Ezekiel 28 Commentary
Ezekiel is unique in its usage of visuals. We have graphics everywhere! So rich is Ezekiel’s imagery set that the closing Book of the Bible repeats many of them. It is a testament to the book’s timeless insights. Yes, looking forward but also looking backward.
Ezekiel is the first one to solidly put it to us that Israel’s enslavement in Egypt had everything to do with Israel’s idolatry. Prosperity in the land of Ham made them forget the LORD God. Ezekiel 23 verse 3.
In this chapter, Ezekiel goes back to the beginning. He is thoroughly schooled in the Torah and knows more than we do about the first 5 Books of the Bible. He brings it all together in this chapter. He narrates the history of humanity from a different angle. The serpent of the Garden of Eden is still at work, manifesting himself in the arrogance and wickedness of the King of Tire.
We also know the energy behind the commercial machinery of Tyre. There is injustice and deception. What we called ‘smart brains’ is actually all deception and trickery. He has risen to the pinnacle on account of ungodly dealings. He has perfectly imitated his master. It is the repeat of the deception of the Garden of Eden – the pride of rebellion.
Ezekiel doesn’t want to look at Tyre’s pride and ungodliness as an isolated incident. It is deeply rooted in the deception of the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
It wasn’t uncommon for political leaders of the day to claim god status. Ezekiel knows this ambition to want to be like God is initiated and motivated by Satan. He is the god behind the man-god in the king of Tyre. The king of Tyre is the physical manifestation of Satan’s pride and rebellion.
But he is no god! It is all deception! You can only be a dog if God created you one. It doesn’t matter how much pretending you do! Facts come from God. Reality. Anything else is fake! And so the king of Tyre faces the fate of deception. It all comes to “a horrible end”.
The saint wants to look at the king of Tyre and ponder it in the light of our hopes, ambitions, and aspirations. The people we admire for what we think is their industry and intelligence are not exactly what we think they are. If they don’t know Jesus, their fate is Tyre’s fate. And what has energized their rise? Be a hater of no success but check behind the scenes and see that there is godliness before you develop admiration and aspiration.
Following ‘Tyre’s prophecy’ is the prophecy against Sidon. Probably the LORD Jesus Christ is citing this chapter when He talks about Chorazin and Bethsaida in the same category as Tyre and Sidon. Matthew 11 verse 21. Unlike Tyre and Sidon, Chorazin and Bethsaida have heard the words of life and experienced the miracles of God. Won’t they sit down and reflect!
Who hasn’t heard the story of the prodigal son and what it represents to the lost? You can always go back and the mercies of the LORD are new every morning!
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