Today's Reading:

Ezekiel 25
Ezekiel 26
Ezekiel 27
Ezekiel 28

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​After the chapters of judgment on Tyre and the surrounding nations, God turned to comfort. He promised to remove the wicked neighbors, gather His own people, and let them live securely in their land again. He would clear out the pride of the nations so that Israel could plant vineyards in peace. Even while tearing down the arrogant, God was already making a way home for His people. His faithfulness and grace remain, even in the middle of judgment.

 

Yesterday, God put a fork in the road for Nebuchadnezzar to choose the city for destruction, and Jerusalem was first. Now it was Ammon’s turn, east of the Jordan River. Its capital was Rabbah, and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot by his younger daughter. The prophecy came against Ammon because they had celebrated when Israel was under judgment. God said because of malice in their heart, He would give them to the “people of the east.”

The nation of Moab was next (along with Seir). Moab was also descendants of Lot from his oldest daughter. Seir is not from Lot; they are from Edom’s mountain country. Moab was south of Ammon, east of the Jordan River and Dead Sea. Some versions of the Bible omit “and Seir” because that area in Edom had its own judgment later. Why was Seir, as part of Edom, then connected in judgment to Moab? Seir was named for the mountain region that was geographically close, and they mocked Judah in the same manner as Moab. Moab and Seir mocked Judah like they were nothing special, denying that Israel had a special relationship with Yahweh (God), and claiming they were just like the pagan nations. Moab would be punished by the same eastern people as Ammon would be.

Now Edom (Esau’s descendants; Esau, Jacob’s twin brother) and Seir took revenge on Judah, and they refused to help the refugees. Therefore, God would allow the Israelites themselves to bring judgment on Edom, killing both man and beast. Interestingly, God had told the Israelites not to provoke Edom or take their land due to their family relationship (Deuteronomy 2:4-5). Now God allowed their destruction because of their violence against Judah.

The people of Philistia were not distant relatives to the Israelites; they were from the line of Ham (one of Noah’s sons) and the Aegean Sea People along the coast. They were constant rivals (think Goliath) to Israel and always seeking to destroy them. God instead would punish and take vengeance on them. The Kerethites were a sub-clan of the Philistines, linked to Crete (based on the Hebrew to English translation, the English language does not always translate well). God said He would cut off the cutters-off or slay the slayers.

The next three chapters, chapters 26-28, were against the coastal city of Tyre. They were a very wealthy coastal mega fishing and trading port. (They provided the cedar trees for David’s Palace and Solomon’s Temple). Jerusalem had been a major inland trade route and when it fell, Tyre was happy to step in and take their place. God would bring many nations against them for wanting to prosper through business over Judah’s fall. Wave after wave of invaders would come. Tyre means rock. God said, “If you are so proud of being a rock, I will reduce you to a bare rock.” The luxury fishing resort and trading center was reduced to a fish-net drying rack. God sent Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem, and He would also send him to Tyre’s mainland. The island actually held on, and the siege lasted for 13 years. God called Nebuchadnezzar the “king of kings,” the boss of all the surrounding nations, and yet, the king was just a tool to do God’s work. “They” will plunder, God said; this was not only Nebuchadnezzar but, years later, would include Alexander the Great. Just as prophesied, ancient records show that Alexander the Great took the rubble from the mainland city and dumped it into the sea to build a bridge to the island. He scraped the site so thoroughly that it actually became a bare rock. Tyre thought the island was unsinkable and indestructible, but Alexander built a bridge out of their own ruins of stone, timber, and soil. The fall of Tyre sent political shock waves around the region. How could such a strong fortified city fall? The kings who sat around with expensive embroidered robes removed them to sit in their underwear and whisper, “If Tyre fell…!” This was like a stock market crash. God would send the fishing empire that once gloated over Jerusalem’s fall to the realm of the dead/Sheol. Even today, there is not much to the modern city of Sur (Tyre) in Lebanon, but the fishermen do hang their nets there, an echo of the “bare rock” picture, of very little going on!

Tyre had traded with almost all nations known in the world, including Judah and Israel. They did not just have a strong military, but their commercial trade by sea was vast. They traded everything from honey to ivory tusks and even human slaves! The east wind, God’s tool, was Babylon, and they were going to take out the “perfect” ship. The prince of Tyre thought he was invincible, like a god, but God Himself would cut him down to size. The king was only a mere mortal and would die the death of an uncircumcised man, meaning a shameful, pagan death.

In Ezekiel 28, the focus shifted. The prince of Tyre was described as rich and powerful from trade, but then some commentators described it like the fall of Satan. Pride in beauty and wisdom led him to act like a god and resulted in Satan’s expulsion from Eden. The writing changed from the “king” being perfect, to being in the garden. He was a special angel (guardian cherub) who lived close to God. Pride ruined him, so God threw him out. The human king was just a smaller version of the same problem. Pride and fall form the bigger picture of how Satan fell because of his pride. The deeper meaning of Satan as the one who had been in a place of perfection.

 Tyre was the human form of the same pride and downfall that many see in Satan. They both had pride, both were exalted in status, both received divine judgment, and both were cast to the ground. The priest wore special breastplate vests with 12 stones for the 12 tribes. Nine of those were listed here. Beauty, honor, and nearness to God’s presence marked the cherub who had a special, privileged place near God. The place that Satan once held.

Sidon had treated Israel with contempt. It was a sister city north of Tyre. This was a short and clear judgment. They were a thorn to Israel. Usually, the two cities of Tyre and Sidon were mentioned together. After all the judgment, God moved to comfort (Ezekiel 28:24-26). He would remove the wicked nations/neighbors, gather His people, and let them live securely.

 After three chapters on Tyre, God dealt with the neighbors, then promised restoration. His people would get to plant a vineyard in peace and live securely in their land. This is safety after judgment. Israel’s future was a message of hope. God tore down the others’ pride to clear the way for His people to come back to peace, safety, and their land, and it shows how faithful God is.

 If the proud king of Tyre is like a smaller version of Satan, who fell because of pride while living close to God, what does that warn us about getting too proud of our own success or closeness to God? How does that encourage us that even after judging the proud, God still turns around and promises to gather and restore His own people?

Today's Discussion question:

If the proud king of Tyre is like a smaller version of Satan, who fell because of pride while living close to God, what does that warn us about getting too proud of our own success or closeness to God? How does that encourage us that even after judging the proud, God still turns around and promises to gather and restore His own people?

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