Ezekiel 28

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, lament for the king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Lord God says: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone covered you: carnelian, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold; they were prepared on the day you were created. You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you.’” Ezekiel 28:11-15 (HCSB)

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 that 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, symbolizes 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 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)