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Fall from Greatness, Ezekiel 26-28

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Introduction: We have all admired some person or organization that fell from greatness, and we lamented the loss. Perhaps it happened when a large publicly traded company or national bank went belly-up. Perhaps it happened when a talented and much admired sports figure was convicted of a heinous crime. Perhaps it happened when a much beloved politician, preacher or teacher was caught in embezzlement or immorality. Falls from greatness happen to people and organizations in high positions of power and influence when they get prideful and corrupt in their dealings. Eventually, their unethical and immoral behavior catches up with them, and then great is the crash. Discuss: Are there people or organizations you know of that have experienced this? The nation and king of Tyre were like that.

Review. In Babylon the prophet Ezekiel shares heavenly visions, performs many signs, object lessons, dramatizations, and other illustrations to get the attention of the Jewish exiles so that they might wake up to reality and repent before their beloved city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. However, God's efforts to save them are to no avail.

During the two year siege of Babylon, Jerusalem has a chance to repent but does not. As she was besieged and destroyed, how did the surrounding nations react? In Ezekiel 25-32 there are judgments against Israel's neighbors. In Ezekiel 25 there were judgments against Israel's eastern and western neighbors, the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and the Philistines. They would be judged by God for rejoicing over Israel's calamity.

In today's Bible lesson we study the judgment of her northern coastal neighbor, Tyre. Tyre was located in the southern area of Phoenecia (now Lebanon - use browser arrow to return to this Bible study). You may wish to read a brief history of Tyre. Notice that the old city was never rebuilt. The prophecies given by God to Ezekiel were apparently written down and sent by a messenger(s) to give to the ruler of Tyre (Ethbaal III) because Ezekiel was in exile in Babylon. Ethbaal III probably received the messages shortly before they were fulfilled. Read Ezekiel 26 and make observations and summarize what you discover about the city of Tyre.

Answer 1

 

When was this prophecy against Tyre given? Ezekiel 26:1

Answer 2

 

What was the sin of the nation of Tyre? Ezekiel 26:2-3

Answer 3

 

What were some of the things that would happen to Tyre? Ezekiel 26:3b-21

Answer 4

 

In Chapter 27 The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel, saying,
"Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre," (Ezek. 27:2, NIV) According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T. by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p.1262), "a lament was a funeral song recited in honor of a dead person. The song generally stressed the good qualities of the departed and the tragedy or loss engendered by his death." Read Ezekiel 27. What were the good things that were recited in honor of the city of Tyre and what were the tragedies and losses engendered upon her destruction?

Answer 5

 

Ezekiel 27:3 hints at something that caused the destruction of Tyre. What was it?

Answer 6

 

Ezekiel 27:26 says that an east wind would break Tyre to pieces. Knowing that this story is an allegory and alluding back to Ezekiel 26:3-7, what nation from the north and east (a northeaster) would attack and destroy Tyre?

Answer 7

 

Read Ezekiel 28. Who is this chapter about and to whom do you think this character is likened? What is the sin of the person in this chapter?

Answer 8

 

What is God's assessment of the ruler of Tyre? Ezekiel 28:2

Answer 9

 

As was mentioned in Answer 8, in Ezekiel 28:12 there is a change from an address to the ruler of Tyre (v.2) to the king of Tyre. The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.1283 says,

The switch from "ruler" to "king" and his allusions to the Garden of Eden do imply that the individual being described was more than human. The best explanation is that Ezekiel was describing Satan who was the true "king" of Tyre, the one motivating the human ruler of Tyre.

Before his fall from greatness, how was this king described? Ezekiel 28:12-15

Answer 10

 

What happened to this king and why? How is this king like the ruler of Tyre? Ezekiel 28:15-19

Answer 11

 

North of the nation of Tyre is the nation of Sidon. What is the judgment against Sidon and why? Ezekiel 28:20-26

Answer 12

 

According to Ezekiel 28:25-26, what hope is there for Israel after she is destroyed and exiled?

Answer 13

Lessons to Live by: (ask for members' input first)

Today's Bible memory verse: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," (Proverbs 16:18, NIV)

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Answers:

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A1:

  • The message to Tyre from Ezekiel is from the Sovereign LORD, the same as all the other messages of judgment against other nations.
  • The city of Tyre is a coastal city inland and an island offshore (about a half a mile).
  • The city of Tyre will be destroyed and is never to be rebuilt because it rejoiced at Jerusalem's fall and sought to profit from it.
  • Babylon will be the conquering nation, trampling them with their strong calvary. Other nations will lament Tyre's destruction and be terrified.
  • Tyre will be destroyed so that it will be just a bare rock to spread out fishnets (this is probably a hyperbole). According to the history of Tyre, the old city was never rebuilt after Babylon and other nations including Greece destroyed it. New cities on the island and mainland were later constructed adjacent to the old city ruins.

