Ezekiel 28:2
“Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord
GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I
sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man,
and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:”
Tyre had a great history with Israel. Tyre was a city that always
seemed to be a help in the building of Israel. Tyre was blessed by God
because of this. Tyre was an island city located about one-half mile
from the mainland with walls whose height were no less that 150 feet.
Its main source of income came from the cedars and precious metals it
sold. Anytime they sold these, they also offered to send their citizens
who were experts in woodwork and working of precious metals.
This led this city to become a city filled with pride. They became
so self-reliant upon their abilities that they didn't think they needed
God; thus, they turned to idolatry and made their own idols. Their pride
is seen in the verse above when they said about themselves, “I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas…” They literally thought that nobody could take them down.
What they did not realize was that they were simply a pawn of
someone else. It is interesting that God addressed this city as the “prince of Tyrus.”
A prince is not the supreme ruler. So, to whom were they servants? When
you look later in this chapter, you find that God addressed Satan as
the “king of Tyrus.” In other words, though they thought they
were God, they were simply a pawn in the hand of Satan. Their pride and
self-reliance was the key that brought them down because God was greater
than them.
Friend, you must always remember that when you run from God you are
only becoming a pawn that Satan uses to fight against God. Anytime you
lift yourself above God, you are a pawn in the hand of Satan. You may
think that you can make it on your own, but God is greater than you. He
has the power to take you down just like He took Tyre down. It matters
not how wise you think you are, God is wiser. It does not matter how
strong you think you are, God is stronger. You may think you are wealthy
enough to buy your way out of any situation, but God is wealthier. It
doesn't matter how great you think you are, God is always greater and
will never allow you to place yourself above Him.
Moreover, God will remove anyone who is placed above Him. God has
removed many leaders, including men of God, because people placed them
above Him, and He will share His glory with no man. Your final authority
is not a preacher, but God. Just because your church is a large church
with prominent influence doesn't mean God won’t take it down when those
in leadership become so prideful that they allow compromise to take
place. God can always build another great church, He is not obligated to
any congregation.
My friend, let this judgment against Tyre be a warning to always
keep God as your focus in life. Never allow yourself to become a pawn in
the hand of Satan to lift yourself above God. When you become that
pawn, then judgment will soon come.