (Heb.) To screen. The cherubs were protective angels and coverings in relation to Eden, the Ark of the Covenant, and God's throne in heaven. holy mountain of God – God compares Tyre (and Satan) to Moses in his privileged meeting with God upon the mountain. fiery stones – Referring to the precious sparkling stones mentioned in v. 13. v. 15 perfect…Till iniquity was found in you – A clear parallel to the fall of man as seen in Genesis chapters 2-3. It is also a fitting description of Satan, the true god behind the king of Tyre in this indictment (v. 12-19). v. 16 violence within – a reference to ill-gotten goods sinned – chata (Heb.) miss the mark, go wrong, incur guilt profane – chalal (Heb.) to defile, pollute, desecrate destroyed you, O covering cherub – This context continues to support the conviction that God is addressing Satan here and not merely the king of Tyre. v. 17 lifted up – gabahh (Heb.) to be high or exalted; lofty; figuratively, to be haughty corrupted – shachath (Heb.) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay splendor – yiph'ah (Heb.) brightness, shining I cast you to the ground – A depiction of the humbling destruction of Tyre and also a parallel illustration of the bringing down of Satan from the heavenly realm to the earth. kings…might gaze at you – A picture of becoming a public spectacle open to ridicule and shame before the whole world. v. 18 defiled – chalal (Heb.) To profane oneself, pollute oneself. This Hebrew word can also be translated, prostitute. sanctuaries – miqdash (Heb.) A consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of Yahweh or of idols) or asylum. Iniquities…iniquity – These are two distinct Hebrew words. The first is avon, meaning perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity. And the second is evel, meaning unrighteousness, wrong; violent deeds of injustice. brought fire from your midst – Alexander the Great, when he took Tyre, ordered all the inhabitants to be slain, except those that fled to the temples, and their houses to be set on fire; which literally fulfilled this prophecy. May also allude to Satan and hell fire. turned you to ashes – a depiction of utter and complete destruction v. 19 astonished – shamem (Heb.) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy horror – ballahah (Heb.) terror, destruction, calamity, dreadful event v. 21 Sidon – an ancient Phoenician city, on Mediterranean coast north of Tyre v. 22 hallowed – qadash (Heb.) to be set apart or consecrated v. 23 pestilence – deber (Heb.) murrain, cattle disease, cattle-plague v. 24 pricking brier – a figure of speech to depict the painful irritation Sidon had been to Israel (Num. 33:55, Josh. 23:13) house of Israel – This refers to the entire family of the God's people of promise descended from Jacob whose name God changed to Israel (Gen. 32:28). Jacob was the father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel (Acts 7:8). v. 25 Gentiles – gowy (Heb.) Nations, heathen, usually referring to non-Jewish people. Jacob – Son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. Thus, in context to give something to Jacob is to give it to the people of Israel descended from his loins. v. 26 will dwell safely there – God's promise that His people will some day return to the Promised Land and live there in peace and safety (Eze. 34:28, 38:8; Jer. 23:6, 32:27, 33:16). Ezekiel 29:1-21v. 1 tenth year…tenth month – The tenth year Jeconiah's captivity, (and Zedekiah's reign) January, 587 BC. Almost a full year after Babylon's siege of Jerusalem began. v. 2 set your face – This phrase illustrates God telling Ezekiel to boldly speak against a group. Pharaoh king of Egypt – Pharaoh Hophra (589-570 BC) who promised to help Judah break free from Babylon's rule. Because of this attempted rebellion God pronounced judgment against Egypt and her pharaoh. v. 3 My River – A reference to the Nile and her canals carved by the preceding Pharaoh for efficient irrigation of the land. Egypt considered this river her own personal possession. I have made it for myself – An arrogant proverbial inscription found on Egyptian monuments (v. 9). Pharaoh was considered a god by the people of Egypt and thought of himself as creator and owner of the life-giving Nile. v. 4 hooks in your jaws – Allegorical language depicting the Lord as a great fisherman able to capture and subdue Egypt the great sea monster with hooks. all the fish in your rivers – All the people who looked to and depended upon Egypt. stick to your scales – The Lord ironically proclaims that the people who depended so much upon Egypt and stuck so closely to her will "stick to her scales" when He captures her and pulls her out of her river of safety and drags her out into the desert to die (v. 5). v. 5 food To the beasts…birds – This threat would fly in the face of the great pharaoh's hope to have his body some day preserved (mummified) and placed in the safety of the Pyramid for transport to a glorious afterlife. v. 6 Shall know that I am the LORD – This precise phrase reveals God's desire to be properly known by all the nations of the world as the One true God. staff of reed – An unreliable crutch which will break when leaned upon (Eze. 29:7, Is. 36:6). v. 7 took hold of you with the hand – Israel depended upon the strong hand of Egypt to rescue her (Eze. 