“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God … You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you: you were on the holy mountain of God … You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” These words appear in Ezekiel 28:12, 14, 15. Many think the “anointed cherub” of Ezekiel 28 is Satan, just as the they assume the “Lucifer” of Isaiah 14 is the devil. Is Satan the “anointed cherub”? Let us consider Ezekiel 28.
We noted last week from Isaiah a series of prophecies against various nations. Among them is a burden against Babylon, whcih includes chapter 14. Likewise in Ezekiel, we would do well to consider the greater context. The book says much against Jerusalem and its inhabitants, but starting at chapter 25, it proclaims judgment against Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia. Then, in chapter 26 and continuing through chapter 28, the text brings a word against Tyre. The latter part of chapter 29 speaks against Sodom, and then from chapter 29 through 32, the prophet speaks against Egypt. We must understand the content of chapter 28 within this context. It is in the midst of a series of rebukes, and specifically, in the midst of a 3 chapter rebuke of Tyre.
Setting the Stage
VERSE 2
The Lord tells the prophet whom these things are about. “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre…” Later, in verse 12, the prophet hears, “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre…” Nowhere in the text does the prophet indicate that his message refers to Satan. Men make that application, not the prophet or the word he received from the Lord.
The proclamation against the prince of Tyre addresses his haughty pride. He boasted of himself, “I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the midst of the seas”. The Lord very abruptly answers such a claim in these words, “Yet you are a man, and not a god…” Can there be any doubt that this speaks of the prince of Tyre alone? Satan was not, is not, nor ever will be “a man”.
VERSES 3-5
Since he considered himself a god, it is no surprise he also esteemed himself to possess excellent wisdom. The great wisdom of Daniel undoubtedly spread beyond the borders of Babylon. People may have regarded him as one of the wisest in his generation. The Lord is not claiming the ruler of Tyre is wiser than Daniel, instead, He is making a statement to mock the ruler’s self-evaluation (compare Zechariah 9:2).
He had acquired great wealth, as verse 4-5 indicate, but failed to realize, as James calls us to do, that “…every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” (James 1:17). Sadly, many who acquire great wealth often display a spirit of self-sufficiency and arrogant pride.
This accumulation of wealth is surely not a description of the devil. Has Satan “…gathered gold and silver…” into treasuries or increased his riches via “trade”? These words clearly address the prince of Tyre exclusively.
VERSES 6-10
Through the prophet, the Lord reveals the fate of the Tyrian leader. Because he exalted himself, and reckoned himself a god, God would use a mighty nation, “…the most terrible of the nations…” to destroy his greatness.
They would cast him down to the “pit” and slay him in the midst of the seas. The Hebrew word shachath, which translates to “pit”, appears in Scripture only once. It holds the idea of corruption, destruction, or entrapped in a ditch or a grave. The word comes from shuwach, meaning to bow down or to humble. Although he held his head high and exalted himself above all others, they would bring him low and slay him.
Again, the Lord pointedly states, “…you shall be a man, and not a god, in the hand of him who slays you.” (v 9). His conquerors would bring his arrogant pride low. In his death, he would be die outside the favour of God, for he did not favour the Lord.
Does our text fit as a description of Satan thus far? What terrible nation destroyed Satan? Perhaps the “pit” might cause one to think of Satan, but as noted above, this is the only occurrence of this word in the Hebrew text. This word is different from the one commonly used for “pit”. And even if it were, how often in the OT do references to the “pit” speak of Satan? Again, the devil was not slain and he did not die. Neither would “uncircumcised” be a valid description of Satan. Scripture uses “circumcised” and “uncircumcised” exclusively of humans.
VERSES 12-15
Here, we find a new revelation given to Ezekiel, a lamentation upon the king of Tyre. Is there a difference between the “prince of Tyre” (v 2) and the “king of Tyre” (v 12)? The Hebrew word rendered “prince” appears just this once in Scripture, and is defined by Strong’s as, “…a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes: – captain, chief, excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler.” There is no reason to suppose that the two declarations are not against the same ruler.
Consider these lofty statements in verse 12-15
What shall we make of the various phrases used to speak of the king of Tyre? “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God… You were the anointed cherub who covers… You were perfect in all your ways…” The Lord may speak these things mockingly, given the haughty spirit of the king (compare v 3). It is also possible that these things are accurate descriptions of the high place which the Lord blessed the king with, from which he also fell by his arrogance. Which it is, I must admit I am uncertain. Thus, let us consider both options.
