JUDGMENT FOR THE KING OF TYRE

“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you” (Ezek. 28:17 NKJV).

The focus of our verse is on the judgment of the king of Tyre. It is a judgment that will come upon every wicked ruler. Our verse speaks of pride, pollution, and punishment.

Pride - “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty.” Like many rulers, the king of Tyre let the glory (beauty) of his throne fill him with pride. Many folks have been brought low because of pride, and yet some people still will not fear pride. But pride will ruin anyone – Satan’s downfall began with pride. And our society is so perverse that folks actually think we need pride. However, in many cases, the emphasis on “self-esteem” is nothing more than being prideful.

Pollution - “You hast corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. According to noted Hebrew scholar C. F. Keil, this statement means that the glory of the king caused him to “commit iniquity in order to preserve and increase his glory.” How often politics corrupt a person. Whenever a ruler gains glory, he may often resort to evil in order to keep, or even to increase that glory. This practice is all too common today.

Punishment - “I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they may gaze at you.” Proud rulers and politicians will eventually be reduced to rubble. For a while, they may bask in their great glory and used corrupt means to keep and increase their glory. But their glory will become shame. God sees and knows their wicked hearts and will eventually cut them down in holy justice.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“God's justice indeed must be satisfied; and there is no way in the world to give satisfaction to God, but by believing in Christ!”

Ralph Erskine (1685 - 1752)

Scottish Pastor

Word Study

Earthen

In 2 Cor. 4:7 we read, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us!” (NKJV).

Earthen is the Greek word ostrakinos (ὀστράκινος =os-tra'-kin-os). The word literally means made of baked clay and thus describes pottery or earthenware. Figuratively, ostrakinos is used to describe that which is fragile or lowly. It was not unusual in the ancient world to conceal valuable treasures in earthenware urns. In classical Greek ostrakinos was used to describe various styles of clay vessels. In the Septuagint ostrakinos is used to describe the material of which cooking vessels were made. In the New Testament ostrakinos was used by the apostle Paul here in 2 Cor. 4:7 as a metaphor to contrast the precious treasure of the gospel and the human bearers of it

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, what ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is” (Gen. 21:17 NJKV).

Did You Know…

The One the Israelites looked up to as “The Rock” (Deut. 32:4) is actually the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 10:1-4).

Bible Quiz

The Lord Jesus gave James and John the surname “Boanerges.” What does the name mean?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to the Psalms, how far has God removed our sin from us? “As far as the east is from the west” (Psalms 103:12).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“God of the Whole Earth”

"For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth!” (Isaiah 54:5 NKJV).

1. Meaning – God of the Whole Earth speaks of God as the One to whom all the earth belongs. He is not just another one of the many gods; He is the Creator.

2. Insights – As God of all the earth He cannot be challenged, hindered or diverted from His promises by any opposing power. No pagan god could claim that, for the pagans believed in many gods, each with limited power, and often in competition with each other. However, because God, the Holy One of Israel is the One with the power, He can do whatever He desires; He had created both Israel and the earth. Surely, if God is all this and will do all these things, this is a God in whom we can trust.

Did You Know...Christian History

Evan Henry Hopkins was born September 16, 1837 in Colombia, South America. He was an evangelical Anglican vicar whose ministry spanned 52 years. Hopkins was known as Keswick’s theologian

Hopkins father was working as a civil engineer in Colombia, but returned to England with his family in 1848, moving again several years later to Melbourne, Australia. Hopkins attended the College of Chemistry in Melbourne and later the Government School of Mines, intending to pursue a scientific career.

But while conducting geological research in south England, Hopkins was brought to faith in Christ through the witness of a coastguardsman. With his newly found faith in Christ, Hopkins felt a strong sense that God wanted him to study for the ministry. He therefore left science to prepare for ministry at King’s College, London.

During his years of training Hopkins became involved in evangelistic work. At age twenty-eight he was ordained a deacon in St. Paul’s Cathedral and a year later received his priest’s orders.

In 1870, following his marriage to Isabella Sarah Kitchin, Hopkins became the first vicar of Holy Trinity in Richmond and maintained this work for thirty years. A crisis of faith occurred in his life in 1873, when he was led to believe God for full sanctification through faith. Hopkins then began to speak at holiness conventions, testifying to the power of God for holy living. From this he was led into the work for which he is best known, that of teaching and expounding God’s Word at the Keswick Conventions.

Hopkins clear grasp of the truth, his intimate knowledge of Scripture, his mastery of assembly, his ability to lead enquirers to count on the promises, and his simple but effective handling of an after-meeting, all counted to make him God’s unique gift to Keswick and to the Church of God.

He was a leader with strong involvement in this well know convention from its earliest days in 1875 until a few years before his death. Hopkins’ teaching is set before us his book, The Law of Liberty in the Spiritual Life. Hopkins died in 1918 but his book remains highly valued in holiness circles.

A Little Humor

A local Pastor joined a community Service Club, and the members thought they would have a little fun with him. Under his name badge they printed, “Hog Caller” as his occupation. Everyone made a big fanfare as the badge was presented. The Pastor responded by saying, “I usually am called the “Shepherd of the sheep”... but I guess you know your people better than I do.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Fear God and you’ll have nothing else to fear!”