Ezekiel 28:15

There is more difficulty with verses 11-19. Is it the same person or a different one? I am inclined to think it is the same person historically, but with a deeper reference to Satan's fall built into it. This may be one reason why the Spirit of God changes "prince" into "king."

He acts in God's judicial government according to God's own mind (this is the character of the anointed cherub). He is clothed with the moral beauty that reflects the character of God as light, in all its variety... He had also been where God exercised His authority — on the mountain of God. He walked where God displayed His moral perfections in their glory — "the stones of fire" — a glory before which evil could not stand. His ways had been perfect. But all these advantages were the occasion of his fall, and characterised it. For the privileges we enjoy always characterise our fall... Moreover, this was not an outward temptation, as it was with man — something that did not take away man's guilt, but did change its character.

Whoever practises sin is of the devil. I take "the beginning" in that eighth verse to mean the first appearance of unrighteousness — "till unrighteousness was found in you" (Ezekiel 28:15)... Sin, which is lawlessness, began at a certain moment. It is not for us to go beyond what the word of God says about it, and the passage in Ezekiel is enough.

Note, the unrighteousness was found in him — it was "looking at his own beauty." Lord, keep us from this! For how vile to attribute this beauty to ourselves! And yet we should all have this devilish tendency, except as we are kept. Look at the brightness which is in the stone! We are engraved on it, and call it our own because we are engraved on it and it bears us. Dependence was lost, and what had been natural quality became a power of evil.

He is not the author of it: the devil is, he sins from the beginning (1 John 3:8). There was no sinner before him. God set him in the highest position any creature was ever given. Then his pride rose up in rebellion against the One who had made him, and who in goodness gave him that place. The prophet addresses him under the figure of the king of Tyre... Sin began to exist in the thought of that anointed cherub. There we trace the dark river back to its source. Its foul waters found their way into the garden of Eden, and from there they have filled the world with violence, corruption, sorrow, death and misery.

He was puffed up with pride. The temptation came either from the position he held or from his own beauty and excellence (see Ezekiel 28:11-17). For this, judgment fell on him. The same danger, as the Spirit of God warns us, might beset a "novice" if he obtained office in the assembly. He might be lifted up with pride, and fall as the devil had fallen.