BIBLE CHALLENGE
September 4, 2021
"The Word of Adonai came to me: ‘Human being, raise a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that Adonai Elohim says: You were the seal on perfection..."
Ezekiel 28
“The Word of Adonai came to me: ‘Human being, raise a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that Adonai Elohim says: You were the seal on perfection; you were full of wisdom and perfect in beauty; you were in “Eden,” the garden of God; covered with all kinds of precious stones – carnelians, topaz, diamonds, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphires, green feldspar, emeralds; your pendants and jewels were made of gold prepared the day you were created. You were a cherub, protecting a large region; I placed you on God’s holy mountain. You walked back & forth among stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.’” Ezekiel 28:11-15
Behind the description of the fall of the King of Tyre lies the shadow of Satan. Many commentators have believed that behind this passage (and a similar one of the fall of the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:12-14) lies a traditional account of the fall of Satan, whose image these arrogant monarchs bore. But other commentators believe Ezekiel’s description also bears a striking resemblance to Adam.
Commentators may be correct in both instances because, in essence, Ezekiel is poetically portraying the idea of a great fall from a “perfect” existence (28:12). The king seemed to have everything: he is decked out in high-class “bling” – and falls! Adam had everything – and fell! And with Adam, we too fell!
Satan had everything – and fell, as well! Ezekiel compares the King of Tyre to a guardian “cherub” on the “holy mountain of God” (28:14). This expression was a common way of alluding to the “place” where God was thought to dwell. Thus, the King of Tyre, who claimed to be a god, resides in the “mountain of God” but falls: unrighteousness is found in him (28:15). And the cause of his unrighteousness? Greed, and self-aggrandizement, set up in a single, self-condemning sentence: Your heart became proud. (28:17)
It has been suggested that these were the elements which Adam found so alluring; that pride was the essence of Adam’s sin in Eden because pride is the essence of sin in general. The King of Tyre’s fall, spectacular and shocking as it was, is a symbol of what sin can expect, no matter where it is found. Adam was banished from Eden, and the fault lay entirely within himself. Regardless of the number of angles & attempts temptation takes in pursuit of our worship, it is impossible to con an honest man. As any sea-faring man knows (and surely the King of Tyre was the Sea-Farer of all seafarers), all the water in the World cannot sink even the smallest boat unless it finds a way inside!
And now another warning for America…are we not guilty of the same pride and position as Tyre? Have we not boasted of being the World’s “provider & protector”? Yes, American Christians sponsor the bulk of ministry and give more to charity than any other people group…yet, wasn’t it Tyre who provided all the supplies for the building of Solomon’s temple? Our “island” is being overwhelmed by the moral & financial tsunami we have created. Jesus is the only “ark” into which we must run to be saved! (Acts 4:12)