Prince of Tyre

Ezekiel 28.11-19

The passage above, in context, has no uncertain message for the Prince of Tyre. Tyre's destruction was predicted beforehand by Ezekiel and it was thorough and complete as described.

However, as the Prince of Tyre's fate is predicted, he seems to take on an alternate personality. 

The writing of Ezekiel seems to take a shift to address what appears to be the devil. In fact, every description about the Prince of Tyre fits with everything else we think we know of God's enemy. 

The particular references that would indicate such a shift in whom Ezekiel was speaking about are found where Ezekiel claims the Prince of Tyre was in Eden. Also Ezekiel's reference that he was a "mighty angelic guardian" gave some reference to someone besides a political ruler over a city. The inference of the Prince of Tyre's "perfection" until evil was found in him is also a clue as to Ezekiel's shift into prophetic revelation about the devil.

It seems prudent to me to read this passage of scripture with the sole purpose of absorbing the historical prophecy directed to the actual Prince (ruler) of Tyre. However, the content of the prophecy, in its vivid description, begs the reader to consider its alternate meaning.

Now, I wonder, if I had never heard that this was about the devil, if I would draw that conclusion by myself if I read it for the first time.

Father, Ezekiel's prophecy about the Prince of Tyre is intriguing. Help me to learn what You have for me to learn from this passage of scripture. Let my scrutiny be for what I "assume" to be the meaning of this passage, and let me have a clear indication by Your Spirit of what You reveal to me through Ezekiel's prophecy.