Ezekiel 28–30
Common Theme
God declares judgment against arrogant nations and rulers who exalt themselves as divine, particularly Tyre and Egypt. Through these prophecies, God reasserts His absolute sovereignty over all nations and reveals His justice in bringing down pride and idolatry.
Questions
- In what ways do modern individuals or nations claim a kind of godlike self-sufficiency like the prince of Tyre?
- How does God’s judgment of pride in these chapters shape our understanding of His justice and authority?
God Shot
God is the sovereign Lord who will not share His glory with another. He exposes and brings down the proud to make Himself known as the one true God among the nations.
Deeper✝
Ezekiel 28
The text presents a prophecy against the prince and king of Tyre, emphasizing their pride and self-deification. The Lord declares that despite the prince’s wisdom and wealth, he is merely a man and will face destruction at the hands of foreign nations. The prophecy warns that he will die like an uncircumcised man, stripped of his power and splendor.
A lamentation follows, describing the king of Tyre as once perfect and beautiful, akin to a guardian cherub in Eden, adorned with precious stones. However, due to pride and unrighteousness, he was cast down and destroyed, becoming a cautionary tale for others.
The text then shifts to a prophecy against Sidon, where the Lord declares His opposition and promises to manifest His glory through judgments, including pestilence and bloodshed. This will lead to recognition of the Lord’s sovereignty.
Finally, the Lord assures the house of Israel that they will be gathered from their scattered state, live securely in their land, and witness divine judgment against their contemptuous neighbors, affirming their identity as His people.
Ezekiel 29
In the tenth year, the LORD commands the prophet to prophesy against Pharaoh of Egypt, declaring His opposition to him and Egypt. The prophecy describes Pharaoh as a great dragon claiming ownership of the Nile. The LORD promises to punish Pharaoh by drawing him out of the Nile, leaving him and the fish to be food for wild animals. Egypt will become desolate for forty years, and its inhabitants will know the LORD. The land will be uninhabited, and the Egyptians will be scattered among nations. After forty years, the LORD will restore Egypt, but it will remain a lowly kingdom, never to rise again. The prophecy also mentions Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who will conquer Egypt and take its wealth as payment for his labor against Tyre. Ultimately, the Israelites will recognize the LORD’s sovereignty.
Ezekiel 30
The passage conveys a prophetic message from the LORD regarding the impending doom of Egypt and its allies. It begins with a lamentation for the approaching "day of the LORD," characterized by clouds and destruction. A sword is foretold to strike Egypt, leading to anguish in neighboring regions like Cush and Libya. The prophecy emphasizes that those who support Egypt will also fall, and the nation will face desolation and ruin. The LORD declares that He will end Egypt’s wealth through Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who will devastate the land and its people. The Nile will be dried up, and idols will be destroyed, instilling fear in Egypt. Specific cities like Memphis, Thebes, and Pelusium will suffer greatly. The passage concludes with a declaration of judgment against Pharaoh, whose power will be broken, and the Egyptians will be scattered among nations. Ultimately, these events will lead to the recognition of the LORD’s sovereignty.
✝Deeper excerpt from NIV Application Commentary, One-Volume Edition.