Day #248

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Ezekiel 28-31 - Audio
Ezekiel 28-31 - Reading

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Daily Reading: Ezekiel 28-31

Ezekiel 28

28.1-5 Economic wealth had made Tyre prideful and arrogant. The text says that Tyre had come to consider itself “a god.” Consider the characteristics of a god: immortal, possession of great wisdom (thinking it knows better than all others), and able to control its own fate.

Do you think the USA has made the same mistake as Tyre? (our economy is twice as large as the worlds second biggest—Japan).

28.2 “...in the heart of the seas.” Part of Tyre was an series of Islands. Most likely Tyre's well-known temple to Melkart (Tyre's patron diety) is being alluded to here. (The Expositors Bible Commentary)

28.6-10 Because of Tyre's arrogance, God humbles the nation by threat of ruthless foreigners. In this tragic end, the sword will be brought against all that is beautiful and wise in Tyre. Notice that God does not deny that Tyre had possessed these things (look ahead to verse 12), and it is not because of these things that God humbles them. Instead it is because they think they are “as wise as God.” They think they know better than God.

28.7 “foreigners...the most ruthless of nations” refers to the Babylonians.

28.11-19 The imagery here has a strong connection to the garden of Eden in Genesis 1-3. “The poetic language serves to highlight the extent of the fall that Tyre experienced; it was like an expulsion from paradise (New Bible Commentary).”

28.13 Ezekiel blurs the images from Genesis. The king of Tyre who is dispelled from the garden had been also called Guardian Cherub (which guards the entrance to the Garden of Eden from Adam and Eve's re-entry. So don't draw a one-to-one. It's like trying to identify the singular Christ figure in Lord of the Rings—you just can't do it.).

-Tangent on Cherubs: “These statues normally guarded the entracnces to pagan temples... it seems as if Tyre's king was identifying himself with deity...The cherub was considered to be all-wise. Such a description fits well in the verses under discussion (Expositors Bible Commentary).” The Cherubs (despite the images from Indiana Jones) seem to be more sphinx-like than angelic. The “Cherubs” uncovered in Nineveh had the body of a lion, a face of a man, and eagle's wings. There is no reason to think that the Cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant would be significantly different. The Hebrew word used here is closely related to the Greek word used in Revelation 4 to describe the four living creatures (compare to Ezekiel 1.5): “In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying. Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.”

28.20-24 The judgment on Sidon is incredibly brief, but still bloody. Sidon, remember, has a history. This is where Queen Jezebel comes from—a territory in desperate need to acknowledge the true God., The judgment was for good, not evil. It would ultimately lead the people to realize that he was truly God. “God's judgment is his last effort, so to speak, to bring people to himself (EBC).”

28.25-26 These verses can easily be read over, but here there is a shift to the restoration of Israel. Remember, these words are to encourage the Israelites in exile.

Ezekiel 29

This chapter begins a long series of chapters that deal with Egypt. “Egypt had played a very significant role in the final days of the Judean kingdom... Egypt had dominated Judah [in her final days]. With the momentous victory over Egypt at Carchemish, Babylonia began to rule Judah. Nevertheless, Egypt continued to try to regain the Judean allegiance, frequently encouraging Judah to rebel against Babylonia (EBC).” Conversely, Judah had gone to Egypt for security (salvation) against Babylon. Instead of turning to God as their protector, Israel had put their faith in Egypt (worldly power). See 29.6-7. And now both Egypt and Judah will have to pay for it.

29.1-5 God calls Pharaoh a “monster,” though the word can also be (and probably should be given the Egyptian context) “crocodile.” The crocodile god, Sebek, was Egypt's protector god. Pharoah is likened to this god, and will be caught by a hook and left to die on dry ground. A startling image for a Pharoah. Because of his pride, he would not be afforded the royal burial so important to the Egyptians. Like the king of Tyre, Pharoah had ascribed to himself glory that only belonged to God. He claimed to be the “creator of the Nile.” The Nile was the source of wealth and life in Egypt. Metaphorically, Pharaoh had taken credit for the prosperity of Egypt, when it had actually been God's blessing.

29.6-16 Very interestingly, Egypt's fate is closely linked to Israel's. Like Judah, Egypt will be “scattered,” but also be gathered back. Like Judah, the Persians would be the ones to allow them to return. The reason for judgment, similarly to Tyre, was Egypt's pride. And also like Tyre, the end of the judgment would lead to their acknowledgment, “They will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

29.17-21 A reminder that King Nebuchadnezzar is an instrument of God's will. It is as if he hired Babylon to be his paid mercenaries, and they receive the plunder of Egypt as their payment.

Ezekiel 30

30.1-12 The Day of the Lord (vs 3) is often used to describe the “very last day” or the “day of final judgment.” That day is still coming. This day for Egypt is a precursor to that final day. Many less comprehensive “days of the Lord” can be found in human history (indeed, they may still come). This is a day of doom, darkness, and fire for Egypt (darkness=“a day of clouds”). In biblical terms, days of judgment do not look good for powerful nations/people who become powerful because of the exploitation of the weak/powerless. It does not look good for prideful powerful nations/peoples. But as for the victims and for those who have been wronged, this is a day of vindication.

30.13-19 Here the prophecy gets very specific. The effect would have been great. For example (this is only to help you grasp the force), it's one thing to say God will judge the USA. It's something else to say: “He will set fire to the White House, he will knock down the Sears Tower, he will burn down all the corn fields of the midwest, and destroy Mount Rushmore, Los Angeles will become like a dessert. No longer will there be a president. No longer will the USA be great among the nations of the world.” Even writing that as fiction makes we quake a bit.

30.20-26 The timing of this message comes immediately following Egypt's attempt to aid Jerusalem (stand in the way of God's judgment and replace God has Israel's source of strength). Pharoah gets both his arms broken in this passage. The flexed arm was a common symbol in Egypt for Pharaoh's strength. Egypt will have no strength left. In contrast, God will strengthen Nebuchadnezzar's arm and put his sword in his hand. Pharoah (Egypt) in comparison will not even be able to carry their sword.

Ezekiel 31

31.1-9 This message was delivered two months after the previous prophecy about Egypt's shattered strength. Egypt gets compared with Assyria in quite flattering terms.

31.10-17 But Assyria becomes prideful and gets cut down.

31.18 It is not until the final verse of this poem that the camera gets turned on Egypt. If God could cut down the great Assyria, Egypt neither could escape the ax.