Ezekiel 28
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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS
A Proclamation against the King of Tyre and against Sidon
BACKGROUND NOTES
DOCTRINAL POINT(S)
The Lord revealed the evil pride of the King of Tyre.
The Lord revealed the evil power of the King of Tyre.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Remember what Jesus said about Tyre and Sidon!
QUESTIONS
What was the name of the human king of Tyre denounced here in chapter 28? His pride even caused him to ___________ himself (v 2).
Daniel is mentioned in verse 3 of this chapter. Where was Daniel when his great wisdom became known?
How was the shameful death of Tyre described in this chapter?
Verses 11-19 are interpreted here as going beyond the human king of Tyre and describing the evil power source behind this pagan king, namely Satan. List 3 descriptions given in these verses which could not describe the human king of Tyre, but could describe Satan.
Regarding the creation and fall of Satan, list 4 implications from Scripture that would support the interpretation that Satan was created during creation week and that he fell (not too long) after creation week.
ANSWERS
The name of the human king of Tyre was Ethbaal or Ittobaal. His pride caused him to deify himself, placing himself above God.
Daniel had already gained fame for his wisdom throughout the region while he was a captive in Babylon.
The shameful death of Tyre is described as those who die at sea, with no burial (v 8), and like an uncircumcised barbarian (v 10).
Three verses that could not describe the human king of Tyre, but could describe Satan are: Verse 13: The human king of Tyre was not in the Garden of Eden. Verse 14: The human king of Tyre was not a cherub. Verse 15: The human king of Tyre was not created without a sinful nature.
The 4 implications that Satan was created during creation week and fell soon after are: a. Angels are created beings and therefore they function in the space/matter/time universe that God has created. Only God functions outside His created universe. b. At the end of creation week we read in Genesis 1:31, “And God saw everything He had made, and it was very good.” This indicates that everything was in perfect harmony with no jarring notes like a fallen Satan. And in Genesis 2:1 we read, “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the hosts of them . . .” which may be a reference to the created angelic hosts. c. We see here in Ezekiel 28 that Satan was in the Garden of Eden initially in his pre-fallen state, and the Garden of Eden was certainly not in existence before creation week. d. In Job 38:7 we read that at the time of creation all the sons of God shouted for joy. That is, all the angels rejoiced because they were still all holy angels.
DISCUSS/CONSIDER
Consider what can be learned about Satan from the passages in this chapter (vs 11-19), and how the human king of Tyre followed the same path as Satan. Discuss how the sin of pride continues to threaten and/or cause the fall of individuals as well as nations.
CHALLENGE
Listen once again to the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew chapter 11, verses 21 and 22. “Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.” To reject Christ as your Savior and Lord is an even greater sin than the great sins of Tyre and Sidon. Will you turn to Jesus today and follow the words of truth in Romans 10:9 “ . . . if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”?
KEY VERSES
“Thus says the Lord God: ‘When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob.’” Ezekiel 28:25