“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.“ Ezekiel 28:17
The prince of Tyre was singled out here by the prophet Ezekiel to tell him of his pride. What were the expressions of his pride? His heart was lifted up (Ezek. 28:17). He was puffed up with a high opinion of his own sufficiency, and out of the abundance of the pride of his heart he said, “I am a god” (28:2). He thought he could be independent of God and accountable to none. He thought he had as much wisdom and strength, and was as incontestable an authority as God Himself, and his word as much a law as the Word of God.
What was the prince of Tyre proud of?
1) His wisdom. It is probable that this prince of Tyre was a philosopher, and well read in all parts of learning; a politician that had great ability in managing the affairs of the state. But the Bible says that “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). If we are not careful, we can become proud because of our learning and put our trust in the wisdom of this world rather than the wisdom of God (3:18-20).
2) His wealth. He attributed the increase of his wealth to himself and not to the providence of God, forgetting it was God who gave him the power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18). His heart was lifted up because of his riches and his wealth. The Bible says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). The fall of the prince of Tyre hastened the just punishment of his presumption in setting himself up as an equal with God. God used outsiders like the Chaldeans—who were at that time the most formidable, both for strength and fury—to be the instruments of his destruction. The extent of the destruction was extreme. Everything that the prince of Tyre thought to be good and beautiful, everything that made him glorious, were seized and destroyed. In the end, he died an abominable death.
He later died in the midst of the seas, without any ceremony or mark of distinction. He became a fool in glorifying himself. Ezekiel 28:17 says, “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.” He gazed so much upon his own beauty that it dazzled his eyes and prevented him from seeing the truth. He appeared so puffed up with his greatness that it corrupted his wisdom and brought about his downfall.
He was made a terrible example of divine vengeance, reduced in the sight of all those that beheld him (28:18). Those that knew him were astonished at him, and wondered how one that stood so high could be brought so low. Therefore, let us heed the exhortation, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). When we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He will lift us up (James 4:10).
The prince of Tyre was singled out here by the prophet Ezekiel to tell him of his pride. What were the expressions of his pride? His heart was lifted up (Ezek. 28:17). He was puffed up with a high opinion of his own sufficiency, and out of the abundance of the pride of his heart he said, “I am a god” (28:2). He thought he could be independent of God and accountable to none. He thought he had as much wisdom and strength, and was as incontestable an authority as God Himself, and his word as much a law as the Word of God.
What was the prince of Tyre proud of?
1) His wisdom. It is probable that this prince of Tyre was a philosopher, and well read in all parts of learning; a politician that had great ability in managing the affairs of the state. But the Bible says that “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). If we are not careful, we can become proud because of our learning and put our trust in the wisdom of this world rather than the wisdom of God (3:18-20).
2) His wealth. He attributed the increase of his wealth to himself and not to the providence of God, forgetting it was God who gave him the power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18). His heart was lifted up because of his riches and his wealth. The Bible says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). The fall of the prince of Tyre hastened the just punishment of his presumption in setting himself up as an equal with God. God used outsiders like the Chaldeans—who were at that time the most formidable, both for strength and fury—to be the instruments of his destruction. The extent of the destruction was extreme. Everything that the prince of Tyre thought to be good and beautiful, everything that made him glorious, were seized and destroyed. In the end, he died an abominable death.
He later died in the midst of the seas, without any ceremony or mark of distinction. He became a fool in glorifying himself. Ezekiel 28:17 says, “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.” He gazed so much upon his own beauty that it dazzled his eyes and prevented him from seeing the truth. He appeared so puffed up with his greatness that it corrupted his wisdom and brought about his downfall.
He was made a terrible example of divine vengeance, reduced in the sight of all those that beheld him (28:18). Those that knew him were astonished at him, and wondered how one that stood so high could be brought so low. Therefore, let us heed the exhortation, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). When we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He will lift us up (James 4:10).
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