A Covering Cherub – Ezekiel 28

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

What if we humans one day possessed everything that we might possibly desire – what would come next?  There is Biblical evidence to suggest that our next desire would be to become like, or even greater than, God.  That actually happened to two powerful leaders, the kings of ancient Tyre and of Babylon. God had much to say against these two through his prophets. But these prophecies may also be directed to the dark spiritual forces deceiving these leaders.

The king of Tyre had achieved the pinnacle of material success and power.  Every precious stone or valuable possession was at his disposal, granted to him by the hand of God.  Yet, there was spiritual rot and unrighteousness within his being, and these ultimately led to his downfall.  The prophet Ezekiel writes of him:

¹¹ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹² “Son of man, take up a song of mourning over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

“You had the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
¹³ You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The ruby, the topaz and the diamond;
The beryl, the onyx and the jasper;
The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald;
And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets,
Was in you.
On the day that you were created
They were prepared.
¹⁴ You were the anointed cherub who covers,
And I placed you there.
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.
¹⁵ You were blameless in your ways
From the day you were created
Until unrighteousness was found in you.  Ezekiel 28:11-15 (NASB)

The greatness of this “king” was not just limited to an earthly realm.  He had also been given spiritual honor from of old as an anointed covering cherub, serving as a high-level angelic being, attending to the needs and work program of God.  With all this great power and authority comes great responsibility.  Unfortunately, the internal character flaws of Tyre’s king prevented him from following through with his duties, and God ultimately removed him from his position. These words seem to be directed at something far more powerful and long-lived than a human king, more like a powerful angel, or cherub, that has fallen from grace and heaven.

A parallel between the tragic fates of the king of Tyre and the king of Babylon is found in writings by the prophet Isaiah, who lived many years before Ezekiel. Isaiah writes of this “king”:

¹² How you have fallen from heaven,
You star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who defeated the nations!
¹³ But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.
¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
¹⁵ Nevertheless you will be brought down to Sheol,
To the recesses of the pit.
¹⁶ Those who see you will stare at you,
They will closely examine you, saying,
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,

¹⁷ Who made the world like a wilderness
And overthrew its cities,
Who did not allow his prisoners to go home?’  Isaiah 14:12-17 (NASB)

Many, including myself, have interpreted these two passages about the kings to actually be referring to the dark power behind them, the once covering cherub Lucifer, the devil, both recording his past and prophesying his future. The devil is the enemy who personally tempted Jesus when He was weakened after fasting forty days in the desert wilderness, and later, attacked Jesus through the words of a crowd, taunting Him to come down as He was dying on the cross. Both times, it was the devil’s intention to sidetrack and foil Jesus’ mission of salvation for all believers. Fortunately for us, Jesus was able to complete His mission, dying on the cross for our sins, and rising from the dead to redeem all believers for a blessed eternity.

But these ominous words also have application for us today.  A persistent desire for more will invariably lead us away from the path intended for us by God.  Acceptance, contentment, and serenity are blessings God gives us to help balance our natural ambitions with a healthy desire to achieve a better life.  When unending gain becomes our primary objective, and the craving for more our constant companion, we are unable to truly enjoy what the Lord has provided. If we humbly seek God’s help and guidance on our life journey and recognize the generous works of His hand along the way, He will open many doors of opportunity for us, consistent with His will.

Most everyone would like to achieve a little more prosperity in the coming year than we had in the last one.  God knows that well – in fact, He designed us this way.  And it is my prayer that each one of us DO achieve this and be able to enjoy it with our families, remembering to return a portion back to the Lord and His kingdom, in gratitude.

Proverbs 3 gives us good guidance on how to lead a balanced life.
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
⁹ Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the first of all your produce;
¹⁰ Then your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.  Proverbs 3:5-10 (NASB)

May we all enjoy the many blessings which God has provided us with, with satisfaction, as we live under the shadow of His wing and the protection of His covering.

Reflection

What am I most grateful for today?

Many find encouragement and support by writing out a gratitude list.

Lord, help us to fulfill our spiritual calling as we pursue our earthly responsibilities with Your favor. Anoint us to live like Your faithful covering cherubs, serving You, and helping others to see You, supporting them in the midst of their trials and struggles.  Help us to keep our eyes fixed upon You as we pursue our earthly aspirations, keeping close to Your will each step of the way, and thanking You for open doors. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Have a blessed day under the Lord’s protective cover today.