Ezekiel 28:12
"Son of man, take up a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
Son of man
This phrase is a common designation for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a prophet. It underscores the contrast between the divine message he delivers and his human nature. The term is used extensively in the book of Ezekiel, highlighting the prophet's role as a representative of humanity before God.

take up a lament for the king of Tyre
A lament is a form of poetic expression of mourning or sorrow. Here, it is directed towards the king of Tyre, a significant city-state known for its wealth and influence in the ancient Near East. Tyre was a major Phoenician port city, and its king was a powerful figure. The lament suggests impending judgment and downfall, reflecting the city's pride and eventual destruction.

and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase establishes the authority of the message. It is not Ezekiel's own words but a divine pronouncement. The use of "Lord GOD" (YHWH Elohim) emphasizes God's sovereignty and power over all nations, including Tyre.

You were the seal of perfection
This metaphor suggests that the king of Tyre was once a model of completeness and excellence. In ancient cultures, a seal was a mark of authenticity and authority. The phrase implies that the king had reached a pinnacle of human achievement and status, possibly reflecting Tyre's prosperity and the king's wisdom.

full of wisdom
The king of Tyre is described as possessing great wisdom, which was highly valued in ancient Near Eastern cultures. This wisdom likely contributed to Tyre's success in trade and politics. However, biblical wisdom is often associated with the fear of the Lord, suggesting that the king's wisdom was ultimately flawed or misused.

and perfect in beauty
This phrase highlights the king's or the city's aesthetic and cultural achievements. Tyre was renowned for its architecture, art, and luxury. The description of beauty can also be seen as a reflection of the king's pride and self-exaltation, which ultimately leads to his downfall, as pride is often condemned in scripture (Proverbs 16:18).

Connections to other scripture
The lament for the king of Tyre is often compared to the fall of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-15, as both passages describe a figure of great beauty and wisdom brought low by pride. Additionally, the imagery of perfection and beauty can be seen as a type of Christ, who is the true embodiment of wisdom and beauty, yet without sin or pride.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet of God who ministered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. He is the one delivering God's message in this passage.

2. King of Tyre
The earthly ruler of the city of Tyre, a wealthy and influential city-state known for its commerce and trade. The king is the subject of God's lament through Ezekiel.

3. Tyre
An ancient Phoenician city known for its wealth, trade, and strategic location. It was a powerful maritime city during Ezekiel's time.

4. God (Yahweh)
The sovereign Lord who speaks through Ezekiel, delivering a message of judgment and lamentation.

5. Lament
A form of poetic expression of mourning or sorrow, often used in the Bible to convey God's judgment or the consequences of sin.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Pride
The king of Tyre's downfall serves as a warning against pride and self-exaltation. Believers are called to humility, recognizing that all wisdom and beauty come from God.

The Illusion of Perfection
Earthly perfection and wisdom are fleeting and can lead to a false sense of security. True perfection is found only in Christ.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
The lament demonstrates God's control over nations and leaders. No power is beyond His reach, and He will hold all accountable.

The Role of Lament in Scripture
Lament is a powerful tool for expressing sorrow and repentance. It reminds us of the seriousness of sin and the need for God's mercy.

Wisdom and Beauty as Gifts
Wisdom and beauty are gifts from God meant to glorify Him, not ourselves. We should use these gifts to serve others and advance God's kingdom.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of the king of Tyre as "the seal of perfection" challenge our understanding of human wisdom and beauty?

2. In what ways can pride manifest in our own lives, and how can we guard against it using biblical principles?

3. How does the fall of Tyre serve as a warning to modern nations and leaders about the consequences of pride and self-reliance?

4. What role does lament play in your personal spiritual life, and how can it help you grow closer to God?

5. How can we use the gifts of wisdom and beauty to glorify God in our daily lives, and what scriptures support this calling?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 14
This chapter contains a similar lament against the king of Babylon, often seen as a parallel to the lament against the king of Tyre, highlighting themes of pride and downfall.

Genesis 3
The description of the king of Tyre as "full of wisdom and perfect in beauty" can be connected to the serpent's deception in the Garden of Eden, where wisdom and beauty were twisted for evil purposes.

Revelation 18
The fall of Babylon in Revelation echoes the fall of Tyre, symbolizing the ultimate downfall of prideful and sinful nations.

Proverbs 16:18
This verse speaks to the theme of pride leading to destruction, which is a central theme in the lament against the king of Tyre.
Man in Impressive AspectsW. Jones Ezekiel 28:11-19
The Glory and Shame of Eden ReproducedJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 28:11-19
The Insufficiency of Circumstance, EtcW. Clarkson Ezekiel 28:11-19
People
Daniel, Ezekiel, Jacob, Zidon
Places
Sidon, Tigris-Euphrates Region, Tyre
Topics
Accurate, All-wise, Beautiful, Beauty, Completely, Full, Grief, Hast, Lamentation, Lift, Measure, Measurement, Model, Perfect, Perfection, Raise, Says, Seal, Sealest, Sealing, Signet, Song, Sovereign, Sum, Thus, Tyre, Tyrus, Wisdom
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 28:12

     7963   song

Ezekiel 28:11-13

     4342   jewels

Ezekiel 28:12-13

     4241   Garden of Eden

Ezekiel 28:12-17

     8322   perfection, human

Ezekiel 28:12-19

     5899   lament
     8483   spiritual warfare, causes

Library
Palm Sunday
Text: Philippians 2, 5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

The Doctrine of Satan.
I. HIS EXISTENCE AND PERSONALITY. 1. EXISTENCE. 2. PERSONALITY. II. HIS PLACE AND POWER. 1. A MIGHTY ANGEL. 2. PRINCE OF POWER OF THE AIR. 3. GOD OF THIS WORLD. 4. HEAD OF KINGDOM OF DARKNESS. 5. SOVEREIGN OVER DEATH. III. HIS CHARACTER. 1. ADVERSARY. 2. DIABOLOS. 3. WICKED ONE. 4. TEMPTER. IV. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS SATAN. 1. LIMITED POWER OF SATAN. 2. RESIST HIM. V. HIS DESTINY. 1. A CONQUERED ENEMY. 2. UNDER ETERNAL CURSE. VI. DEMONS. THE DOCTRINE OF SATAN. Throughout the Scriptures Satan is set
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

Concerning Persecution
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 We are now come to the last beatitude: Blessed are they which are persecuted . . '. Our Lord Christ would have us reckon the cost. Which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have enough to finish it?' (Luke 14:28). Religion will cost us the tears of repentance and the blood of persecution. But we see here a great encouragement that may
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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