What is the meaning of Ezekiel 28:22? And you are to declare that this is what the Lord GOD says • Ezekiel, God’s appointed watchman (Ezekiel 3:17), receives yet another “Thus says the Lord” message—a reminder that every warning carries divine authority (Ezekiel 2:7; 2 Peter 1:21). • Because the words come straight from the LORD, they are certain; time and culture do not blunt their edge (Psalm 119:89). • The messenger’s task is simply to relay, never to soften, add, or edit (Jeremiah 26:2; Revelation 22:18-19). Behold, I am against you, O Sidon • Sidon, a leading Phoenician city north of Israel, had long profited from idolatry, occult practices, and oppressive trade (Isaiah 23:2-4; Joel 3:4; Zechariah 9:2-4). • God’s stance is personal—“I am against you.” When a nation sets itself against His righteousness, He responds in holy opposition (Psalm 2:1-6; Nahum 2:13). • The declaration echoes earlier oracles against Tyre (Ezekiel 26–28) and surrounding nations (Ezekiel 25), underscoring that no power center is too sophisticated or distant to escape His jurisdiction (Amos 9:2-4). And I will be glorified within you • Judgment is not random; it serves God’s larger purpose—to reveal His glory (Exodus 14:4; Ezekiel 39:13). • Even pagan Sidon will become a stage upon which the LORD’s majesty shines. Every ruler, city, or era ultimately advances His fame, willingly or unwillingly (Proverbs 16:4; Philippians 2:10-11). • For God’s covenant people the lesson is clear: His glory is non-negotiable, and He can display it through rescue or through wrath (Isaiah 48:11; Ezekiel 36:23). They will know that I am the LORD when I execute judgments against her • Repeated throughout Ezekiel (e.g., 6:7; 25:11; 28:26), the phrase “they will know that I am the LORD” signals the outcome God seeks—experiential acknowledgment of His supremacy. • Judgment strips away false securities: wealth (Revelation 18:15-17), alliances (Isaiah 30:1-5), and idols (Ezekiel 30:13). What remains is the unmistakable reality of the living God (Deuteronomy 32:39). • History shows this: when Sidon later fell under Persian, then Macedonian, then Roman control, her gods were powerless, but the LORD’s words stood firm (Isaiah 46:9-10). And demonstrate My holiness through her • Holiness means utter separateness from sin and absolute moral perfection (Leviticus 11:44-45). God’s actions toward Sidon highlight that purity: He cannot overlook evil (Habakkuk 1:13). • By bringing deserved consequences, He showcases His just character (Psalm 97:2); by preserving a remnant for Israel, He showcases His mercy (Ezekiel 28:25-26). • The dual display—justice and mercy—anticipates the ultimate revelation of holiness at the cross, where sin is punished and sinners are redeemed (Romans 3:25-26; 1 Peter 2:24). summary Ezekiel 28:22 announces that the LORD, not human power or pagan gods, rules history. His authoritative word targets Sidon’s pride, promising decisive opposition. Yet even in judgment God has a redemptive aim: to magnify His glory, expose falsehood, and unveil His holiness. Every event moves people toward one conclusion—“They will know that I am the LORD.” |
    |