Ezekiel 31:3–7

The prophet next shows us, in striking pictures, the ruin of Egypt. The Assyrian was the greatest ruler on earth in that day. The solemn warning of his downfall is applied to Pharaoh's kingdom. It shows the principle Scripture uses so often with people: the Lord brings down the proud, and He lifts up the lowly.

How gladly would we make ourselves the one exception, so that what applies to others should not apply to us! God therefore points them to Assyria, a power as strong as Egypt itself.

The cedar is a symbol of strength and stability: the righteous "grow like a cedar in Lebanon" (Psalm 92:12). The Assyrian king in his strength was also compared to a cedar… and for his pride he was to be brought down.

The "shadowing shroud" means the shelter given by the spreading boughs of a great tree — like the one to which Assyria is compared.

The cedar of Lebanon stood out among the trees for its height, its size, the reach of its shade and its beauty. The Assyrian had stood out in the same way among the nations. God had held back nothing that could adorn or enlarge Nineveh, or the people whose capital it was. He even gave it huge, far-reaching power and influence over the countries around, so that all of them envied it.

Made great in this way by the fostering care of God, it was only to repeat the old story. For what gift of God is there that man will not abuse?

The trees represent those who are high and exalted among men. It is a very common symbol in the word of God for those who are deeply rooted, standing high and reaching far in their influence here below. (See, for instance, Ezekiel 31:3 and Daniel 4.)

But the Assyrian coveted for himself the glory of a king of kings; and this lifting up of his heart in his height brought his doom upon him.

This was not some disaster no one could explain. It was a warning that God's sure government preaches everywhere against pride.

We find, in Ezekiel 31:3-9, the Assyrian power compared to a great tree, a mighty cedar in Lebanon. It is clear here that Assyria is a vast power, for great nations lived under his shadow. It is under the likeness of a tree. The birds that nested in his branches, and the beasts that sought protection and shelter under them, are, according to the word of God, the surrounding nations.

We may notice the force of this symbol of a great tree. It is a mighty one of the earth, able to take others under its protection. In this case it was one in the highest position possible for man. The birds of the heaven had their home in it; that is to say, that all classes of persons sought shelter and protection in it.

Among the nations the Assyrian was what the cedar of Lebanon is among the trees: tallest, largest, widest in shade, and most beautiful. God withheld nothing that could beautify or enlarge Nineveh, or the people whose capital it was. He even gave it enormous, far-reaching power and influence over the countries around it, so that all envied it.

No tree in this Garden of God was like him in his beauty. But, made great in this way by the fostering care of God, it was only to repeat the old story; for what gift of God is there that man will not abuse?

Assyria was dependent to the core, as anyone could see. Yet what grew out of that was self-exaltation, not a sense of dependence. So in the end it had to be brought low, for God's law is: everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.

As a result, instead of seeking his protection, the birds and the beasts would live among his ruins. All the peoples of the earth had gone down from his shadow and had left him. This was no puzzling disaster. It was a warning which the sure government of God preaches everywhere against pride.

Other examples in the Bible confirm that a tree which becomes great is something negative. In Daniel 4, a tree pictures Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king of Babylon — but in a negative way. Another example is in Ezekiel 31, where Assyria is compared to a great tree. A mighty tree stands for great authority and political power, which can easily be misused.

The tree also represents ruling power. In this connection the only emblem in blessing is the cedar tree in Ezekiel 17, which is a figure of the Lord Jesus.

In Ezekiel 31:3-9 we find the Assyrian power compared to a great tree, a mighty cedar in Lebanon… It is clear here that Assyria is a vast power, for great nations lived under his shadow. The image is a tree. The birds that nested in his branches, and the beasts that sought protection and shelter under them, are, according to the word of God, the surrounding nations.

The Assyrian stood among the nations as the cedar of Lebanon stands among the trees: taller, larger, wider in shade, and more beautiful. God had grudged nothing that could adorn or enlarge Nineveh and the people whose capital it was. He even gave it enormous, far-reaching power and influence over the countries round about, so that all envied it.

Ezekiel uses the figure of a cedar tree to picture the power and greatness of the Assyrian empire (Ezekiel 31:3-7). Clearly the cause of this cedar's magnificence was its nearness to the waters. They formed an unfailing source of nourishment and strength to its roots. So in fact it was the waters that "made him great."

Cut off the supply of water, and the tree must wither and die. But plant it by rivers of water, and it brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

The rivers that had made him great were the rivers of that old Eden which had passed away, but which seemed to live again in him. No tree in this Garden of God was like him in his beauty. But, made great in this way by the fostering care of God, it was only to repeat the old story; for what gift of God is there that man will not abuse?

But the Assyrian coveted for himself the glory of a king of kings; and this lifting up of his heart in his height brought his doom upon him.

Instead of seeking his protection, the birds and the beasts would live among his ruins. All the peoples of the earth had gone down from his shadow and had left him. This was no unexplainable disaster. It was a warning against pride, one that the sure government of God preaches everywhere… For the wheel turns, as Ezekiel has assured us over and over again. The one who is lifted up is exalted only for a moment, and then must come down to the lower parts of the earth.

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was a celebrated tree too. But he had not first been "a tender twig," a "low tree," a "dry tree." So he exalts himself and meets the judgment of God. His leaves are scattered, his fruit shaken off, his branches cut down. He is left as "a stump in the earth." Then, broken and humbled under God's mighty hand, God blesses him and exalts him, in His own way, at the end — that we may again learn God's way, to make us "tender twigs" before we become "goodly cedars."