The Roots Of Evil Series

THE ROOTS OF EVIL (EZEK 28:11-19)

The biggest winner after the events of September 11 did not show up to claim the prize. Oddly, Christians stop noticing, blaming or challenging him once a war breaks out. He was not a Taliban official, an Al-Qaeda fighter, or a cave dweller in Afghanistan. George W. Bush did not want him, dead or alive; America did not offer $25 million cash reward for information leading his location or capture; and America’s Most Wanted did not put his photo on TV. The biggest winner was undoubtedly the devil, Satan himself. He took a vacation, ducked out of sight and the citizens of the world were left attacking one other and calling one another names.

To the Arab coalition, America is the Great Satan and Israel is the Lesser, Small or Little Satan. To the Americans, Hitler was the embodiment of Satan. Reagan called the Soviet Union an “evil empire” at the height of the Cold War in the 80s, and the senior Bush demonized Saddam Hussein in the 90s.

Two passages in the Bible point to the devil’s origin, undoing, and condemnation. Ezekiel 28 is one of two passages that give us the clearest understanding of the Satan; Isaiah 14 is another. Ralph Alexander, the commentator of Ezekiel in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, said that this passage is the hardest passage in the Bible to understand. The chief problem is the debate on the identity of the subject in this passage. The three possibilities are the devil, man himself and the king of Tyre.

However, a regular reader of the Ezekiel 28:11-19 does not see the devil. The probable answer may be that the rise and fall of the king of Tyre is emblematic of Satan’s downfall and doom, and the passage is a restatement and reenactment of the devil’s fate.

Tyre was an eye-catching, a breath-taking, and well-watered city by the coast northwest to the land of Israel. It was a unique city; part of Tyre was on an island a short distance from the shore, and the other on the opposite mainland. The Bible referred to Tyre as the “strong” or “fortified” city (Josh 19:29). International Standard Bible Encyclopedia records that the city’s borders on the mainland were protected by a 150 feet wall. Tyre was famous for her fertile land, her busy ports, and her enormous affluence (Ezek 27:3-7).

What was the devil’s original status? Why was he rejected by God? When will God complete His judgment on the devil?

Satan was a Captivating but Created Being

11 The word of the LORD came to me: 12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ’This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “’You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. Ezek 28:11-14

A young woman who had recently undergone somewhat of a religious transformation sought the advice of her pastor on a matter of great urgency. Previously she had lived her life obsessed with the latest beauty secret, the newest fashion, and the best weight loss program.

The woman said, “Reverend, I need advice to overcome grievous sin.” The minister asked, “What is it, child?” The young woman confessed sheepishly, “I have committed the sin of vanity. Twice a day I gaze at myself in the mirror and tell myself how amazingly beautiful I am. I can’t help it. It is an ungodly preoccupation. Now that I have found God, I know that this is not the way to live. Will you please pray for me?”

The preacher turned, took a good look at the girl, and replied, “My dear, I have good news. That isn’t a sin - it’s only a mistake.”

It’s been said, “The devil entangles youth with beauty, the miser with gold, the ambitious with power, the learned with false doctrine.”

Satan had three fascinations: good looks, bright lights, and fine things. The devil was infatuated, captivated, and obsessed with none other but himself. He did not need make-up or touch-up, a supporting cast or an adoring public; all he needed was a continuous supply of mirrors. Of course, the devil’s biggest admirer, promoter and believer is himself.

The devil, originally, was the closet thing to a heavenly celebrity. His obsessions were fame and power. Originally, he was a guardian cherub (vv 14, 16) with outstanding qualities. He was “the model of perfection” (v 12), or in the NASB: ““You had the seal of perfection…” (Ezek 28:12). He was also “full of wisdom,” the kind that not even Solomon or any person on earth could match (1 Ki 4:30, 7:14). Satan’s wisdom was considered full, not just filled; the two words differed slightly in Hebrew.