Day 248 – Ezekiel 28-30

Talking Points

• To clear the air, chapter 28 is hard to interpret! The verses describe the life of the actual King of Tyre. The chapter also appears to be describing the fall of Satan, an account also referenced in Isaiah 14:12-17. While some debate this claim, if it is not describing Satan, it is clearly describing a wicked king who is led by, and therefore patterned after, Satan.
• Notice the characteristics of the subject of chapter 28. He is created (unlike God), wise, and expressly beautiful. His most dominate traits are that he is self-willed and steeped in complete arrogance. This individual, motivated by his vanity and pride, “sinned” and was “filled with violence” (Ezekiel 28:16).
• God’s tool of vengeance will be the Babylonians.
• God promises that His people will be gathered back to the Promised Land and eventually live securely in it. The promise is based, not on the people’s merit, but God’s faithfulness to preserve His people. Just as the land, rivers, and everything on Earth is His, we can trust God in His sovereign rule.

Thoughts

I believe the episode of chapter 28 not only describes the fall of Satan, but I believe it describes the fall of every person into sin. The culprit of the verses has made his “heart like the heart of God” (Ezekiel 28:2,6). The Hebrew word used here translates “will” or “mind.” It could read, “They have made their will as the will of God.” Quite literally, they have crowned themselves as their own god.

When we sin, sadly, we do the same. It is in that same arrogance that we elevate ourselves to the position of God. It is not His will we follow, but our own. The Bible says that there is only one God, and clearly, it is not us! The question is: Who is our God? Who is reigning on the throne of our heart? Is it the God who is infinitely wise, limitlessly powerful, and perfectly good? Is it the God who creates, sustains, and saves? Is it the God who is marvelous and majestic, far beyond our wildest imagination? Or is it the boastful, though feeble imposter, fueled by his own self-importance?

Consider: Do we follow God, or do we follow a fool?