The verses from this passage describe a powerful being. But there are certain reference that indicate that this being is not human, but supernatural. The king of Tyre is described here as a literal angel, as one who was in Eden, as one who was on the high mountain of God, and as one who will be ultimately destroyed. This could be no mere human, but an obvious reference to Satan, that serpent of old. In this message, we will see the original sin, and how God did judge it, and how God will judge it in the future.
PRESTIGE
WISE
Verse 2 says that this creature was full of wisdom. The word for wisdom here means “skill in war, wise in administration, or shrewd.” These terms are very apt descriptions for one who was in as high a position as our subject. Having this kind of knowledge and ability can be a good thing. It is something that can also be a bad thing. It turns out that Satan let his vast knowledge, skill and cleverness consume him to the point that it destroyed him when in verse 17 it says “Thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness…”
Have you ever noticed how Satan knows right where to hit us with temptation? It is because he is not stupid, he knows what he is doing and he is a real pro at manipulation. He is indeed skillful, smart and crafty.
BEAUTY
Satan was a very beautiful creature when he was created. Isaiah 14 gives him the name Lucifer, which means “light bearer, shining one, morning star.” At least three verses in our passage describe his beauty. Verse 13 goes to great lengths to describe his wonderful arraignment. If you will notice, nowhere does it mention that he was stripped of that beautiful arraignment.
Isn’t it interesting that when you see an advertisement for beer, that the companies make it look so good and cheery. They don’t show you the picture of the guys at three in the morning in front of the toilet. Nor do they show you the picture of the guys nervously waiting for the call that a suitable liver is available for transplant. You always see the beauty, but you never see the ugliness of it all.
POWER
Satan was no lightweight in God’s organization. Look closely at verse 14. He was a cherub. Cherubs are seen in the Bible guarding Eden, flanking the very throne of God and as the angels on the top of the holy Ark of the Covenant, where the shekina glory of God shone. He was on the holy mountain of God. In fact, verse 15 calls him perfect in his ways.
Satan was created as a very special angel. He was even an anointed cherub, which means that even among the cherubs, he had a special place of prominence. Satan is so often pictured as a red cartoon character with horns, a goatee, a pitchfork and a tail. He is so much more mighty and strong than we like to give him credit. In fact, the Bible describes him as a roaring lion, “seeking whom he may devour.” Yes, he is mighty, but he is not all mighty. “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
PRIDE
Once we see the prestigious picture of Satan as a creature of wisdom, beauty and power, we see a very stark change. Notice the difference in tone that is taken starting in verse 15: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” From this point on, things really take a turn for the worst. In Ezekiel 28, he is called violent, profane, corrupted, and defiled. If we look closely at Isaiah 14, we will see the specifics of Satan’s ugly turn.
“I will ascend into heaven” What is really being said is he wanted to increase his position in the chain of command. While he seemingly had it all, he wanted more. He was not content with what he had.
“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” This could refer to his desire to rule over the angels, or over heaven itself. He saw himself as a better ruler over it wall.
“I will sit upon the mount of the congregation…” This likely points to his desire to attain diety. The mount of the congregation could be a reference to a mountain in Syria where the Caananite gods supposedly met. Does that sound similar to Mount Olympus? Satan is desiring to be worshipped himself, in his foolish pride being jealous of God. He is trying to set up his own religious system. Never forget that he tried to trick Jesus into worshiping him. He is still trying to promote that same religion today.
“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.” This could refer to his description of how he ambitiously desires to promote himself to higher glory. It could be a description of how he desires to set himself above God.
“I will be like the Most High.” Here is his final statement of ultimate folly. Possibly, since he was “in Eden,” he was likely still under God’s rule when God rested on the seventh day. On the seventh day, God looked on ALL that He had made and said it was “very good.” God surely could not observe a part of His creation that rebelled and call that good. So Satan likely did not fall until at least day eight. By that time, he saw all the glories of God’s creation. He evidently heard the angels sing with holy voices when God made His highest creation, man as a living soul. It was all to much for him to take. Having seen all that, he felt that he could do the same, or even do better.
Here is the ultimate sin: Satan’s pride got in the way of his better judgment. And he will tempt us much the same way. He will try to tell us that we are smart enough to know what is best for us instead of God. Having sex with someone you think you love but aren’t married to just feels so good, so it can’t be wrong, can it? But we are never told of the later consequences of those actions: unintended emotional breakups, unplanned pregnancies, or unwanted diseases.
In warning against pride, the Bible says “Pride goeth before destruction.”Proverbs 16:18 “When pride cometh, then cometh shame.” Proverbs 11:2 “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife; but he that putting his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.” Proverbs 28:25.
PUNISHMENT
Satan’s punishment from God is twofold: “I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee.”
First, God gave Satan a one way ticket out of heaven, away from the prestigious place that he occupied. The one time ally of God, who very likely could have been the second in command, was now public enemy number one. And did Satan hate God for doing what He did. Why do you think that he tried to destroy the relationship that God had with mankind? Out of jealousy and pride.
Not only was Satan disgraced by being thrown out of heaven, but God promised that he will “destroy” Satan. That is a future event. We can see a peek of this in Revelation 20:10: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…”
This “lake of fire” is the ultimate end, the final punishment of destruction that is talked about in Isaiah 14:17. This is the tragic end for one who had so much potential.
But, if we notice, it is not only the final, tragic destruction and punishment of Satan. Let us read REVELATION 20:11-15.
We must understand and realize that we, ourselves are headed down a patch of destruction and punishment. In the garden which God planted in Eden, man rebelled against God, thinking that he knew more than God did. God said man would surely die if he ate from one tree in the garden. Satan convinced man that would not happen. Man rebelled against God, just like Lucifer did. That makes man deserving of the same judgment and punishment that Satan will receive. The difference is, we don’t have to accept that punishment.
Rather, God decided to offer man his wonderfully gracious mercy of forgiveness. To do that, he had to crush his son, Jesus Christ, on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. And He offers us the choice: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
We can accept the free gift of salvation and pardon from God’s awful punishment, or we can stand at the Great White Throne on that day and accept God’s awful wrath and punishment.
What is your choice?
