Ezekiel 31
LORD compares Egypt with Assyria verse 1- 3
And it came to pass in the 3/1/11
that the word of the LORD came unto me
saying
Son of man – speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt
and to his multitude
Whom are you like in your greatness?
BEHOLD the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon
with fair branches and with a shadowing shroud
and of an high stature
and his top was among the thick boughs
LORD compares Assyria with cedar tree verse 4- 7
The waters made him great – the deep set him up on high with
her rivers running round about his plants
and sent her little rivers unto all the trees of the field
THEREFORE his height was exalted above all the trees of the field
and his boughs were multiplied
and his branches became
long because of the multitude of waters
when he shot forth
All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs
and under his branches did all the beasts of the field
bring forth their young and under his shadow
dwelt all great nations
Thus was he fair in his greatness – in the length of his branches
for his root was by great waters
LORD compares tree to one in Garden of God verse 8- 9
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him
the fir trees were not like his boughs
and the chestnut trees were not like his branches
Nor any tree in the garden of God was like
to him in his beauty
I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches
so that all the trees of Eden
that were in the garden of God – envied him
Arrogance of Egypt judged by the LORD verse 10- 12
THEREFORE thus says the Lord GOD
Because you have lifted up yourself in height
and he has shot up his top among the thick boughs
and his heart is lifted up in his height
I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty
one of the heathen he shall surely deal with him
I have driven him out for his wickedness
And strangers – the terrible of the nations
have cut him off – and have left him
upon the mountains and in the all the valleys
his branches are fallen
and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land
And all the people of the earth are gone down
from his shadows – and have left him
Egypt will be ruined verse 13- 14
Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain
and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches
to the end that none of all the trees by the
waters exalt themselves for their height
neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs
neither their trees stand up in their height
all that drink water
FOR they are all delivered unto death
to the nether parts of the earth
in the midst of the children of men
with them that go down to the pit
Assyria in the depths of the earth verse 15- 17
Thus says the Lord GOD
In the day when he went down to the grave
I caused a mourning
I covered the deep for him
and I restrained the floods thereof
and the great waters were stayed
and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him
and all the trees of the field fainted for him
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall
WHEN I cast him down to hell with them that descend
into the pit and all the trees of Eden
the choice and best of Lebanon
all that drink water
shall be comforted in the nether
parts of the earth
They also went down into hell with him unto them that
be slain with the sword
And they that were his arm that dwelt under the shadow in
the midst of the heathen
LORD asks question of Egypt verse 18
To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness
among the trees of Eden?
Yet shall you be brought down with the trees of Eden
unto the nether parts of the earth
you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised
with them that be slain by the sword
This is Pharaoh and all his multitude says the Lord GOD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Son of man, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom are you like in your greatness? (1433 “greatness” [godel] means stoutness, magnitude, magnificence, pride, insolence, arrogance, bravado, pride, or conceit.)
DEVOTION: Here we have a warning to the nation of Egypt. They seem to think that they are so magnificent that no nation can come and defeat them. They think that they are like a tree that cannot be cut down.
However, the LORD gives them the example of Assyria that thought the same thoughts. They thought they were like the cedar of Lebanon. They thought that everyone and every animal came to them for the shade they could provide. Assyria thought that it couldn’t fall but it did.
The LORD uses nations for a time period to advance HIS plan for the world. Here we find that HE is going to judge Egypt again for their thoughts of conceit. They thought that they were safe.
NO nation is safe if it will not recognize the LORD. Nations might even be founded on the principles of God but yet because of sin will be judged just like the nation of Israel. We have here the judgment of the children of Judah because they would not understand that they would be next if they didn’t learn the lesson the LORD had taught the children of Israel or the ten tribes that had already fallen because of sin.
Ezekiel was sent to warn them of the fall because they were not willing to listen to the true prophets of the LORD but chose to listen to the false prophet. They thought because the Temple was in their midst they were safe but their false gods had clouded their minds.
Today we find that there are nations that think that they could not fall yet history teaches us that any nation can fall if the LORD is not protecting it. All nations of world are moving toward a fall because they are allowing the angel of light or the devil to be their god.
