Ezekiel

Ezekiel 28: God brings proud rulers low

Begin in prayer

Before reading God's answer to a ruler who claims to be a god, let us bow before the One who made us. Seek His help to listen with calm hearts, His nearness to our family and a clear sight of Christ in Ezekiel 28.

for I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”

Malachi 1:14

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Please help us understand Your holiness and see Jesus, the King who humbled Himself to save sinners. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God confronts Tyre's prince, whose riches and wisdom have led him to claim that he is a god. Strangers will kill him, showing that he is human. A lament pictures Tyre's king with Eden's beauty and an anointed cherub's place on God's mountain, before violence and pride bring his downfall. God casts him down and turns him to ashes before the nations. He also announces plague, blood and sword against Sidon, making His holiness known. God will gather Israel, judge those who scorn her and give her secure dwelling in the land He gave Jacob.

As you read Ezekiel 28, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God brings proud rulers low and makes His holiness known through judgment and restoration.

The prince of Tyre claims to be a god, and God answers that he is a man whose riches have lifted his heart. His wisdom in trade cannot prevent strangers from killing him and bringing him down to the pit. A lament over Tyre's king then uses the pictures of Eden, precious stones and an anointed cherub on God's holy mountain. The pictured splendor is received, for God created and set him there, yet violence and pride corrupt his wisdom. God casts him out as profane, brings him to the ground and turns him to ashes before those who knew him. Sidon also faces plague, blood and sword, through which God will display His holiness and be known. The chapter ends with God's gathering Israel and judging the surrounding peoples who scorn her like painful thorns. Secure homes and vineyards will show the difference His holy rule makes for the people He gathers.

How does Ezekiel 28 show us that God brings proud rulers low and makes His holiness known through judgment and restoration?

God exposes the limits of proud human power.

The prince claims to be a god because wealth and wisdom have lifted his heart (verses 1 to 10). God calls him a man. Strangers will kill him, and his claim will not save him. God says he will die the deaths of the uncircumcised at strangers' hands (verse 10).

God judges splendor corrupted by sin.

The king's lament pictures beauty in Eden and an anointed cherub on God's mountain (verses 11 to 19). Violence and pride corrupt that splendor. His unrighteous trade also defiles his sanctuaries (verse 18). God casts him down and turns him to ashes before watching peoples.

God makes His holiness known among the nations.

God sends plague and sword against Sidon, making His holiness known in judgment (verses 20 to 26). He will gather Israel from the peoples. After He judges those who scorn her, she will dwell securely in the land given to Jacob.

Memorize

Will you yet say before him who kills you, I am God? but you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you.

Ezekiel 28:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what good thing makes me proud? Do I see my need of Jesus?

Tyre's prince claims divine honor, yet God says, “you are man, and not God”. His wisdom and wealth cannot protect him from death. The king's beauty also ends in judgment when pride and violence corrupt it. Every proud heart must answer to the holy Lord.

Jesus humbled Himself and obeyed His Father to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2 verse 8). There He died in His people's place, enduring the condemnation their sins deserved. His sacrifice completed their redemption and fully satisfied the judgment against them. He rose to life, and His saving work lacks nothing needed to bring sinners to God.

Turn away from your sin and trust the Lord Jesus. All who come to Him in faith will be forgiven. Please ask Him to expose the pride you protect and give you a humble heart. Bow before the King who saves through the work He has already accomplished.

Parent's note

Tell your children that proud sinners need Jesus, who died and rose to bring those who trust Him to God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His holy rule and the humble Savior, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:11

Holy God, thank You for showing the limits of human pride and the mercy of Jesus Christ. Forgive the pride we defend, and help each one turn from sin and believe in Him. Please teach us to honor You for every gift and walk humbly under Your holy rule. Amen.