A2: The prophecy was given in the eleventh year on the first day of the month. We do not know which month, but the eleventh year refers to the eleventh year of exiled King Jehoiachin, the last rightful ruler of Judah. That was 587-586 B.C., around the time Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed by Babylon (The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p.1278)

A3: The sin of Tyre for which she would be judged by the Sovereign LORD was rejoicing and trying to profit from the loss of Jerusalem.

A4: Some of the things that would happen to Tyre, as you may have already observed

  • The city of Tyre will be destroyed and never be rebuilt because it rejoiced at Jerusalem's fall and sought to profit from it.
  • Babylon will be the conquering nation, trampling them with their strong calvary. Other nations will lament Tyre's destruction and be terrified.
  • Tyre will be destroyed so that it will be just a bare rock to spread out fishnet. According to the history of Tyre, the old city was never rebuilt after Babylon and other nations including Greece destroyed it. New cities on the island and mainland were later constructed adjacent to the old city ruins.

A5:

Good things: Tyre ruled the sea and was like a beautifully arrayed and outfitted ship (vs.4-7) She had the best oarsmen, seamen, craftsmen, soldiers, seafaring trade and best merchandise (vs.8-11). All the coastal and inland nations traded with her (vs.12- 25).

Tragedy and Loss: All the nations sought trade with her, but she was shipwrecked and drowned in the sea with all her crew and her wares. The other nations were astonished and horrified and lamented her loss, even whistling through their teeth (or hissed) as they shook their heads.

A6: Her pride caused her destruction. "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," (Proverbs 16:18, NIV)

A7: Probably Babylon

A8: Ezekiel 28 describes the pride of the ruler of Tyre, thinking himself a god because he was wise and wealthy from his astute trading. His pride is likened to the king (not ruler) of Tyre. This being was once in the garden of Eden, and had been a spectacularly attired guardian cherub of God (though Satan is not mentioned, this is probably his identity. We will discuss this a little later). The pride of the ruler of Tyre will lead to his destruction. Sidon also will be destroyed because she, too, was a malicious neighbor and, as other neighboring nations, she was like painful briers and sharp thorns to Israel.

A9: Though the ruler of Tyre thinks he is a god, he is a man, not a god. Because of his pride the Sovereign LORD will have him destroyed with a violent death by foreigners (vs. 2-10)

Chronological note: in verse 3 God asked the ruler of Tyre (Ethbaal III) if he were wiser than Daniel. This is probably the prophet Daniel that we have recorded in our Bibles. By the time Ezekiel 28 was written, apparently Daniel had great respect and renown for his wisdom well beyond Babylon.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p. 1282 says that when God says the ruler of Tyre (Ethbaal III) will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners, he meant that he would die an ignoble death in the hands of his conquerors, the Babylonians, in a foreign land.

A10:

He (Satan) was a model of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty sort of like the ruler of Tyre.

He (Satan) was in the garden of Eden and had at one time been adorned with jewels.

He (Satan) was a created being, anointed as a guardian cherub who served in the presence of God.

A11.

He (Satan) was blameless until wickedness was found in him.

Satan, like the ruler of Tyre, thought he was a god and was guilty of dishonest trade (not meaning literal trade, but in his relations with God, drawing other angels to himself)

Satan was driven from the mount (or presence) of God, and he was disgraced like the ruler of Tyre. The old city and ruler of Tyre would come to a horrible end. Satan is still to experience this (Revelation 20:10)

A12: The judgment given against Sidon would be plague and sword. The specific reason for this is not clear, but the general reason is that she was one of the malicious neighbors of Israel who were painful briers and sharp thorns to her, and that she also maligned Israel.

A13. There is hope for Israel. Someday, after she repents (though this is not stated, in other Scriptures we know this is the requirement of God) she will return to her land, build houses, plant vineyards and live in safety.

Lessons to Live by:

  • Pride comes before a fall. Remember that you are just a man, an instrument of God, nothing more. Give God the glory and praise for any success he gives you and stay humble.
  • Do not rejoice in, mock, or try to profit from the calamities of others. God will punish you for that behavior as he did with Israel's neighbors.
  • God has special plans for his people Israel. Those who malign or mistreat Israel are in danger of judgment
  • Like Israel, we, too, will be vindicated if we repent and trust in God for our salvation (more...)

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