They are worshiping the wrong source of power. The devil has some power but nothing compared to the power of God. HE wants all nations to realize that they need to KNOW HIM. Those who chose to not understand this fact will face destruction.
Our world is heading in the wrong direction. We need to repent and turn from our wicked ways and ask the LORD for forgiveness. HE can still grant it to any nation that is willing to humble themselves.
CHALLENGE: Do we tend to think that we are OK with God when in reality we are moving away from HIM? There needs to be a reevaluation of what is going on in our nation.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. (1588 “garden” [gan] means enclosure, planted with trees or cultivated place.)
DEVOTION: We all know the history of the enclosure of God that Adam and Eve were given to take care of by the LORD. HE created Adam and put him in the most beautiful place in the world. HE was there to name the animals and care for the garden.
However, the LORD knew that Adam needed a helpmeet to help him with his responsibility. God created Eve out of a rib from Adam. They were to work side by side in the garden where they would meet with God on a daily basis.
We know the rest of the account given by Moses in the book of Genesis. God revealed to Moses that the old serpent the devil came into the garden in the form of a serpent and tempted Eve. He told her lies. That is all he could do as the Bible tells us that he is the father of liars. She believed the lie and took of the fruit and gave it to her husband.
God made them leave the Garden of Eden because of the Tree of Life that was in it. HE put two Cherubim at the entrance to keep them out. They were to live in a world with thorns and births of babies with pain because of their sin.
Now God is using the enclosure as an example of beauty that Egypt had before they fell. The rest of the world envied what they had. The rest of the world wanted to be like them but they took their beauty and wasted it on false gods. They took God’s beautiful creation and claimed that they had made it.
The object lesson was complete with the fact that Egypt was judged for their treatment of the beauty God created with the false pride in themselves instead of giving God credit. God could not allow that to happen. HE was longsuffering with Egypt but then sent them judgment.
Today we have individuals who think that they did something great without the help or permission of God. Even some Christian leaders think that their organization is their own without any credit going to the LORD. God is displeased with this as well. God still puts people in power and takes them down.
CHALLENGE: Envy is hard to fight in our day and age. We need to put all our strength into fighting this feeling. God has a plan for us and HE is working HIS plan. Accept HIS plan for your life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness. (7562 “wickedness” [resha] means iniquity, the quality of being wicked, unrighteousness, fraud, falsehood, offence, or crime against civil law)
DEVOTION: The heathen nations were all full of pride. They didn’t think that anyone or anything could bring them down. They thought that they would stay strong forever.
The problem was that they didn’t understand who was really in control of the world. Humans think that they could do anything without worrying about the future. They thought they had everything under control. They didn’t understand who was really in control of the world and the future of any nation.
The LORD allowed nations to come and go and HE used them to discipline the Children of Israel because of their lack of obedience to HIM. HE told them what HE was going to do to all the nations of the world. HE told them why they were being judged by heathen nations.
The children of Israel thought that because they had God on their side they could do anything they wanted but the LORD continually showed them that judgment follows disobedience.
This also happens today to the church when it doesn’t follow the LORD properly. HE is going to judge those in the church who are disobedient to HIS commands. HE is still longsuffering as HE was with the children of Israel in the Old Testament but judgement day is coming.
The history of Israel showed that the LORD held them accountable for their sins and HE will hold those churches that are disobedient to HIM accountable too.
Each individual believer needs to keep short accounts with the LORD because HE is still judging wickedness today. HE is still longsuffering but judgment is coming.
CHALLENGE: We have to remember that we are not stronger than God. We have to know that we are accountable to HIM each day. We need to keep short accounts with HIM with confession and obedience. Are we being obedient to HIM today?
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: 16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. (7585 “hell” [sh@owl] means sheol, underworld, grave, or pit)
DEVOTION: The LORD uses the illustration of the trees in the Garden of Eden. The cedar tree is a tree that was used to build houses. It was a strong wood. The kingdom of Assyria was a strong kingdom like the cedars of Lebanon. It was exalted. The fowls of the air made their nests in the trees.
