A Flat Tyre
(Ezekiel 26:1-21; 27:1-36; 28:1-26)
Flat Tire
Around 586 B.C., the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel spoke of the destruction of Tyre, a mighty maritime metropolis in the ancient Middle Eastern region. The description of Tyre’s toppling and the downfall of the King of Tyre, in particular, was not only a regional event to come. This account proved to be prophetic historically, but it also points to the downfall of Satan, a one-time heavenly angel, and to his ultimate eternal destruction.
Ezekiel painted a portrait of Tyre’s wicked king that paralleled the profile of the serpent Satan, the already-defeated arch enemy of the Lord God.
This account appears in Ezekiel 28:11-19.
The word of the Lord came to me:
"Son of man, take up a lament
concerning the king of Tyre
and say to him:
'This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"'You were the model of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden,
the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you:
ruby, topaz and emerald,
chrysolite, onyx and jasper,
sapphire, turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings were made of gold;
on the day you were created they were prepared.
You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created
till wickedness was found in you.
Through your widespread trade
you were filled with violence,
and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, O guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones.
Your heart became proud
on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
I made a spectacle of you before kings.
By your many sins and dishonest trade
you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I made a fire come out from you,
and it consumed you,
and I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.
All the nations who knew you
are appalled at you;
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.' "
Although many may fear this foe, the faithful need not tremble. For our Champion Christ has already defeated the enemy of eternity at Calvary’s cross. The devil has been deflated by the nails that pierced the Savior’s own flesh.
May we rejoice in the promise of peace and power … for our glorious Lord has already won the victory!
Will you pray with me?
Lovely Lord,
You hold all eternity
In Your strong hands.
Hold our hearts,
Calm our fears,
And give us a glimpse of Your glory.
Build our faith.
Teach us to trust
Your Word,
As You lead us
To the finish line,
For You have already stayed the course
And won the race.
Amen.
I have always loved reading Ezekiel. I love to read with it the book of Revelations and Daniel. I do not understand it in its completion but the more I read the more that the Holy Spirit has to work with.
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