17:15-17). You broke…their shoulders…their backs quiver – In Zedekiah's trusting the king of Egypt to deliver him from Babylon's rule, he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, which in turn brought on his ruin, and the destruction of Israel. v. 8 says the Lord GOD – This is an expression of certainty of that which is being proclaimed. a sword – a reference to the Babylonian army (Eze. 32:11) cut off…man and beast – The Babylonian army will put both their human population and animals to death (Jer. 7:20, 32:43; Eze. 25:13, 32:13). v. 9 desolate – shemamah (Heb.) devastation waste – chorbah (Heb.) a place laid waste, ruin, drought, desolation they will know – A hint that Egypt's judgment is not to utterly annihilate them but to teach them a lesson (Eze. 2:5, 29:9, 30:8, 33:33). v. 10 Migdol – a city on the northeast border of Egypt Syene – a town of Egypt on the frontier of Cush or Ethiopia Ethiopia – Kuwsh (Heb.) meaning black. The land occupied by the descendants of Cush located around the southern parts of the Nile. v. 11 forty years – Neither Ancient historical writings nor archeology has yet confirmed a literal 40-year deportation and desolation of Egypt. The term of 40 years is considered a biblical number of God's testing and judgment (Gen. 7:4, Jonah 3:4, Num. 32:13). Thus, this number can be merely allegorical or historical. Research may some day yet reveal a literal 40-year period of desolation. The term 40 years is a very short time span difficult to pinpoint in relation to world history. v. 12 scatter…disperse…throughout the countries – A description of an Egyptian deportation similar to what Israel was going through in Babylon (ch. 12-14). v. 14 Pathros – A part of Egypt and the home country of the Pathrusim people, probably located in upper Egypt. lowly – shaphal (Heb.) low, depressed, humble, humiliated v. 15 never again exalt itself above the nations – Although history records that Egypt made war upon other nations after this point, they did not subdue and take possession of their kingdoms. Since this time Egypt never fully returned to the glory it once was, as it had been weakened both militarily and financially. v. 16 remind them of their iniquity – The fall of Egypt will remind Israel of her sin and rebellion against God's chastening hand through Babylon. v. 17 twenty-seventh year…first month, on the first day of the month – April 26, 571 BC. The 27th year of Jeconiah's captivity and the year after the conquest of Tyre. v. 18 Nebuchadnezzar – Nebuchadnezzar II, 605-562 BC. His name means, "May Nebo protect the crown." He was the great Babylonian king who captured Jerusalem and deported the people of Judah into captivity. Babylon – the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah in today's Iraq) situated on the Euphrates labor strenuously – Nebuchadnezzar's long and difficult siege against Tyre which lasted over 13 years head was made bald – either as a result of the soldier's prolonged wearing of helmets during the time of this prolonged siege or ageing or sickness shoulder rubbed raw – from carrying wood and stones to build a siege ramp during Babylon's long and strenuous campaign against Tyre yet neither…received wages – When the Tyrians saw their city would surely fall, they gathered their most valuable possessions on board their ships, and fled to other islands and colonies, so that when Nebuchadnezzar finally broke through to the city he found nothing of value worthy of his labor. v. 19 her wealth – hamown (Heb.) sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance her spoil – shalal (Heb.) prey, plunder, gain, booty her pillage – baz (Heb.) plunder, booty, prey, spoil, robbery v. 20 they worked for Me – God is declaring that Babylon was an instrument of His judgment against Israel and that He was rewarding them for their labor by giving them Egypt. v. 21 horn…to spring forth – The horn is used in the Bible metaphorically to represent strength (2 Sam. 22:3, Ps. 75:10, Jer. 48:25). God is here promising that Israel's strength would some day return and grow. Some see this as a messianic prophecy pointing to Christ. Others attribute this prophecy to Zerubbabel, who became one of the leaders of the people from Babylon in their return from captivity. Or it may respect Daniel, or Mordecai, or Jeconiah, who, about this time, was brought out of prison by Evil-merodach, and afterwards kindly treated. I will open your mouth to speak – After her restoration God will once again give Israel a voice to the nations. | |||
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| You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. –Ezekiel 28:15-16 God, we read the words of Jesus, who instructs us to deny ourselves and the words of Paul, who tells us to die to self. To do this, Lord, means that we are to not consider ourselves the center of our lives, but that You are the center of us. We see, God, that this process can be a long road. No matter how small the steps, Lord, lead us to die to self idolatry and to begin to consider You, God, as the only source of what should be worshipped. Help us to take a step today, Lord. At least one step. | |||
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28:15-16 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.
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