The King Behind the King

Ezekiel 27:1-28:19
 

Last week, we saw the prophecy about the city of Tyre and how it was fulfilled.  Tyre was a mainland trading city on the west side of the Mediterranean Sea.  Following the prophecy given to Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon laid siege to the city for more than ten years.  The city was impoverished during such a lengthy siege, and finally surrendered and agreed to pay tribute.
 
As a part of the prophecy, God foretold the utter destruction of Tyre including throwing the very stones and timber of their fine homes into the sea.  Carl explained that this came about after Ezekiel’s time when Alexander the Great used the buildings of the old city to assault the new city which had been built on a nearby island.
 
Here are a couple of slides that show the way things would have looked before the siege compared to how they look today.  In the upper left, you see an image of columns in the sea.  The majority of the causeway or bridge that Alexander built is now covered with sediment, but there are places where you can still see ruins in the sea.  As you see on the right, old Tyre and “new” Tyre are connected by an isthmus of land.  This happened as the sediment (sand) built up over time.
 
I added one more picture on the lower left.  You can see in the map that there were (or nearly were) two islands.  The southern portion is named after the guy in the picture on the lower left.  He’s actually the god of Tyrians.  Keep him (Melcart) in mind, we’ll come back to him in chapter 28.
 
Let’s look at one more slide.  Here are a couple of views of Tyre in modern times.  The black and white image was taken from an airplane in 1934.  It definitely has the feel of a place where fishermen would spread their nets which was prophesied in Ezekiel 26:5.  The more recent image from 2006 begins to look more settled, but I would say that it is not a bustling metropolis by a long shot even today.  I found a travel guide for Tyre.  The author said there’s really nowhere much to stay in Tyre, and it is best to make a day trip from either Beirut or Sidon.  Yes, you can apparently find McDonalds and even Dunkin’ Donuts in Tyre today.  But keep in mind that for 2500 years, Tyre was little more than a fishing village.  Today, it is a small city, 60,000 in the city, not quite 200,000 in the metro area.  It’s not as big as Greenville.  Beirut on the other hand has more than 2 million people in the metropolitan area.
 
Let’s pray and look into the lament and additional prophecy against Tyre and her king.
 
Father God, show us what you would like for us to see in these chapters of Ezekiel.  Open our eyes to Your truth.  We want to hear from You.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

The word of the LORD came to me:  “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre.  Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says, “You say, Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’”  …’ ” – Ezekiel 27:1-3
 
As we have seen before, the Lord gives Ezekiel words to speak and record directly.  What we will hear are God’s own words for Tyre.  Right away, get a snapshot of what Tyre is about:  a gateway to the sea and a merchant of peoples on many coasts.  For the next 20 verses or so, we are going to get a detailed view of the kinds of commerce and variety of peoples who had connections with or through Tyre.
 
We read and study the word of God because it is God’s words to His people, to us.  We’ve talked before about how the bible is filled with different types and styles or writing.  It is also filled with historical detail unparalleled in the range of time that it covers.  Archaeologists and historians use the bible to gain information about different times of history.  Ezekiel chapter 27 continues to describe Tyre.  Due to its age, this passage is also a historical gem.  It gives us details about the breadth and volume of trade that flowed through the greatest ancient cities like Tyre.  Additionally, it shows a list of chief cities which is also valuable to historians.
At the heart of this message against Tyre, we see their pride as a major issue.  “I am perfect in beauty.”  Tyre’s attitude is not one of humility and thanksgiving but rather one focused on itself.
 
Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection.  They made all your timbers of juniper from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.  Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, adorned with ivory.  Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail and served as your banner; your awnings were of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah.  Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen; your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.  Veteran craftsmen of Byblos were on board as shipwrights to caulk your seams. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to trade for your wares. – Ezekiel 27:4-9
 
Tyre is not only known for its precious purple dye, but also as the place that has access to goods all over the known world.  We see four different kinds of wood here.  Each type suited for a different purpose.  Tyre is described as a ship because its domain is the sea.  Two different types of cloths are mentioned.
 
In addition to goods, Tyre is known as a place of skilled workman, sailors.  Now, the imagery changes from a ship to a city, but the list of experienced workers continues.
 
