CHERUB DOWN!

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 28-29

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

At Timna Park in southern Israel, a life-sized replica of the Biblical Tabernacle has been constructed. While no original materials (e.g., gold, silver, bronze) have been used, the model is accurate in every other detail based upon the Biblical description. The Ark of the Covenant is the only object in the Holy of Holies; the sacred Ark contained the two tablets with the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron that blossomed and the pot of manna. The Ark was covered by the “Mercy Seat” on which the high priest sprinkled the blood of a goat seven times on the Day of Atonement. Two Cherubim also covered the Mercy Seat with their wings. Today’s reading tells us of “the anointed cherub” (cherub is singular/cherubim is plural), whom God cast out (Ezekiel 28:14-16).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Ezekiel 28:14-15

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 contains a description of the King of Tyre, which can only refer to Lucifer, one of the three archangels God had created. Ezekiel makes the case that Satan was the source of the person that this king had become. Read Isaiah 14:12-15 for another description of this being who had “become a horror” (28:19). A New Testament reading that tells believers in Jesus Christ about this being is Ephesians 6:11-12. The fortress city state of Tyre was totally destroyed and remains so to this very day. Over and over again the prophets of the Bible are shown to be 100% accurate. Jesus, in His humanity, overcame Satan by quoting the Scriptures (Matthew 4:1-11). We who believe in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord overcome in the same way (read Revelation 12: 7-11). Verse 11 tells us that “They [we] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Believers in Jesus, DO NOT FEAR! Jesus said, “I give you authority…over ALL the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you!!!” (Luke 10:17-20).

Ezekiel 29 predicts a defeat of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar. The destruction of Tyre by Alexander the Great 200 years later was not just a defeat, it was the obliteration forever of the city state.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

I thank You, Lord God, that You want to save people, and You have saved me from eternal destruction. Jesus, Your eternal Son, took on Himself the destruction I deserved. I pray that I will always be mindful of the fact that the “Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23), in whose Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

To be a bold witness for Jesus is my daily goal. Often I have reminded myself of the standing orders of our supreme Commander in Chief who said, just before His ascension into Heaven, “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth!” (Matthew 28:18). Now that’s what I call “Authority”!!! He exercises ALL authority; it is His right to command and my sole responsibility to obey. He gave us a clear command…a direct order: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). There have been times in my life when I knew I should immediately obey by personally making disciples (learners of Christ), but I’ve delayed and lost the opportunity. In recent times, I’ve joined Jesus in declaring war on procrastination. “Now!!!” is the accepted time, behold Now!!! is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b – exclamation points mine!).

Yours for complete victory over all the works of the devil, and for a wise, bold, and immediate sharing of Jesus consistently,

David