However, a lifted heart in the heart of a king was not good. It seems to always lead to them thinking that they are in control instead of the LORD. The LORD has to continually remind them that HE is in control. HE causes nations to fall to give warning to other nations.
This word can mean pit but the word “pit” at the end of the phrase is a different Hebrew word that means a cistern or pit. The LORD is sending a nation to the grave. The nation is not going to rise up again.
The LORD wanted the king of Egypt to know that he was going in the same direction as the nation of Assyria. Each nation in the world will have to bow to the final nation established by the Messiah when HE returns to this world to set up HIS kingdom.
Our world is still in what is called the “time of the Gentiles.” During this time period we will see conditions that will seem like the same conditions that Noah had in his days. Every man was doing what was right in his own eyes.
Our nation is heading in that direction. We are allowing movies that promote sin as normal. We are allowing same sex marriages to happen across our nation. We are trying to pass laws that make it a “hate crime” to speak out against sin. The Bible is plain regarding sin. It doesn’t sugar coat sin, it calls it what it is in the eyes of the LORD.
Our nation has turned from its heritage to laws that allow Christians to be put down while those who do evil to be given praise. Evil is good and good is evil.
It is said that we are going to have to apology to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah soon. Christians are called a “light of the world.” Jesus is the LIGHT of the World. We are the only ones who can cast out the darkness by presenting the LIGHT to our nation and world.
How do we do it? We are to teach others about our Savior. We are to train those who become followers of the LORD to understand what it means to be a genuine believer.
CHALLENGE: Are we being the witnesses we are supposed to be? Ezekiel was!!!! He stood up against the powers that be and told them the truth from the Word of God.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1
Thus says the Lord GOD verse 10, 15
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 8, 9
Garden of God verse 8, 9
Creator verse 9
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 10, 15, 18
GOD – Jehovah verse 10, 15, 18
Lord GOD verse 10, 15, 18
I made the nations to shake at the sound of
his fall, when I cast him down to hell
with them that descend into the pit verse 16
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Pharaoh – king of Egypt verse 2, 18
Assyrian – like the cedar of Lebanon verse 3- 18
lifted up himself in height
heart is lifted up in his height
delivered into the hand of the mighty
one of the heathen
driven out for his wickedness
strangers have cut him off
Lebanon verse 3, 15, 16
Eden verse 9, 16, 18
Heathen verse 11, 17
Strangers (terrible of the nations) verse 12, 16
People of the earth verse 12
Trees of Eden verse 16, 18
Uncircumcised verse 18
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Envy verse 9
Lifted up self verse 10
Heathen verse 11, 17
Wickedness verse 11
Down to the pit verse 14, 16
Down to hell verse 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Comforted verse 16
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Son of man = Ezekiel verse 2
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Death verse 14
Nether parts of the earth verse 14
Pit verse 14
Grave verse 15
Hell verse 16, 17
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QUOTES regarding passage
This message has two parts. First, the fall of Egypt is like the fall of Assyria (31:1–9). Second, the reasons for the fall of Assyria and Egypt are given (31:10–18). The prophetic rhetoric lulls the reader into a state of indifference before the door of hope slams with a resounding “therefore” (v. 10). Judgment, not hope, is the message for Egypt. (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Ezekiel (Vol. 17, p. 281). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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Ezekiel used the imagery of a great cedar of Lebanon, the tallest of the known trees, to represent Assyria, which had recently fallen (612 b.c.). Egypt, in turn, would be compared with Assyria (v.2). The great cedar, Assyria (v.3), was well-watered, perhaps an indirect reference to her great water sources in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (v.4). Egypt, of course, equally prided herself in her unending supply of Nile water. The cedar (Assyria) had been higher than all other trees (or nations) (v.5); and she was more beautiful than any other tree, even every original variety of beautiful tree in the Garden of Eden (vv.3, 7–9). Every bird nested in her boughs, and every beast bore its young and was shaded under her branches (v.6). These birds and beasts represented the nations under Assyria’s control and in her service (cf. Dan 4:10–12, 19–22; Matt 13:31–32). Assyria was perhaps the greatest nation known to that point in history. (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 899). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Ezekiel filled this chapter with a metaphor/analogy comparing Egypt to a huge tree that dominates a forest to a king/nation that dominates the world (cf. 17:22–24; Da 4:1–12, 19–27). He reasoned that just as a strong tree like Assyria (v. 3) fell (ca. 609 b.c.), so will Egypt (ca. 568 b.c.). If the Egyptians tend to be proud and feel invincible, let them remember how powerful Assyria had fallen already. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Eze 31:2–18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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1–9. It worthy the Reader’s remark, that while the Lord is chastising his own people, the rod is exercised over numbers of the surrounding nations. We have here the humbling of Egypt still threatened, as in the preceding chapters, and a great humbling it should seem to have been. In order to set it forth more fully, the Prophet is commissioned to state how the King of Assyria had been brought down, and to say that such should be the ruin of Egypt. The date of the Prophet’s sermon is marked, by way of ascertaining more clearly the certainty of the thing itself. I hope the Reader, in going over those histories of the overthrow of nations, will not fail to connect with them the instruction they bring spiritually. Our whole nature, like those nations, is exposed to the just displeasure of Almighty God. But the gracious interposition of the Lord Jesus becomes the salvation of his redeemed. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Ezekiel–Malachi (Vol. 6, p. 138). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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IN THIS chapter God, through His prophet, in a message given about two months later than the previous predictions, directs the attention of Pharaoh and his people to the judgment that had already fallen upon Assyria in order that Egypt might learn there-from the folly of self-exaltation and independence of God. Assyria and Egypt had been the two greatest dominions in the world of their day prior to the meteor-like rise of the Babylonian empire. At one time it seemed as though Assyria was destined to rule the world, but that was not God’s plan. The day came when this great kingdom was utterly destroyed, and Chaldea became the outstanding Asiatic power, as Egypt was the outstanding African kingdom. The same God who had dealt with Assyria was now dealing with Egypt; and He called upon Pharaoh to learn a lesson from that which had taken place in Mesopotamia in order that he himself might be humbled before God ere the predicted judgment fell in all its fury upon him. (Ironside, H. A. (1949). Expository notes on Ezekiel, the prophet. (p. 209). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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“Whom art thou like in thy greatness?” “Behold;” look at this case of the Assyrian power, well known to Egypt; for ages her great rival and military antagonist. Is thy greatness more than hers?—He then proceeds to set forth the splendors of the great Assyrian empire.—In v. 3, “with a shadowing shroud,” means with foliage casting a deep shade. In the clause, “his top among the thick boughs,” the word for top means the woolly tuft, crowning the summit of its foliage. Hengstenberg claims that the word rendered “thick boughs” means “the clouds;” his tuft lay among the clouds. The same clause occurs elsewhere only in vs. 10, 14, and chap. 19:11. To say only that his top was among the thick boughs implies equality in height with other trees, and not superiority, and consequently does not meet the demands of the context. Hence, “among the clouds,” is better. (Cowles, H. (1870). Ezekiel and Daniel, with Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical (p. 173). New York: D. Appleton and Company.)
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Ver. 2. Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, &c.] To Pharaoh-hophra, the then reigning king; not to him personally by word of mouth, for the prophet was now in Chaldea; but by delivering out a prophecy concerning him, and which he might have an opportunity of sending to him: and to his multitude; the multitude of his subjects, of which he boasted, and in whom he trusted: whom art thou like in thy greatness? look over all the records of time, and into all the empires, kingdoms, and states that have been; draw a comparison between thyself and the greatest potentate that ever was; fancy thyself to be equal to him; this will not secure thee from ruin and destruction; for as they have been humbled, and are fallen, so wilt thou be: pitch for instance on the Assyrian monarch, whose empire has been the most ancient, extensive, and flourishing, and yet now crushed; and as thou art like him in greatness, at least thou thinkest so, so thou art in pride, and wilt be in thine end; to assure of which is the drift of the following account of the king of Assyria. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 159). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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David prepares for building a temple, but God tells him that David’s son will build it.
