Internal Violence

Our pastor has been preaching on self-centeredness and pride for a few weeks.  Humility is the trait that Christians have to learn in order to combat those sins.  The sermon series has been very convicting for this Christian!  And my study in Ezekiel has given me more concrete consequences of those destructive tendencies. 

Ezekiel 26 through 28 gives us the demise of Tyre.  John MacArthur, in his notes on this section, says that the fact the destruction covers three chapters shows its importance to God.  Tyre had great influence.  It was the commercial center of the Mediterannean.  It was perfect in beauty, borders were strategically located, buildings above par, well-bred slaves, armies made of the nation’s finest.   Well, let me just say, it was a choice place to be.  Verse 25 of chapter 27 says, “you were filled and were very glorious in the heart of the seas.”  There is much more in these chapters than I can include here.  Just read and learn for yourself about Tyre’s beauty, popularity, occupations, and importance from these three chapters alone.  But for this post, I want to focus on the sin of pride and what God thinks of it, from these passages.

From chapter 28, we learn that the king of Tyre’s heart had lifted up to the point that he said “I am a god”; I sit as god in the heart of the seas.”  He thought it was his wisdom and power that brought him to this high position.  He was proud, cocky and cold-hearted.  And all his and his nation’s pride, the unrighteousness in trade, profaned worship and all the wretched sinfulness that stems from internal worship of self, consumed and ultimately destroyed and turned them to nothing.  There was nothing to show of Tyre but a non-descript village.  John Mac study notes say, “All the predictions in [these chapters] have been fulfilled with amazing accuracy.”

God says in chapter 26: 21, of Tyre, “I will bring terrors on you and you will be no more; though you will be sought, you will never be found again.”  And of the king of Tyre, well, here’s the part that I describe as true terror unleashed and uncomforted: “you will cease to be forever.” (28:19)  The king thought he was something he could never be and therefore he became nothing. 

 In chapter 28:16 it says, “By the abundance of your trade, you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned”.  I think “internally filled with violence” is a good description of pride.  And God goes on to say in that verse, “Therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God.”  I would say He is pretty serious about this sin.  I would even go so far to say, that it may be the sin of sins.

Believer, let us be rid of this sin on a daily basis.  Fight it, whip it, defeat it!  As I quoted John Owen in Erring Hearts, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.”  “Internally filled with violence”, “cast you as profane”, “cease to be forever” are phrases to be pondered.  They may not be happy phrases but I would say they are some serious caution signs that could prevent great tragedy and promote a passionate pursuit of the power of God toward overcoming the wretched sin of pride.