Ezekiel 28:12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
Who is this King of Tyre God is talking about? Is this figurative language or is this a real personality? I would challenge all who read this to come to a decision independently. Think about it. God describes this being as perfect in wisdom and beauty. This being is the most beautiful thing created. This being is also the best at taking knowledge and functionally applying that information. This is how God describes this being, the essence of good looks and smarts. The “king” had God’s stamp of approval.
Ezekiel 28:13 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.
Wait a minute, there were only three characters in Eden according to the Genesis account: a man, a woman, and a serpent. The man and the woman were without possessions prior to the fall. They were naked. Humanity had no clothing.
This creature being discussed in verse 13 has extravagant material wealth and possessions. He has every precious jewel and the jewels are placed in gold. He has significant riches and in need of nothing. He is not only clothed, he has the finest. The best was given to him from day one. He did nothing to earn them. God’s grace materially blessed this creature from the beginning.
Ezekiel 28:14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire.
This being was created with a purpose. He was to rule and guard, specifically God’s separate mountain. He was placed to watch over God’s property by God Himself. He was given authority and power. He was in charge.
Ezekiel 28:15 “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.
He was originally made perfect and without sin. He got off to a good start. Then sin and perversion was identified by God within him. It was his mental attitude. God knows what we are thinking.
Ezekiel 28:16 “By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Because of his greed and need for more and more and more, his attitude and being were consumed with aggression. He was kicked off the mountain of God because of self-pollution and desecration.
Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, that they may see you.
He thought he was better because he was “good looking”. He used his beauty and appearance to manipulate others with his reasoning. He was persuasive.
Ezekiel 28:18 You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire from within you, and it consumed you. I let it burn you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.
His depravity and sin polluted and desecrated holy places. Unjust, violent, and corrupt trade practices were the norm. He was initially granted the ability to judge and preside over God’s property. Fire is a symbol and instrument of judgment in the Bible. This character is being stripped of his ability to judge and stripped of his instrument of judgment, fire.
Ezekiel 28:19 “All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified and you will cease to be forever.”
All the destruction, violence, and dread that has been brought upon others… The tables will ultimately be turned. The irony, he was created with the power to judge by fire. Now, he will be eternally judged by fire. Who is thrown into the Lake of fire in Revelation 20:10 for all eternity?