INSIGHT
With all his heart, David wants to build the temple of God. Yet because David is a man of war, God reserves that privilege for David’s son Solomon, whose very name means “peace.”
While David cannot actually build the temple, he does draw the plans and begins amassing the materials. And Solomon’s job is much easier because of David’s work.
In fact, the Lord commends David’s deep desire to build the temple even though he is not permitted to do so (see 2 Chronicles 6:8.)
There may be things in your heart that you would like to do for God that you cannot do. Even so, it is good that it is in your heart to want to do them. (Quiet Walk)
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THE GOSPEL OF LIGHT
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Are we all doomed to perpetual blindness and darkness? There is but one hope. There is but one answer. There is but one cure. According to the Gospel, Jesus of Nazareth was the only begotten Son of God. He came down to earth because of the blindness of mankind, because man had been deluded by the god of this world. He came and brought that treatment that alone can avail. He has removed by His sacrificial, atoning death and His resurrection the stain of the guilt of sin. He has given new life and power to our diseased and paralyzed spiritual optic nerves. He enables us to see God, to behold the Father’s face. And, looking at Him, the light of the eternal countenance irradiates our whole being.
He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). And that statement has been verified in countless thousands of experiences. He said that He was “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and that anyone who followed Him need no longer walk in darkness but will have “the light of life” (John 8:12). It is He alone who can reconcile us to God and enable us to see and to know God. The message of the gospel therefore to this modern, distracted world is that in simplicity it has but to offer this prayer:
Holy Spirit, truth divine,
Dawn upon this soul of mine.
Word of God and inward light,
Wake my spirit, clear my sight.
The gospel states with assurance that all who offer this prayer in sincerity and truth will be able to say with the apostle Paul that “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6) has shined into their hearts.
A Thought to Ponder: Jesus Christ alone can reconcile us to God and enable us to see and to know God. (From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 103-104, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Saving Some
“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:22-23)
In the context of this passage, Jude has been exhorting us to “build up” ourselves in the “most holy faith,” keeping ourselves in God’s love and looking forward to “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:20-21). The instructions that follow may apply to us and our fellow believers. If so, then these categories would fit the “vessels of . . . dishonour” that Paul alludes to that are in a “great house” (2 Timothy 2:20).
“Of some have compassion, making a difference.” Some of those in our circle of influence need our “pity.” The word choices imply a desperate need that we must attempt to remedy. Many of the Lord’s healing miracles were done because of compassion. We are encouraged to “make a difference” in the lives of those who urgently need the healing of the Word of God.
“Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.” These are in jeopardy of eternal judgment. They are truly needy but are more dangerous to deal with. Even the imagery used by Jude is fearful. These are so “spotted” (dirty, filthy) by their fleshly deeds that we must “beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).
Jude’s admonition is also applicable to Paul’s concern for the unsaved Jews that he “might save some of them” (Romans 11:14), or his willingness to become as “them that are without law” so that he might “gain them” and to become “as weak, that I might gain the weak” (1 Corinthians 9:21-22). The instructions are valid for either perspective.
Paul echoes Jude’s concern when he says, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The lukewarm Laodiceans landed squarely in the middle. They couldn’t be hot because they were still unregenerate. But they didn’t qualify as cold either, because they had not publicly rejected the truth. Instead, they were pious hypocrites, claiming to love the Lord while privately holding to a false Christ and a false gospel. They maintained an outward show of faith and devotion to the Lord, but like the Pharisees, theirs was a self-satisfied, self-righteous religion. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul described the lukewarm as those “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power (2 Tim. 3: 5). The Lord warned His disciples of the horrifying future that awaits such spiritual pretenders: “Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out deomons, and in Your name perform many miracles. And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7: 22-23). (p. 165)
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Instead, they lulled themselves into spiritual self-satisfaction, unaware that their heresy and hypocrisy had dulled their ability to assess their own spiritual condition accurately. (p. 166) (Christ’s Call TO REFORM the Church by John MacArthur)
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