Eze 28:11 | KingComments | STEP | When the LORD has described the judgment on the leader of Tyre, He speaks again to Ezekiel ( ). He instructs him to take up a lamentation over the leader of Tyre, whom He now calls “the king” of Tyre ( ). He also gives him the words of this lamentation to speak on His behalf to the king of Tyre. First the king is presented with all the privileges he has received ( ). Behind the description of this king in his perfection in wisdom and beauty looms the supernatural form of satan. The king of Tyre can be identified with satan. Therefore, reference can also be made to Eden, the garden of God, as a place where he has been present ( ). Thereby we should not think of paradise on earth (Genesis 2-3) – for there he came as the serpent ( ) – but of God’s court in heaven. Almost all the precious stones mentioned here are also found in the first, second and fourth rows on the high priest’s breastpiece ( ). The order there is different and the three stones mentioned in the third row on the breastpiece ( ) are missing here. This is not a comparison to the function of the high priest, but to the brilliance of the position represented by the precious stones. This splendor makes a great impression on a Jew and especially on a priest – and Ezekiel is a priest. Added to this is the fact that his whole person is covered with precious stones, that is, radiates glory, and not, as in the case of the high priest, only part of his person. The “tambourines and flutes” [it can also be translated “settings and sockets”] symbolize festive joy ( ; ). Satan is originally a cherub, anointed, i.e. appointed by God with a special care for His holy mountain ( ). God gave him his perfect beauty, as well as his function and his musical abilities. God created him perfectly, for God does not create anything that is imperfect. From the day this cherub was created, he is also blameless or perfect in his ways ( ). He does what God expects of him; he fulfills the purpose for which God created him. All is going well. “Until” the moment comes when God finds iniquity in him. The privileged, protective cherub becomes prideful of his position ( ) and of all that God has given him. All his actions up to that point are actions to the glory of God. This changes when he begins to act independently of God and thus rebels against God. Then violence arises in him and he begins to sin. God can then no longer maintain him in His presence and removes him from His mountain. The cherub who has become satan – satan means opponent, attacker or accuser – is removed from the midst of the other cherubim, which are the “stones of fire”. This is the moment of which it is written: “For the devil has sinned from the beginning” ( ). From now on, he cannot do anything but sin. The cause of satan’s fall is his pride ( ), caused by his beauty ( ). As a result, his wisdom is also destroyed. True wisdom is the fear of God, or reverence for God, but that is not any longer present with satan from that moment on. The judgment that God executes on Tyre leaves nothing of all the fame and prosperity of this mighty king. He is thrown to the earth. Other rulers, who at first admired him so much, now look down on him with contempt. Tyre has come to her prosperity in a dishonest way ( ). The sanctuaries she has owned attest to this. By sanctuaries she may mean her palaces, but also her idol temples. Both places had as a feature “the multitude” of her iniquities which she practiced and which resulted from “the unrighteousness” of her trade. Tyre caused the fire of judgment herself. All the fuel for it she has gathered herself. God only has to kindle it. As a result, the city has become a heap of ashes to the eyes of all who look at it. All who know Tyre are appalled at the fall of this once powerful, prosperous, and impressive trading city ( ). From the fall of Tyre emanates a threat that causes horror. It is a warning to all other trading cities to realize that there is a God Who sees and judges everything. For Tyre, it is too late to repent. The city has ceased forever.

‏ Ezekiel 28:11

Lamentation Over the King of Tyre

When the LORD has described the judgment on the leader of Tyre, He speaks again to Ezekiel (Eze 28:11). He instructs him to take up a lamentation over the leader of Tyre, whom He now calls “the king” of Tyre (Eze 28:12). He also gives him the words of this lamentation to speak on His behalf to the king of Tyre.

First the king is presented with all the privileges he has received (Eze 28:12-15). Behind the description of this king in his perfection in wisdom and beauty looms the supernatural form of satan. The king of Tyre can be identified with satan. Therefore, reference can also be made to Eden, the garden of God, as a place where he has been present (Eze 28:13). Thereby we should not think of paradise on earth (Genesis 2-3) – for there he came as the serpent (Gen 3:1) – but of God’s court in heaven.

Almost all the precious stones mentioned here are also found in the first, second and fourth rows on the high priest’s breastpiece (Exo 28:17-20). The order there is different and the three stones mentioned in the third row on the breastpiece (Exo 28:19) are missing here. This is not a comparison to the function of the high priest, but to the brilliance of the position represented by the precious stones.

This splendor makes a great impression on a Jew and especially on a priest – and Ezekiel is a priest. Added to this is the fact that his whole person is covered with precious stones, that is, radiates glory, and not, as in the case of the high priest, only part of his person. The “tambourines and flutes” [it can also be translated “settings and sockets”] symbolize festive joy (Gen 31:27; 1Sam 10:5).

Satan is originally a cherub, anointed, i.e. appointed by God with a special care for His holy mountain (Eze 28:14). God gave him his perfect beauty, as well as his function and his musical abilities. God created him perfectly, for God does not create anything that is imperfect. From the day this cherub was created, he is also blameless or perfect in his ways (Eze 28:15). He does what God expects of him; he fulfills the purpose for which God created him. All is going well. “Until” the moment comes when God finds iniquity in him.

The privileged, protective cherub becomes prideful of his position (Eze 28:16) and of all that God has given him. All his actions up to that point are actions to the glory of God. This changes when he begins to act independently of God and thus rebels against God. Then violence arises in him and he begins to sin. God can then no longer maintain him in His presence and removes him from His mountain. The cherub who has become satan – satan means opponent, attacker or accuser – is removed from the midst of the other cherubim, which are the “stones of fire”. This is the moment of which it is written: “For the devil has sinned from the beginning” (1Jn 3:8a). From now on, he cannot do anything but sin.

The cause of satan’s fall is his pride (1Tim 3:6), caused by his beauty (Eze 28:17). As a result, his wisdom is also destroyed. True wisdom is the fear of God, or reverence for God, but that is not any longer present with satan from that moment on.

The judgment that God executes on Tyre leaves nothing of all the fame and prosperity of this mighty king. He is thrown to the earth. Other rulers, who at first admired him so much, now look down on him with contempt. Tyre has come to her prosperity in a dishonest way (Eze 28:18). The sanctuaries she has owned attest to this. By sanctuaries she may mean her palaces, but also her idol temples.

Both places had as a feature “the multitude” of her iniquities which she practiced and which resulted from “the unrighteousness” of her trade. Tyre caused the fire of judgment herself. All the fuel for it she has gathered herself. God only has to kindle it. As a result, the city has become a heap of ashes to the eyes of all who look at it.

All who know Tyre are appalled at the fall of this once powerful, prosperous, and impressive trading city (Eze 28:19). From the fall of Tyre emanates a threat that causes horror. It is a warning to all other trading cities to realize that there is a God Who sees and judges everything. For Tyre, it is too late to repent. The city has ceased forever.