Men of Persia, Lydia and Put served as soldiers in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, bringing you splendor.  Men of Arvad and Helek guarded your walls on every side; men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection. –  Ezekiel 27:10-11
 
These nations of Persia, Lydia and Put are hundreds of miles away from Tyre.  These mercenaries were drawn to Tyre by the opportunity.  Soldiers from different regions often had slightly different trappings, often colorful.  These shields and helmets were like collectibles from afar.  They lent prestige to a city that could have such diversity among its military.
 
Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.
Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.
The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.
Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.
Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, olive oil and balm for your wares.
Damascus did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods. They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar and casks of wine from Izal in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia and calamus.
Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.
The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.
Harran, Kanneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad traded with you.  In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted. – Ezekiel 27:12-24
 
If it could be bought or traded for, you could find it in Tyre.  Various metals both precious and trade goods.  Slaves, human trafficking.  Military and draft animals.  Jewels and other precious materials.  All sorts of textiles of a kaleidoscope of colors.  Staple foods and rare delicacies and wines.  Perfumes, spices, and medicinal herbs.
 
And though it has been a prosperous existence for Tyre, times are changing.  They have come to the end of their success.
 
The ships of Tarshish serve as carriers for your wares. You are filled with heavy cargo as you sail the sea.  Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea.  Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, sailors and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck.  The shorelands will quake when your sailors cry out.  All who handle the oars will abandon their ships; the mariners and all the sailors will stand on the shore.  They will raise their voice and cry bitterly over you; they will sprinkle dust on their heads and roll in ashes.  They will shave their heads because of you and will put on sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and with bitter mourning.  As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament concerning you: "Who was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea?"  When your merchandise went out on the seas, you satisfied many nations; with your great wealth and your wares you enriched the kings of the earth.  Now you are shattered by the sea in the depths of the waters; your wares and all your company have gone down with you.  All who live in the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror and their faces are distorted with fear.  The merchants among the nations scoff at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more. – Ezekiel 27:25-36
 
Just as we read last week, Tyre will be destroyed.  It will be an utter and complete destruction as ship sinking.  Once the ship has gone under, it cannot be un-sunk.
 
Not only will there be great loss of valuables, there will be great mourning at the loss of so great a ship, at the loss of so great a company.  It was the kind of news that could not be believed.  It was like the collapse of the World Trade Center.  It couldn’t happen, could it?  And yet, this anchor in the economy of the ancient world was removed.
 
Why did it happen?  Why did God judge Tyre?
 
The word of the LORD came to me:  "Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.  Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you?  By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.  By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud. – Ezekiel 28:1-5
 
Okay, so we have the point.  The king of Tyre has declared himself a god.  God corrects this self-inflated leader.  He is a mere mortal even if he thinks he is as wise as a god.  Not only is he a mere mortal.  He is not even the wisest man on earth in his own time.  Ezekiel puts forward Daniel.  Daniel and Ezekiel are contemporaries.  Daniel is five to ten years older than Ezekiel.  By this time, Daniel’s explanation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is likely known as it had happened 15 years earlier.  It seems probable that Nebuchadnezzar had also issued his proclamation reverencing God, well at least the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
 
God tells the truth.  He does not call the king of Tyre an idiot even though he might be acting like one.  What happened to the king of Tyre?  He did have wisdom and understanding, and by it, he gained wealth, amassing silver and gold.  He did have skill in trading.  Using that skill, he increased his wealth.  God did not condemn that.  He states the facts.
 
Now comes the problem.  “Because of your wealth your heart has grown proud.”  It doesn’t have to be wealth.  It can be any number of things.  God has blessed each of us with certain gifts and talents.  We get to apply those gifts and talents.  When we do, it should bring God, our designer and creator, glory.  Unfortunately, it is all too easy to take credit for our successes for ourselves alone.  As we do, our hearts grow proud.
 
Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor.  They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas.  Will you then say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a mortal, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you.  You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.” – Ezekiel 28:6-10
 
There is the answer to why the king of Tyre and his city must fall.  Because the king thinks he is as wise as a god.  He will have no honor or power at the time of his death.
 
God has a high standard for those who have had dealings with Him.  We will see later that God gives Ezekiel much to say to the Egyptians as well.  The Egyptians had a lot of experience with Israel and God.  There is a strong sense of “you should have known better” for the nations that have seen directly interventions of Almighty God in the affairs of humanity.
 
