Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen

SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 28:11-19

¹¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ¹² “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“‘You were the model of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
¹³ You were in Eden,
the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you:
ruby, topaz and emerald,
chrysolite, onyx and jasper,
sapphire,^[b] turquoise and beryl.^[c]
Your settings and mountings^[d] were made of gold;
on the day you were created they were prepared.
¹⁴ You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
¹⁵ You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created
till wickedness was found in you.
¹⁶ Through your widespread trade
you were filled with violence,
and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, O guardian cherub,
from among the fiery stones.
¹⁷ Your heart became proud
on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
I made a spectacle of you before kings.
¹⁸ By your many sins and dishonest trade
you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I made a fire come out from you,
and it consumed you,
and I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.
¹⁹ All the nations who knew you
are appalled at you;
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.’”

OBSERVATION: So often in prophecy God switches between the now, the future, and the distant future without clear separation. These verses seem to clearly be speaking of Satan. We must remember that their are spiritual principalities and powers (demon spirits) that rule over geographical locations on earth. It seems that Tyre had Satan himself as its spiritual principality. God speaks of Satan's creation and his fall. Verses 18, 19 seem to switch back to talking of the earthly ruler of Tyre again; although God makes it clear in other scriptures that Satan will finally be defeated once and for all as well.

APPLICATION: If Satan, the guardian cherub and worship leader of heaven could fall, why do we sometimes allow ourselves to get lifted up in pride and think it impossible that we could ever reject the Lord completely? And why do we think that others we meet who are spiritually mature are beyond failure? It is possible for any of us to fall away from God. The only prevention for that is to stay close to Jesus. If we start to make small compromises, it can lead us down a slippery slope very fast.

PRAYER: Father, I know I need You all the time. Speak to me by Your Spirit whenever I start to compromise in the least. Search me and know my heart, see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. I echo the prayer of David, and seek Your grace in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.