Scripture
“In your great pride you claimed, `I am a God. I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.’”

Observation
Ezekiel prophesies against the king of Tyre,

This king claimed to be a god and to sit on a divine throne. He claims to be wiser than Daniel and indeed his wisdom has amassed him a great fortune.

The Lord says that because of his great pride, the Lord will humble him and pull him down. He thinks he is a god, but the Lord will show that he is just a man.

Then the Lord gives Ezekiel a funeral song for the king of Tyre. This song sarcastically speaks of the king’s absolute perfection and beauty. He could have been in the garden of Eden. He is perfect in every way. His pride led to rebellion against God and the Lord will utterly destroy him.

Application
There are many people whose pride leads to them thinking that they are gods, even if they don’t say it aloud.

In fact, in our post-Christian culture, we have replaced worship of God with worship of self. If everybody thinks that they are the most important person in the world, then lawlessness and anarchy will emerge.

God’s way is for people to recognise that we are all created beings. limited beings at that. This is the attitude of humility in which we recognise that our neighbour is as much needing of grace as we are.

Listen
Lord, what do you want to say to me about this passage?

Keith, many kings have claimed to be a god. This was a feature in many kingdoms through the ages. The Egyptian Pharaohs claimed to be incarnations of the Sun God. Roman emperors claimed to be divine and so did the lesser kings of the Middle East.

There is a temptation in the hearts of all people to overstate their own importance.

Pride is the root of much sin and as my follower you need to remove this sin from your heart.

Humble yourself under my mighty hand and I will lift you up.