KNOWING GOD IN HIS GLORY

The Downfall Of An Adversary

Ezekiel 26-28

8/26/01

SCC

P Who is the Prince of the city of Tyre?

P How is this Prince identified with Satan?

P What is the source and character of Satan’s sin?

The reason why many of us become victims of Satans schemes against us is because Satan is a better student of us than we are of him. The tendency is to go to extremes about Satan by either overestimating him by seeing his work in every bad thing that happens or underestimating him by assuming that he has little or no influence in our lives. While our primary need is to dwell upon the riches we have in Christ, we also need to know what the Bible tells us about our adversary so that we may be alert to who he is and what it is he is doing. Satan in mentioned from Genesis to Revelation. He plays a significant role in the beginning, in the end and all throughout the middle of God’s plan for the ages. You may be thinking, why are we talking about Satan here in the middle of a series about Ezekiel? The answer, because Ezekiel does. The context is the destruction of the ancient city of Tyre which sat to the north of Israel as a maritime power in the region. God pronounced judgment on Israel’s enemies to the east and west and know does so for her enemy to the north.

(1) Judgment of Tyre chp 26 Tyre dominated the sea routes but Jerusalem controlled the caravan routes. Tyre saw Jerusalems downfall as an opportunity to corner the market for trade now. The city included a mainland and an island about a 1/2 mile off the coast. The main city was supported by many satellite communities around it. However, the mainland was destroyed by Neb and Alexander the Great in 332BC destroyed the rebuilt city and used the rubble to build a causeway to the island fortress which he destroyed. The city never regained its composure and as predicted has disappeared from history, the rocks in the area used now as a place to spread fishnets to dry.

(2) Lament how become Satan himself, he was indicating that the motivation behind Peter’s opposition to His going to the cross was Satan. Here is a similar situation. Here is the lesson: do not ever become significant enough for Satan to personally use you! Now if Satan standing behind this king, far superior to him received just punishment for his rebellion, then this human ruler cannot escape the outcome of his own defiance of the Lord. We learn a few things about Satan from this passage that teach us: HIS ORIGINAL POSITION

(1) Satan had unparelleled wisdom and beauty vs 12. He stood at the zenith of Hod’s creatures full of wisdom and beauty.

(2) Had unparalleled habitation vs 13. Could be a heavenly or earthly eden but before since was a very unique place.

(3) Had unparaelleled covering vs 13. Dazzling description of his dress or robe indicates something of his given glory.

(4) Unparalleled function vs 14. He belonged to order of Cherubim. Associated with guarding holiness of god with throne of God and here with actual presence of God. Apparently he was chief guardian of Gods holiness and majesty.

(5) Unparalleled perfection vs 15. Perfect in sense of completely sound having total moral integrity.

the superhuman creature, Satan, who was using or indwelling him or both. We know that Satan is the one behind Antichrist who will be the climax of all the people whom Satan has indwelt throughout history. This king was one whom he indwelt in the past, as Antichrist will be the final one indwelt in the future. While Ezekiel had the situation of his day in mind with his attention riveted upon the ruler of Tyre, but as he viewed the thots and ways of that monarch he clearly discerned behind him the motivating force and personality in his oppossition to God and His work. He saw the activity of Satan whom the king of Tyre was emulating. For instance, recall the incident in Matt 16:21-23 where Peter is rebuked by Jesus. But he did not mean that Peter had someohow become Satan himself, he was indicating that the motivation behind Peter’s opposition to His going to the cross was Satan. Here is a similar situation. Here is the lesson: do not ever become significant enough for Satan to personally use you! Now if Satan standing behind this king, far superior to him received just punishment for his rebellion, then this human ruler cannot escape the outcome of his own defiance of the Lord. We learn a few things about Satan from this passage that teach us: HIS ORIGINAL POSITION

(1) Satan had unparelleled wisdom and beauty vs 12. He stood at the zenith of Hod’s creatures full of wisdom and beauty.

(2) Had unparalleled habitation vs 13. Could be a heavenly or earthly eden but before since was a very unique place.

(3) Had unparaelleled covering vs 13. Dazzling description of his dress or robe indicates something of his given glory.

(4) Unparalleled function vs 14. He belonged to order of Cherubim. Associated with guarding holiness of god with throne of God and here with actual presence of God. Apparently he was chief guardian of Gods holiness and majesty.

(5) Unparalleled perfection vs 15. Perfect in sense of completely sound having total moral integrity.

HIS SIN AND FALL

(1) The source of his sin was a sort of spontaneous generation in his heart to be like God vs 15-17. He corrupted himself deliberately and personally.

(2) The character of his sin was conceit that welled up in his heart because of his beauty and high position leading to rebellious ambition. The nature of the rebellion was to try and bring glory to himself by plotting against God to compete for it. Created to reflect Gods glory he elected to try and share it.

CONCLUSION

(1) Thru satans sin the character of God becomes more perfectly eveident. It is Satans and mans sins sin that causes Gods holiness, righteousness, justice, goodness, mercy and grace clearer.

(2) God is sovereign and even tho creature rebels can still use this to his glory and purposes. Gog allowed Satan to sin and uses him as a catalyst to promote His own glory. (Like stars against nite sky)