Ezekiel 28:1-19

“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:14–15, NKJV)

In chapter 28, Ezekiel begins prophesying against the prince of Tyre. But in verse 12 he pivots to the king of Tyre. Evidently, he is speaking of someone greater than an earthly king. This was the anointed cherub who was the seal of perfection and who was in the Garden of Eden. He was covered by every precious stone and was on the holy mountain of God. He was perfect in all his ways from the moment he was created, until iniquity was found in him. Who else could this be but Satan (aka Lucifer)?

For such an exalted being, who beheld the face of God in eternity, there was no redemption possible. There was no recourse except for him to be cast from his place in heaven.

“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:13–14, NKJV)

Clearly, as a created being, Satan could never be like the self-existing Most High God. What he really wanted was self-determination and self-exaltation. He wanted to be accountable to no one and to receive praise from everyone. He never said this out loud, but he lusted for it in his heart.

This same attitude is found in many, many people. They loathe the thought of being accountable to God. They blame God for the ills of society and for their own personal pain. Even though they received life as a gift, they feel entitled to live it however they choose. Their “right” to self-expression trumps every other obligation and disregards the rights of others. Like their predecessor, they vainly imagine themselves to be like God, but they are delusional. However, unlike Satan, redemption is available to them. The price has been paid by another Man to restore their sanity and forgive all their sins and guilt.

To permit such a person to continue in their delusional state would be the worst form of cruelty. The greatest act of love is to topple them from their self-exaltation to the truth of their depraved and broken condition. For then the blinders may be lifted just enough for them to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). Therefore, the strong and mighty of this world often fall to a place of humiliation and shame. When this happens, they may curse God, but truly God’s love is at work to cure them of their insanity before it is too late.

For this reason the best thing we can do for the proud in heart is to pray that God humbles them and that their eyes are opened to see the light of Christ in grace and salvation. Actually, we should pray this for every non-believer and then seek opportunities to share the truth with them. It is the greatest act of love for broken people.