“You were the seal of perfection…”
"Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: 'You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." (Ezekiel 28:12)
Is this irony?
As in verse 3, where the Lord mocked the Tyrian ruler’s wisdom, He does so again. This time, speaking of him as having perfect or complete wisdom and beauty to match. Though the king thought so of himself, he would be brought low and humbled.
Is this about former glory?
Since every good and perfect gift is from the Lord (James 1:17), the king of Tyre may have been blessed with great wisdom and beauty by the Lord. However, failing to recognize the Lord as the source of his blessings, the king would be brought low.
“You were in Eden, the garden of God…”
"You were in the Eden, the garden of God..." (Ezekiel 28:13a)
Is this irony?
God created Eden as a perfect paradise. The king, so blinded by his own glory had created his own Eden, over which he was ruler. All was his in his garden of perfection.
Is this about former glory?
God had exalted this man to great stature, making his abode the closest place on earth to the Eden of old.
“Every precious stone was your covering…”
"Every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created." (Ezekiel 28:13b)
This appears to be a reference to the wealth which this man was afforded. Precious stones were gathered from all areas of the world. Instruments of joy were prepared for the day of his ascension to the throne (the day you were created). From the very beginning of his reign, the king of Tyre seems to have enjoyed high esteem and celebration.
“You were the anointed cherub…”
"You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you..." (Ezekiel 28:14a)
Is this irony?
The king is pictured as the guardian of his own Eden, Tyre, just as a cherub was set at the gate of the garrden of Eden. Of course, the cherub in Eden was appointed by the Lord to serve; the king of Tyre appointed himself over his own Eden.
Is this about former glory?
The mercy seat, from which God would speak to the children of Israel, had two cherubim covering it. They guarded, as it were, the seat of God. Though the king of Tyre was merely a man, the figure speaks to the great duty God conferred upon him, and truly, upon rulers of every nation.
You were on the holy mountain of God…
"You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones." (Ezekiel 28:14b)
Is this irony?
The holy mountain fo God is generally a reference to Zion, the place of God’s dwelling with His people. If he assumed the place of a god, then surely his domain was equal to the presence of God among His people. It was so, but only in his own eyes.
Is this about former glory?
The holy mountain of God is genereally a reference to Zion, the place of God’s dwelling with His people. It may indicate God’s presence with the king of Tyre and blessing upon him, though he failed to recognize and appreciate it.
You were perfect in your ways…
"You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you." (Ezekiel 28:15)
Is this irony?
If he is a god, then he is perfect, right? Why then was iniquity found in him? He was perfect in his own eyes, and perhaps the eyes of his citizens, but God would expose the sins of this man to the world.
Is this about former glory?
He walked in righteousness at one time, but soon he became arrogant in his spirit, and sinned against the Lord.
Closing out the text
v 16-19 – Much of the aforementioned descriptions appear again, but now as God pronounces His judgment against the king of Tyre. It is noteworthy the king’s trading is mentioned in verses 5, 16 and 18. Whatever this ruler’s trading practices were, they incited violence in him, and are identified as one of his iniquities (v 18). His wickedness brought profanity, destruction, and corruption.
God pointedly says that he would lay the king before other kings, that they might gaze upon his humility. He would be visible to all, and be a horror to them. The Lord would take away the glory he had given him, leaving only shame.
Finally, the text states the king of Tyre “…shall be no more forever.” The Lord would bring him down, and destroy him. He would cease to be upon the face of the earth. As formerly said, the most terrifying of the nations would come upon him, and bring destruction.
Can verses 12 through 19 really be about Satan? It is nothing more than man’s supposition that Satan could ever have fit any of the descriptions presented in the text. Nowhere in Scripture does a single description used here apply to the devil. The continual reference to trading indicates that indeed we are speaking about an earthly king who exalted himself, not about Satan. What wealth did Satan ever acquire by trading? What commodities did he deal in? Preposterous.
The desire to satisfy curiosity about Satan’s nature before the incident recorded in Genesis 3 undoubtedly motiviates some to apply the content of Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 to him. The careful Bible student, who seeks only to know what the Lord has revealed, and not to go beyond will accept that the Lord has not told us about Satan’s character or actions aside from what is revealed in Scripture. Neither Ezekiel 28 nor Isaiah 14 reveal anything of the character or actions of Satan, as they do not speak of him.
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