Tyre’s success vastly accelerated during the time of the united kingdom of Israel under David and Solomon.  There was cooperative work between both sides.  They were actively involved in providing materials and craftsmen for the work of building the temple in Jerusalem.  Tyre knew much, but retained little.  After the split of Israel and Judah, Ahab took his wife Jezebel from the Tyrian nobility.  Now, four hundred years later during the time of Ezekiel, Tyre’s king now considered himself a god.  Tyre had prospered after the fall of Assyria and had continued to gain wealth during the twenty years up until Ezekiel’s prophecy.  And, Tyre laughed at the downfall of Jerusalem and saw the fall of Judah as yet another opportunity to prosper still more.
 
The word of the LORD came to me: “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 seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 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. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 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, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 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. 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. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.” ’ ” – Ezekiel 28:11-19
 
In our translation at the beginning of chapter 28, God speaks to the “ruler of Tyre.”  That is a different word than we have in chapter 12 “king of Tyre.”  Other translations use the word prince at the beginning of chapter 28.  This transition is where we get the title for today’s message, “The King Behind the King.”
 
This is not the only place in scripture where you can a prophet addressing a spiritual being behind an earthly ruler.  In Isaiah 14, a prophecy against the king of Babylon includes a condemnation of the morning star fallen from heaven, cast down to the earth.  Likewise in Daniel 10, the archangel Michael speaks of his battle against a spiritual adversary that he calls the prince of Persia.
 
And so, God is not speaking to a man.  He is speaking to Satan.  It is one of the most graphic portrayals of him in the bible.  What was Satan like before he fell?
 
He was the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty.  The description of gemstones and gold show us that God gave him honor and prestige.  The stones there are a subset of the stones on the high priest’s breastplate which indicates a priestly responsibility.  As a cherub, he would live and work in the presence of God.  Anointing would indicate a high position.  God ordained this.  It wasn’t something that Satan had earned through his own efforts.  God created him for this purpose and brought him to this role, and for a time he was blameless.
 
God describes Satan’s sin in the terms of Tyre’s sin.  Tyre had become this “super-commercialized city-state focused only on winning a profit” whether by slavery or the downfall of other kingdoms.  Satan’s widespread trade was “his competitive spirit, his desire to be exalted above” all, all the angels and even God Himself.  Satan’s own words are recorded in Isaiah 14.  “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (v.13-14)
 
This reminds me of the portrayal of demons in the Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.  Satan is not interested in the military for the sake of destruction alone.  He can be active in business just as much as in war.  His desire is to have power not attaining it through righteousness but through wickedness.  Father of lies (John 8:44), he comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
 
Verse 16 says Satan is filled with violence.  Isaiah and Revelation make it clear that there was a battle in heaven.  In the present time, Satan’s violence is directed toward humankind in an effort to “obscure the image of God in [us by] encouraging sin and rebellion, to cause [people] to serve him, and to prevent” us being raised up in the glory of Jesus Christ.
 
A being like that cannot be allowed to stay in heaven.  And so, God drove Satan out.  Jesus said in Luke 10:18 that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven which matches with the passage here in Ezekiel where fire comes out of him and reduces him to ashes.  Gone is the beauty and splendor.  Why?  Because Satan became proud of his beauty.  He let his God-given splendor corrupt his wisdom.  He attributed these things to himself.  He allowed himself to believe he was beautiful apart from God, even above God.  This is incompatible with the truth.  When Satan held onto it without repenting from it, then His relationship with God was irrevocably destroyed.
 
I had a friend ask me almost 20 years ago if Satan could repent.  I asked Fred about it back then, too.  His answer taught me something about the bible.  He said no, Satan could not repent.  I asked why not.  He said because the bible says that he doesn’t.  From Genesis to Revelation, Satan lives in opposition to God.  One commentary explained that Satan falls not once but four times:  (1) from righteous glory to profane wickedness; (2) from having access to heaven to restriction on the earth; (3) from his place on the earth to bondage in the bottomless pit for a thousand years; and (4) finally from the bottomless pit to the lake of fire.  Satan will truly come to a horrible end, but it has not yet fully come.
 
Satan is still actively working to trick people with his lies.  I Peter 5:8-11 warns us of the risks and gives us the remedy. 
 
Be alert and sober-minded.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To Him be the power for ever and ever.  Amen. – I Peter 5:8-11
 
Lord God, we pray that You would help us to be alert and serious in our thinking.  Help us also to be humble in our blessings and live lives of thankfulness.  I pray for each one here that they would stand firm in the faith.  Thank You that You will restore everyone who calls on the name of Jesus.  To You be the power and glory forevermore.  Amen.