Ezekiel 28:1-19
The brilliant prince of Tyrus, who lifted himself up like a god, is the object of a personal prophecy. His punishment reminds us of that which fell upon Herod because he had accepted the flattery of the people of Tyre and Sidon; "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man" (Acts 12:20-23). But in this picture of the king of Tyre, God wants to speak to us of a mysterious and terrible being, Satan himself. Prince of this world, of which Tyre is the type, he makes use of its riches for the satisfaction of men’s lust, in order to hold men in slavery. We learn from vv. 12-15 that Satan has not always been the wicked one, enemy of God and of believers. "Anointed cherub . . .", "full of wisdom and perfect in beauty", he was perfect also in his ways till the day when iniquity was found in him (v. 15). His heart was lifted up so high that he wanted to leave his position as a creature and to become like God (v. 2; Isaiah 14:13). Pride is called "the condemnation of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6), and it was by this very temptation, "ye shall be as gods", that he dragged man down with him in his downfall. But Satan has been vanquished by Christ at the cross, and the Bible shows us the terrible fate reserved for him (Revelation 20:10).